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Quotations
Sometimes in life you find that someone else has said what you’re thinking, only with particular flair. We’d be happy to publish any quotations you may discover, so by all means send them in.
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Ah, this is obviously some strange usage of the word “safe” that I wasn’t previously aware of. Douglas Adams, as Arthur Dent in The Hitchhikers Guide to the GalaxyLife . . . is like a grapefruit. It’s orange and squishy, and has a few pips in it, and some folks have half a one for breakfast. Douglas AdamsYou live and learn. At any rate, you live. Douglas AdamsPeople of mediocre ability sometimes achieve outstanding success because they don't know when to quit. Most men succeed because they are determined to. George Herbert AllenA conference is a gathering of important people who singly can do nothing, but together can decide that nothing can be done. Fred AllenI’m astounded by people who want to "know" the universe when it’s hard enough to find your way around Chinatown. Woody AllenWhy are our days numbered and not, say, lettered? Woody AllenIf only God would give me some clear sign! Like making a large deposit in my name in a Swiss bank. Woody AllenAs the poet said, “Only God can make a tree.” Probably because it’s so hard to figure out how to get the bark on. Woody AllenThe only normal people are the ones you don’t know very well. Joe AncisDesire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal, a commitment to excellence, that will enable you to attain the success you seek. Mario AndrettiA magician pulls rabbits out of hats. An experimental psychologist pulls habits out of rats. AnonymousThe student who fails to learn has a teacher who has failed to teach. AnonymousHere’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them, disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do. Apple Computer television ad, “Here's to the Crazy Ones,” 1997Somewhere over the rainbow Way up high There’s a land that I heard of Once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow
Some day I’ll wish upon a star
Somewhere over the rainbow
Some day I’ll wish upon a star
Somewhere over the rainbow
If happy little bluebirds fly Harold Arlen (music) and E.Y. Harburg (lyrics) “Over the Rainbow,” from the films, The Wizard of Oz and Finding ForresterHave something to say, and say it as clearly as you can. That is the only secret of style. Matthew ArnoldIf living conditions don’t stop improving in this country, we’re going to run out of humble beginnings for our great men. Russell P. AskueTo err is dysfunctional, to forgive co-dependent. Berton AverreSelling is an accurate representation of the facts—with enthusiasm. Mariano Audino, real estate investor |
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The poets did well to conjoin music and medicine, because the office of medicine is but to tune the curious harp of man's body. Francis Bacon, SrThey are ill discoverers that think there is no land, when they can see nothing but sea. Sir Francis BaconThe greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do. Walter BagehotWhen you’re through changing, you’re through. Bruce BartonNothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside them was superior to circumstance. Bruce BartonWhat you really fear is inside yourself. You fear your own power, you fear your anger, the drive to do great or terrible things. Now you must journey inwards; you are ready. Ducard, Batman BeginsIt is by universal misunderstanding that all agree. For if, by ill luck, people understood each other, they would never agree. Charles BaudelaireAdvertising isn’t a science, it’s persuasion. And persuasion is an art. Bill BernachA brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well. Jeff BezosYou can be sad and still buy pants. Giuliana BianchiWhile Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. The Bible, Book of Acts 17:16–17Quotation. (noun) The act of repeating erroneously the words of another. Ambrose Bierce, The Devil’s DictionaryPoliteness. (noun) The most acceptable hypocrisy. Ambrose Bierce, The Devil’s DictionaryNo bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings. William BlakeTo see the World in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wild flower; hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour. William Blake, Auguries of InnocenceThe last time somebody said, “I find I can write much better with a word processor,” I replied, “They used to say the same thing about drugs.” Roy Blount, Jr.Never express yourself more clearly than you are able to think. Niels BohrHistory is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821)I only know two pieces; one is “Clair de Lune” and the other one isn't. Victor BorgeFor most folks, no news is good news; for the press, good news is not news. Gloria BorgerMen are wise in proportion, not to their experience, but to their capacity for experience. James Boswell, Life of Samuel Johnson, 1791If you look at life one way, there is always cause for alarm. Elizabeth BowenTo me, business insn't about wearing suits or pleasing stockholders. It's about being true to yourself, your ideas, and focusing on the essentials. Richard BransonWhat happens to the hole when the cheese is gone? Bertolt BrechtDestiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for. It is a thing to be achieved. William Jennings BryanI’m smart, I’m hardworking, and I’ll do anything. And I’m not leaving here without a job. Erin Brockovich, from the film, Erin BrockovichEverything we do in life is based on fear, especially love. Mel BrooksPeople don’t fail because they aim too high and miss, but because they aim too low and hit. Les Brown, Step Into Your GreatnessIf lovin’ the Lord is wrong, I don’t want to be right. Reverend Brown, Coming to America (1988)The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they’re okay, then it’s you. Rita Mae BrownShow class, have pride, and display character. If you do, winning takes care of itself. Paul BryantWalt Whitman once said, “I see great things in baseball. It’s our game, the American game. It will repair our losses and be a blessing to us.” You could look it up. Annie, Bull DurhamThe world is made for people who aren’t cursed with self-awareness. Annie, Bull DurhamRelax, all right? Don’t try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they’re fascist. Throw some ground balls—it’s more democratic. Crash Davis, Bull DurhamBe substantially great in thyself, and more than thou appearest unto others. Sir Thomas Browne, Christian Morals, 1716Communism is like one big phone company. Lenny BrucePeople who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one. Leo J. BurkeMake no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood . . . Make big plans, aim high in hope and work. Daniel H. BurnhamI’m going to stay in show business until I’m the last one left. George BurnsA farewell, and then forever! Deep in heart-wrung tears I’ll pledge thee, Warring sighs and groans I’ll wage thee. Who shall say that Fortune grieves him, While the star of hope she leaves him? Me, nae cheerful twinkle lights me, Dark despair around benights me. Robert Burns, Ae Fond KissA paranoid is someone who knows a little of what’s going on. William S. BurroughsGetting caught is the mother of invention. Robert ByrneNow hatred is by far the longest pleasure; men love in haste, but they detest at leisure. Lord Byron |
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There is no fate that cannot be surmounted by scorn.Albert CamusBoy, I feel a lot safer now that she's behind bars. O. J. Simpson, Michael Jackson, Robert Blake, and Kobe Bryant are still walking around; Osama Bin Laden too; but they take the one woman in America willing to cook, clean, and work in the yard, and haul her ass off to jail. George Carlin, commenting on the conviction of Martha StewartNo. Amy Carter, (President Jimmy Carter's daughter) when asked by a reporter if she had any message for the children of AmericaI am simply trying as best I can and as fast as God gives me light to do the job I believe He has given me in trust to do. George Washington CarverThe most difficult thing in the world is to reveal yourself, to express what you have to. As an artist, I feel that we must try many things, but above all, we must dare to fail. You must have the courage to be bad, to be willing to risk everything to really express it all. John CassavetesMan cannot discover new oceans if he is afraid to lose sight of the shore. Lord ChesterfieldMany a man has fallen in love with a girl in a light so dim he would not have chosen a suit by it. Maurice ChevalierIf you bow at all, bow low. Chinese ProverbGive a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Chinese ProverbKeep your broken arm inside your sleeve. Chinese ProverbMen occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened. Winston ChurchillKites rise highest against the wind—not with it. Winston ChurchillDemocracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others. Winston ChurchillThe only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible. Arthur C. Clarke, Technology and the FutureThe White House: I don’t know whether it’s the finest public housing in America or the crown jewel of the prison system. Bill ClintonWhen I took office, only high energy physicists had ever heard of what is called the Worldwide Web . . . now even my cat has its own page. Bill ClintonBe not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes. ConfuciusI’m just glad it’ll be Clark Gable who's falling on his face and not Gary Cooper. Gary Cooper, on his decision not to take the leading role in Gone With The Wind,I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody. Bill CosbyHealth consists of having the same diseases as one’s neighbors. Quentin CrispIf you’ve grown up, you’ve given up. Eric Vance CurlThe best poetry the romantic poets ever wrote was about how they could no longer write poetry. Eric Vance CurlParadox is an essential part of the mind of a person who is both sane and paying attention. Eric Vance Curl |
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A little nonsense now and then, is cherished by the wisest men.Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate FactoryThe whole purpose of religion is to facilitate love and compassion, patience, tolerance, humility, forgiveness. H.H. the Dalai LamaDo not condemn the judgment of another because it differs from your own. You may both be wrong. Dandemis Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita I found myself in a dark forest in which the right path was obscured.) Dante, Inferno, Canto I, 1–3Ahhh. A man with a sharp wit. Someone ought to take it away from him before he cuts himself. Peter da SilvaJust as iron rusts from disuse, even so does inaction spoil the intellect. Leonardo da VinciAs a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so life well used brings happy death. Leonardo da VinciIt is not necessary to understand things in order to argue about them. Caron de BeaumarchaisPovero il demonio che ha perso la fede di Dio. Ma chi a la fede e sempre ricco. (Poor is the devil who has lost faith in God. But he who has faith is forever rich.) Angela De BellisFede, speranza, e carita. In tutte le cose, un po’di speranza. La speranza e l'ultima a morire. (Faith, hope, and love. In all things, a bit of hope, for hope dies last of all.) Veronica De BellisIl consiglio e quello che fa l’opera. (It is sound counsel which performs the work.) Veronica De BellisFreedom is a state of mind, and to limit yourself by fears and doubt is to construct a prison for which you are both inmate and warden. Domenico Ignazio De BellisSecrets, like the flu, are difficult to keep to oneself. Domenico Ignazio De BellisHow we treat people is a sacred experience, one that offers an insight to how we relate to God and to our selves. Domenico Ignazio De Bellis, “On Morality”My dream is what makes me get up in the morning. It’s what coaxes me out of my comfort zone. My dream is what I think about when adversity gets too hard. It’s what makes me dial another call, write another page, book one more appointment. My dream is what makes me get back up when I stumble, to dust myself off and get right back to it. It’s what I think about when I feel down and out. So many people have told me to give up on my dreams, but I never will. My dream is what fuels my business. Domenico Ignazio De BellisThe power in not knowing The path that lies ahead The grace of letting you be you And the freedom to be truly me Domenico Ignazio De Bellis, “On Marriage”I think that the soul has a peculiar quality of permanence that overshadows the body. The body ages, decays, and eventually dies—but the soul persists, retaining all the knowledge, memories, emotions, and passions accumulated during its earthbound journey. Truly, we are immortal creatures, long after our bodies have dissolved in time. Domenico Ignazio De BellisThe Bible describes the heart as the temple of God's Spirit, and so I trust that His Spirit illuminates the dark places therein, clears the cobwebs from the corners, rights the foundation, establishes the framework, and makes Himself at home in my temple. Domenico Ignazio De BellisThe late Bertrand Russell, famous atheist and author of Why I am not a Christian once said that “it is possible that mankind is on the threshold of a golden age; but, if so, it will be necessary first to slay the dragon that guards the door, and this dragon is religion.” Here Dr. Russell betrays his inherent bias against God, and interestingly, his bias in favor of unrestrained human activity made possible by the removal of God from society. I submit that the further society slips from God, the more we remove His authority from our lives and institutions, the more chaotic and dangerous our world becomes. Unrestrained human behavior is often unrecognizable as human; rather, it resembles animal, base activity, driven by instinct and not by morality. Domenico Ignazio De Bellis, “On Morality”Before you confide in someone, make sure he has proven himself worthy of your confidence. This applies equally well in personal relationships as it does in business. In fact, you're kidding yourself if you compartmentalize the two as separate lives. You're one person, not two, and your actions in public have just as moral a context as what you do in private. Domenico Ignazio De BellisIt’s a fundamentally human trait to avoid change. We tend to favor the status quo, and we resist the idea that we can improve our conditions, our education, even the notion that we can change the way we think and the substance of our beliefs. Yet this willingness to change is the ultimate mind-hack, the technology that allows us to grow through the changes we take on in our lives. Domenico Ignazio De BellisMysteries can be more important than knowledge. Knowledge is often certain, if not concrete. We learn things and we build on that knowledge, and so the process of advancement and evolution of what it means to think, and understand, and explain have their being. But when knowledge is not enough, when we thirst for more than mere understanding, we need only to look at the mysteries that go unexplained, and in their inspiration we imagine, dream, improvise, and create. For it is in mystery that humanity finds the really interesting questions. Domenico Ignazio De BellisIt is our job as citizens to question the government, to demand integrity from our elected officials, and through the balance of power to keep the government serving us, not the other way around. We have been slack in our duties. Domenico Ignazio De Bellis, “The Consent of the Governed”The really interesting questions are beyond scrutiny. For example, man has for millennia pondered the nature of love, and despite the sea of answers they've come up with, they only lead to more questions. But that doesn't stop them from pursuing the question still further. Domenico Ignazio De BellisWe don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out. Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She’s ninety-seven now, and we don’t know where the hell she is. Ellen DeGeneresHe who confers a favor should at once forget it, if he is not to show a sordid ungenerous spirit. To remind a man of a kindness conferred and to talk of it, is little different from reproach. DemosthenesThe greatest minds are capable of the greatest vices as well as of the greatest virtues. Rene Descartes, Le Discours de la Methode, 1637America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great. Alexis de TocquevilleLiberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith. Alexis de TocquevilleNothing is quite so wretchedly corrupt as an aristocracy which has lost its power but kept its wealth and which still has endless leisure to devote to nothing but banal enjoyments. All its great thoughts and passionate energy are things of the past, and nothing but a host of petty, gnawing vices now cling to it like worms to a corpse. Alexis de TocquevilleTo gain that which is worth having, it may be necessary to lose everything else. Burnadette Devlin, The Price of My Soul, 1969Some people like my advice so much that they frame it upon the wall instead of using it. Gordon R. DicksonThey say that God is everywhere, and yet we always think of Him as somewhat of a recluse. Emily DickinsonThe thing is to stalk your calling in a certain skilled and supple way, to locate the most tender and live spot and plug into that pulse. This is yielding, not fighting. A weasel doesn’t “attack” anything; a weasel lives as he’s meant to, yielding at every moment to the perfect freedom of single necessity. I think it would be well, and proper, and obedient, and pure, to grasp your one necessity and not let it go, to dangle from it limp wherever it takes you . . . Annie DillardI have a rock garden. Last week three of them died. Richard DiranIt’s kind of fun to do the impossible. Walt DisneyAll our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them. Walt DisneyGreat services are not canceled by one act or by one single error. Benjamin DisraeliSometimes a noble failure serves the world as faithfully as a distinguished success. Edward DowdenMore business decisions occur over lunch and dinner than at any other time, yet no MBA courses are given on the subject. Peter DruckerIn all recorded history there has not been one economist who has had to worry about where the next meal would come from. Peter DruckerAll human things are subject to decay, and, when Fate summons, monarchs must obey; This Flecknoe found, who like Augustus young was call’d to empire, and had govern’d long: In prose and verse, was own’d, without dispute through all the realms of nonsense, absolute. John Dryden, Mac FlecknoeEverything that can be invented has been invented. Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899 |
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I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments, when they aren’t trying to teach us.Umberto Eco, Foucault’s PendulumTo invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk. Thomas A. EdisonMany of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. Thomas A. EdisonHell, there are no rules here—we’re trying to accomplish something. Thomas A. EdisonJust because something doesn’t do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it’s useless. Thomas A. EdisonOnly two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. Albert EinsteinCommon sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen. Albert EinsteinIf I had only known, I would have been a locksmith. Albert EinsteinThe tragedy of life is what dies in the hearts and souls of people while they live. Albert EinsteinImagination is more important than knowledge. Albert EinsteinWhen I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge. Albert EinsteinThe world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without changing our thinking. Albert EinsteinThe world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. Albert EinsteinGreat spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. Albert EinsteinEverything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom. Albert Einstein, Out of My Later Years 1950He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose. Jim ElliotThe two most abundant things in the universe are Hydrogen and stupidity. Harlan EllisonWhat you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say. Ralph Waldo EmersonChildren are all foreigners. Ralph Waldo EmersonWhat lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. Ralph Waldo EmersonYou better lose yourself in the music, the moment You own it, you better never let it go You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo Eminem, “Lose Yourself”If you do not wish to be prone to anger, do not feed the habit; give it nothing which may tend to its increase. EpictetusBut what is it good for? Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish. EuripidesFind something that you’re really interested in doing in your life. Pursue it, set goals, and commit yourself to excellence. Do the best you can. Chris EvertDive into the sea of thought, and find there pearls beyond price. Moses Ibn Ezra, Shirat Yisrael |
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Not that I condone fascism—or any ism, for that matter. Isms, in my opinion, are not good. A person should not believe in an ism; he should believe in himself. I quote John Lennon, “I don’t believe in The Beatles; I just believe in me.” Good point there. After all, he was the walrus. I could be the walrus but it still wouldn’t change the fact that I don’t own a car!Ferris Bueller, Ferris Bueller’s Day OffStart every day off with a smile and get it over with. W.C. FieldsStocks have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau. Irving Fisher, Professor of Economics, Yale University, 1929Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value. Marechal Ferdinand Foch, Professor of Strategy, École Superieure de GuerreDeeds, not words shall speak me. John FletcherEducation's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one. Malcolm ForbesMen who never get carried away should be. Malcolm ForbesQuality means doing it right when no one is looking. Henry FordCompassion is not sentiment but is making justice and doing works of mercy. Compassion is not a moral commandment but a flow and overflow of the fullest human and divine energies. Matthew FoxA person is never happy except at the price of some ignorance. Anatole FranceThey that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that’s the stuff life is made of. Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack, June 1746Wish not so much to live long as to live well. Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1738A countryman between two lawyers is like a fish between two cats. Benjamin FranklinA good conscience is a continual Christmas. Benjamin FranklinA slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over. Benjamin FranklinAll human situations have their inconveniences. We feel those of the present but neither see nor feel those of the future; and hence we often make troublesome changes without amendment, and frequently for the worse. Benjamin FranklinAll would live long, but none would be old. Benjamin FranklinAn investment in knowledge always pays the best interest. Benjamin FranklinAnger is never without Reason, but seldom with a good One. Benjamin FranklinAt 20 years of age the will reigns, at 30 the wit, at 40 the judgment. Benjamin FranklinBe civil to all; sociable to many; familiar with few; friend to one; enemy to none. Benjamin FranklinBe slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing. Benjamin FranklinBeware of the young doctor and the old barber. Benjamin FranklinDo not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight. Benjamin FranklinDrive thy business or it will drive thee. Benjamin FranklinEarly to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. Benjamin FranklinEducate your children to self-control, to the habit of holding passion and prejudice and evil tendencies subject to an upright and reasoning will, and you have done much to abolish misery from their future and crimes from society. Benjamin FranklinEmploy thy time well, if thou meanest to get leisure. Benjamin FranklinEnergy and persistence conquer all things. Benjamin FranklinGenius without education is like silver in the mine. Benjamin FranklinGlass, china and reputation are easily cracked, and never well mended. Benjamin FranklinGod heals, and the doctor takes the fees. Benjamin FranklinHaving been poor is no shame, but being ashamed of it, is. Benjamin FranklinHe is ill clothed that is bare of virtue. Benjamin FranklinHe that blows the coals in quarrels that he has nothing to do with, has no right to complain if the sparks fly in his face. Benjamin FranklinHe that can have patience can have what he will. Benjamin FranklinHe that falls in love with himself will have no rivals. Benjamin FranklinHe that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else. Benjamin FranklinHe that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money. Benjamin FranklinHe that lives upon hope will die fasting. Benjamin FranklinHe that would live in peace and at ease, must not speak all he knows nor judge all he sees. Benjamin FranklinHide not your talents, they for use were made. What’s a sun-dial in the shade? Benjamin FranklinHow many observe Christ’s birthday! How few, his precepts! O! ’tis easier to keep Holidays than Commandments. Benjamin FranklinI am in the prime of senility. Benjamin FranklinIf you know how to spend less than you get, you have the philosopher's stone. Benjamin FranklinIf you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting. Benjamin FranklinIf you would know the value of money, go try to borrow some; for he that goes a-borrowing goes a-sorrowing. Benjamin FranklinIf you would persuade, you must appeal to interest rather than intellect. Benjamin FranklinIf you wouldst live long, live well, for folly and wickedness shorten life. Benjamin FranklinIf your head is wax, don’t walk in the sun. Benjamin FranklinNever leave that till tomorrow which you can do today. Benjamin FranklinRemember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. Benjamin FranklinSearch others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices. Benjamin FranklinSloth makes all things difficult, but industry, all things easy. He that rises late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night, while laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes him. Benjamin FranklinSo convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do. Benjamin FranklinThere is no kind of dishonesty into which otherwise good people more easily and frequently fall than that of defrauding the government. Benjamin FranklinThree may keep a secret, if two of them are dead. Benjamin FranklinWell done is better than well said. Benjamin FranklinWho is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody. Benjamin FranklinYou may delay, but time will not. Benjamin FranklinThey that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759But in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. Benjamin Franklin, Letter to Jean Baptiste Le Roy, 1789Fish and visitors smell in three days. Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1736To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals. Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1737Wish not so much to live long as to live well. Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1738Creditors have better memories than debtors. Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1758We all dream; we do not understand our dreams, yet we act as if nothing strange goes on in our sleep minds, strange at least by comparison with the logical, purposeful doings of our minds when we are awake. Erich Fromm, The Forgotten LanguageI never dared to be radical when young For fear it would make me conservative when old. Robert Frost, "Ten Mills," A Further Range, 1936I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I? I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. Robert Frost, "The Road Not Taken"If you have knowledge, let others light their candles at it. Margaret FullerHow often I found where I should be going only by setting out for somewhere else. R. Buckminster Fuller |
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If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error. John Kenneth GalbraithUnder capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite. John Kenneth GalbraithHonest disagreement is often a good sign of progress. Mahatma GandhiWhatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it. Mahatma GandhiIt is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err. Mahatma GandhiI was born at the age of twelve on an MGM lot. Judy Garland640k ought to be enough for anybody. Bill Gates, 1981In battling evil, excess is good; for he who is moderate in announcing the truth is presenting half-truth. He conceals the other half out of fear of the people's wrath. Kahlil Gibran, "Narcotics and Dissecting Knives," Thoughts and Meditations, 1960It’s all right to have butterflies in your stomach. Just get them to fly in formation. Dr. Rob GilbertNot a shred of evidence exists in favor of the idea that life is serious. Brendan GillMarketing is all there is. You don’t win with better shipping or manufacturing or accounts payable. You win with better marketing. Seth Godin, former Vice President of Marketing, Yahoo!I don’t want any yes-men around me. I want everybody to tell me the truth even if it costs them their jobs. Samuel GoldwynA hospital is no place to be sick. Samuel GoldwynThere is no snooze button on a cat who wants breakfast. Cathy GoodwinBut . . . But, we already paid for this crap. Heidi Gorr, Illinois State University student, August 24, 1990Either I’ve been missing something or nothing has been going on. Karen Elizabeth Gordon“. . . When somebody asks me a question like that, I want to say, “Look, if you want to be a Christian, give your life to God and He’ll tell you what you can and can’t do.” Amy GrantThe remarkable thing about Shakespeare is that he really is very good, in spite of all the people who say he is very good. Robert GravesLiving in a vacuum sucks. Adrienne E. Gusoff |
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Lack of money is no obstacle. Lack of an idea is an obstacle.Ken HakutaPray that your loneliness may spur you into finding something to live for, great enough to die for. Dag HammarskjoldDuring the last days of Walt Disney’s life, right before he died, a guy came in to see him. The guy comes in and says, “Oh Walt, it’s so terrible, you’re not going to get to see Epcot and Disney World.” And Walt looks at him and says, “Are you kidding me? If I didn’t see it my mind, you’ll never see it in your experience.” Mark Victor HansenWhat do you want?—Write it down, visualize it, dream it, team it, and scheme it, and it’s yours. Mark Victor HansenThe word “politics” is derived from the word “poly,” meaning “many,” and the word “ticks,” meaning “blood sucking parasites.” Larry HardimanThe Romans would never have found time to conquer the world if they had been obliged first to learn Latin. Heinrich HeineIn the absence of light, darkness prevails. There are things that go bump in the night, Agent Myers; make no mistake about that. And we are the ones who bump back. Professor Trevor “Broom” Bruttenholm, HellboyBad men cannot make good citizens. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience are incompatible with freedom. Patrick HenryThou that has given so much to me, Give one thing more, a grateful heart, Not thankful when it pleaseth me, As if thy blessings had spare days; But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise. George HerbertWhat came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music? Rob Gordon, High FidelityHold a picture of yourself long and steadily enough in your mind’s eye, and you will be drawn toward it. Napoleon Hill, Think And Grow RichSuccess seems to be connected with action. Successful men keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit. Conrad HiltonSurely there comes a time when counting the cost and paying the price aren’t things to think about any more. All that matters is value—the ultimate value of what one does. James HiltonThis paperback is very interesting, but I find it will never replace a hardcover book; it makes a very poor doorstop. Alfred HitchcockThere is no experience better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up. John Andrew HolmerA word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanged; it is the skin of a living thought, and may vary greatly in color and content according to the circumstances and the time in which it is used. Oliver Wendell HolmesLawyers spend a great deal of their time shoveling smoke. Oliver Wendell Holmes, JrClassical music is the kind we keep thinking will turn into a tune. Kin HubbardA man is not idle because he is absorbed in thought. There is a visible labor and there is an invisible labor. Victor Hugo, 1862You must hold on to the secure lifeline provided by the truth that God knows. He is intimately acquainted with all your ways. He doesn’t watch you from a distance. No feeling, no hurt, no scar, no wound has ever escaped His notice. Bill Hybels |
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The trick is to make sure you don’t die waiting for prosperity to come.Lee IacoccaLiterature is the garment which one puts on what he says or writes so that it may appear more attractive. Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq, Muslim scholar and philosopherIt's said that the dreamcatcher holds the destiny of the future. Inktomi, Legendary Teacher of WisdomYou've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was. Irish ProverbIn our every deliberation we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations. from the Great Law of the Iroquois ConfederacyThe best armor is to keep out of range. Italian Proverb |
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Dreams can become a reality when we possess a vision that is characterized by the willingness to work hard, a desire for excellence and a belief in our right and our responsibility to be equal members of society. Janet JacksonI’m starting with the man in the mirror I’m asking him to change his ways And no message could've been any clearer: If you want to make the world a better place Take a look at yourself and then make that change. Michael Jackson, “Man in the Mirror”If you believe everything you read, better not read. Japanese ProverbThe man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers. Thomas JeffersonAn honest man can feel no pleasure in the exercise of power over his fellow citizens. Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to John Melish, January 13, 1813Never fear the want of business. A man who qualifies himself well for his calling, never fails of employment. Thomas JeffersonI never believed there was one code of morality for a public and another for a private man. Thomas JeffersonThe man who stops advertising to save money is like the man who stops his watch to save time. Thomas Jefferson It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." .Thomas JeffersonThe duty of a patriot is to protect his country from its government. Thomas JeffersonI like work; it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours. Jerome K. JeromeIt is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do. Jerome K. JeromeCompassion is the ultimate and most meaningful embodiment of emotional maturity. It is through compassion that a person achieves the highest peak and deepest reach in his or her search for self-fulfillment. Arthur JersildDon’t be sweet, lest you be eaten up; don’t be bitter, lest you be spewed out. Jewish ProverbIt’s odd that you can get so anesthetized by your own pain or your own problem that you don’t quite fully share the hell of someone close to you. Lady Bird JohnsonFew things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance. Samuel JohnsonOur business in life is not to get ahead of others, but to get ahead of ourselves to break our own records, to outstrip our yesterday by our today. Stewart B. JohnsonOurs is the age that is proud of machines that think and suspicious of men who try to. H. Mumford JonesYou have to expect things of yourself before you can do them. Michael Jordan |
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Enlightenment is the emancipation of man from a state of self-imposed tutelage . . . of incapacity to use his own intelligence without external guidance. Such a state of tutelage I call “self-imposed” if it is due, not to lack of intelligence, but to lack of courage or determination to use one’s own intelligence without the help of a leader. Sapere audé! Dare to use your own intelligence! This is the battle-cry of the Enlightenment.Immanuel Kant, 1785Life is a great big canvas; throw all the paint you can at it. Danny KayeAs an artist, I find no greater satisfaction than knowing that my gift of art holds significance and importance to another. Each one of us is fulfilled when we give out of who we are and find that our gift is received. As we continue to give of that which was given to us, we see a continual confirmation of our “being.” And that’s why I carry on. Phil KeaggyCollege isn't the place to go for ideas. Helen KellerMany persons have the wrong idea about what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose. Helen Keller, 1880-1968, blind and deaf writer and lecturerKeep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. Helen Adams Keller (1880-1968)When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another. Helen KellerSometimes I just wanna kill all these people. Rob Kendall, while cold-calling prospects of questionable intelligenceDon’t agonize. Organize. Florynce KennedyIf a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich. John F. KennedyThose who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable. John F. KennedyTake what you can use and let the rest go by. Ken KeseyThe avoidance of taxes is the only intellectual pursuit that carries any reward. John Maynard KeynesPoliticians are the same all over. They promise to build bridges even when there are no rivers. Nikita KhrushchevGeniuses are like a thunderstorm: They go against the wind, terrify people, clear the air. Søren KierkegaardHe who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. Martin Luther King, Jr.Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Martin Luther King, Jr.Nobody loves me but my mother, and she could be jiving, too. B.B. KingThe absence of alternatives clears the mind marvelously. Henry KissingerThe main reason people struggle financially is because they spent years in school but learned nothing about money. The result is, people learn to work for money . . . but never learn to have money work for them. Robert Kiyosaki, Rich Dad, Poor DadIt is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society. KrishnamurtiWhat can you say about a society that says that God is dead and Elvis is alive? Irv Kupcinet |
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I am determined that my children shall be brought up in their father's religion, if they can find out what it is.Charles LambA lot of people mistake a short memory for a clear conscience. Doug LarsonNever give a child a sword. Latin ProverbMany a man in love with a dimple makes the mistake of marrying the whole girl. Stephen LeacockFood is an important part of a balanced diet. Fran LebowitzOn my income tax 1040 it says "Check this box if you are blind." I wanted to put a check mark about three inches away. Tom Lehrer, lecturing in The Nature of Math, April 4, 1990I wish people who have trouble communicating would just shut up. Tom LehrerThose of us who struggle in our own ways, small or great, trickles or rivers, to create, are constantly having to unlearn what the world would teach us; it is not easy to keep a child’s high creativity in these late years of the twentieth century. Madeleine L’Engle, Walking on Water, 1998Underneath this flabby exterior is an enormous lack of character. Oscar LevantSomewhere on this globe, every ten seconds, there is a woman giving birth to a child. She must be found and stopped. Sam LevensonThe only cure for grief is action. George Henry LewesYou don’t have a Soul. You are a Soul. You have a body. C.S. LewisWhat seem our worst prayers may really be, in God’s eyes, our best. Those, I mean, which are least supported by devotional feeling. For these may come from a deeper level than feeling. God sometimes seems to speak to us most intimately when He catches us, as it were, off our guard. C.S. LewisWe live, in fact, in a world starved for solitude, silence, and private: and therefore starved for meditation and true friendship. C.S. LewisWhat is praising God? It’s acknowledging the absolute sovereignty and loving care that God has for each one of His people who acknowledge and praise His name. Lauren Libby, Vice President,It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues. Abraham LincolnThis country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can excercise their constitutional right of amending it, or excercise their revolutionary right to overthrow it. Abraham LincolnTact is the ability to describe others as they see themselves. Abraham LincolnMy great concern is not whether God is on our side, My great concern is to be on God’s side. Abraham LincolnGood communication is as stimulating as black coffee and just as hard to sleep after. Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift From the SeaIndividual commitment to a group effort, that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work. Vincent Thomas “Vince” LombardiIf you’ll not settle for anything less than your best, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish in your lives. Vincent Thomas “Vince” LombardiLives of great men all remind us we can make our lives sublime. And, departing, leave behind us footprints on the sands of time. Henry Wadsworth LongfellowMost people would succeed in small things if they were not troubled with great ambitions. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Driftwood; Table Talk, 1857Look not mournfully into the past. It comes not back again. Wisely improve the present. It is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy future, without fear. Henry Wadsworth LongfellowOne of the most adventurous things left us is to go to bed. For no one can lay a hand on our dreams. E. V. Lucas, 365 Days and One More |
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It is a common delusion that you make things better by talking about them.Dame Rose MacaulayIf instead of a gem, or even a flower, we could cast the gift of a lovely thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give. George Mac DonaldDon’t think there are no crocodiles because the water is calm. Malayan ProverbAll men who have achieved great things have been great dreamers. Orison Swett MardenThe most overlooked advantage to owning a computer is that if they foul up there’s no law against wacking them around a little. Joe Martin, PorterfieldForget her, Stanley . . . That girl will tear your heart out, put it in a blender, and hit "frappe." Charlie, The MaskDid you know that the first Matrix was designed to be a perfect human world? Where none suffered, where everyone would be happy. It was a disaster. No one would accept the program. Entire crops were lost. Some believed we lacked the programming language to describe your perfect world. But I believe that, as a species, human beings define their reality through suffering and misery. The perfect world was a dream that your primitive cerebrum kept trying to wake up from. Which is why the Matrix was redesigned to this: the peak of your civilization. Agent Smith, The MatrixDo you want to know what it is, Neo? It’s that feeling you have had all your life. That feeling that something was wrong with the world. You don’t know what it is but it’s there, like a splinter in your mind, driving you mad, driving you to me. But what is it? The Matrix is everywhere, it’s all around us, here even in this room. You can see it out your window, or on your television. You feel it when you go to work, or go to church or pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth. Morpheus, The MatrixThere's a difference between knowing the path, and walking the path. Morpheus, The MatrixIf real is what you can feel, smell, taste and see, then ‘real’ is simply electrical signals interpreted by your brain. Morpheus, The MatrixNeo: Are you telling me I can dodge bullets? Morpheus: No. What I’m telling you, Neo, is that when you’re ready, you won't have to. Neo and Morpheus, The MatrixThe answer is out there, Neo, and it’s looking for you, and it will find you if you want it to. Trinity, The MatrixIn literature as in love, we are astonished at what is chosen by others. Andre MauroisMcCabe’s Law: Nobody has to do anything. Charles McCabeIt is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument. William G. McAdooThe older I grow the more I distrust the familiar doctrine that age brings wisdom. H.L. MenckenConscience is the inner voice that warns us that someone might be looking. H.L. MenckenThe difference between a moral man and a man of honor is that the latter regrets a discreditable act, even when it has worked and he has not been caught." Henry MenckenThe capacity of human beings to bore one another seems to be vastly greater than that of any other animal. H.L. MenckenFifteen hundred years ago, everybody “knew” that the Earth was the center of the universe. Five hundred years ago, everybody “knew” that the Earth was flat. And 15 minutes ago, you “knew” that humans were alone on this planet. Imagine what you'll “know” tomorrow. Kay, Men in BlackMany men simply believe all women are retards, and you could outthink and outdo them till your Christian hell froze over and they’d still believe you couldn't do it . . . When you deal with that, that’s dealing with an image . . . They have an image of “woman” and they won’t interact with the reality no matter how different it is from the image, or how strongly the difference asserts itself. They will not see it. They cannot see it. And in fact they will try to punish you for failing to fit their idea of what you should be. Perhaps in subtle ways, because they cannot recognize it openly, but they will try to punish you to get you to conform to what they expect of you. That’s all I'm talking about. It’s exactly the same thing, only magnified, for a public figure. None avoid it. Whatever you do, they will twist it to fit the image or they will punish you for not fitting the image, but either way you are chained for life to the almighty image. Melisa Michaels, Cold IronCompassion is the keen awareness of the interdependence of all things. Thomas MertonIn an age where there is much talk about ‘being yourself’ I reserve to myself the right to forget about being myself, since in any case there is very little chance of my being anybody else. Rather, it seems to me that when one’s too intent on ‘being himself’ he runs the risk of impersonating a shadow. Thomas MertonMost conversations are simply monologues delivered in the presence of a witness. Margaret MillerOne of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries. A.A. MilneImagine what it would be like if TV actually were good. It would be the end of everything we know. Marvin MinksyA fellow who is always declaring he's no fool usually has his suspicions. Wilson MiznerGod help those who do not help themselves. Wilson MiznerA wise man is superior to any insults which can be put upon him, and the best reply to unseemly behavior is patience and moderation. Molière, Le Bourgeois Gentil-HommeIt has all been very interesting. Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, last words, 1762An author is a fool who, not content with boring those he lives with, insists on boring future generations. Charles de Montesquieu |
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If I have ever made any valuable discoveries, it has been owing more to patient attention, than to any other talent.Isaac Newton In order to hold onto something new, you have to be ready and willing to let go of something old. And most people want more without letting go. I tell people if you want new, great things in your hand, what’s currently filling you’re hand? . . . And if you’re ready to move forward, then be ready to let that go. Lisa Nichols, Teacher of “The Secret”It’s choice—not chance—that determines your destiny. Jean NidetchWhoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he doesn’t become a monster. Friedrich NietzscheIt is hard enough to remember my opinions, without also remembering my reasons for them! Friedrich NietzscheFear not that thy life shall come to an end, but rather fear that it shall never have a beginning. John Henry Cardinal NewmanWhen you make a world tolerable for yourself, you make a world tolerable for others. Anaïs NinThrow your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country. Anaïs Nin, The Diaries of Anaïs NinEverything starts as somebody’s daydream. Larry Niven |
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Sometimes the best way to make a difference is to be the difference.Gwen OlsenThere is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home. Ken Olson, president, chairman, and founder of Digital Equipment Corporation, 1977I take my children everywhere, but they always find their way back home. Robert OrbenIn all realms of life, it takes courage to stretch your limits, express your power, and fulfill your potential; it's no different in the financial realm. Suze OrmanThe mystery of government is not how Washington works but how to make it stop. P.J. O'RourkeHumans are the only animals that have children on purpose with the exception of guppies, who like to eat theirs. P.J. O'RourkeTake rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop. Ovid |
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Louis Pasteur’s theory of germs is ridiculous fiction. Pierre Pachet, professor of physiology at Toulouse, 1872Magnificent promises are always to be suspected. Theodore ParkerRomance without finance ain’t got no chance. Charlie ParkerSince we cannot know all that there is to be known about anything, we ought to know a little about everything. Blaise PascalAn executive is a person who always decides; sometimes he decides correctly, but he always decides. John H. PattersonI guess it’s hard for people who are so used to things the way they are—even if they’re bad—to change. ’Cause they kind of give up. And when they do, everybody kind of loses. Trevor McKenney, Pay it ForwardAn economist is an expert who will know tomorrow why the things he predicted yesterday didn't happen today. Laurence J. PeterAgainst logic there is no armor like ignorance. Laurence J. PeterEveryone rises to their level of incompetence. Laurence J. Peter, The Peter PrincipleExcellent firms don’t believe in excellence—only in constant improvement and constant change Thomas J. PetersWear the old coat and buy the new book. Austin PhelpsI love really big thinking. Think about it. Take a dream and super-size it this week. Big thinking is the root of all positive change in the world. Robbin PhillipsComputers are useless. They can only give you answers. Pablo PicassoEverything you can imagine is real. Pablo PicassoYouth has no age. Pablo PicassoNo law or ordinance is mightier than understanding. Plato, LawsThe price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men. PlatoThe soul of man is immortal and imperishable. PlatoThose who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night. Edgar Allan PoeComputers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons. Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949I don’t have a bank account, because I don’t know my mother’s maiden name. Paula PoundstoneUnless man is committed to the belief that all mankind are his brothers, then he labors in vain and hypocritically in the vineyards of equality. Adam Clayton Powell Jr, Black Power: A Form of Godly Power, 1967Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it. Colin PowellWe are taught that true creativity is rare, and so we do not nurture our own. "Rare" begins to mean "impossible." Sara PowellThere is some urge in me to cast shadows on paper, to toss thoughts into being, if only here. Who will read these scattered words? Who will think as I have, as the sun warms my feet and the Son warms my heart? Who will know the faces that bring words spilling onto paper? Who will pray for this circle of hands that touch? O God, I lift hands to you and pray that these words, my mother of all books in my heart, are, for some reason, part of your plan. Sara PowellI am a poet, and the words I write will last forever, while I fade away. Sara Powell (1989)I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won't last out the year. Prentice Hall’s business books editor, 1957I don't know anything about music. In my line you don't have to. Elvis PresleyCorrect me if I'm wrong, but hasn’t the fine line between sanity and madness gotten finer? George PriceYou don’t stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing. Michael PritchardTechnology is dominated by two types of people: those who understand what they do not manage, and those who manage what they do not understand. Putt's Law |
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[It's] time for the human race to enter the solar system.Dan QuayleI stand by all the misstatements that I’ve made. Dan Quayle, to Sam Donaldson, August 17, 1989 |
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Whatever their future, at the dawn of their lives, men seek a noble vision of man's nature and of life's potentialAyn Rand, The FountainheadA computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any invention in human history, with the possible exceptions of handguns and tequila. Mitch RatcliffeWhen I saw all those doctors around me, I thought, I hope they’re all Republicans. Ronald Reagan, after the surgery that saved him from an assassin’s bulletIn theory, there is no difference between theory and practice; in practice, there is. Chuck ReidHumanity has advanced, when it has advanced, not because it has been sober, responsible, and cautious, but because it has been playful, rebellious, and immature. Tom RobbinsThis world is given as the prize for the men in earnest; and that which is true of this world, is truer still of the world to come. Frederick William RobertsonI do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature. John D. RockefellerNothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely. RodinThe more you observe politics, the more you've got to admit that each party is worse than the other. Will RogersLive in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip. Will RogersI don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts. Will RogersWe go the direction we face, and we face the direction we think. Jim RohnLearn how to turn frustration into fascination. You will learn more being fascinated by life than you will by being frustrated by it. Jim RohnNo one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Eleanor RooseveltThe future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Eleanor RooseveltThe only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts about reality. Franklin Delano Roosevelt.It is fun being in the same decade with you. Franklin D. Roosevelt, in a letter to Winston ChurchillFar and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing. Theodore Roosevelt, September 7, 1903Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. Theodore RooseveltIt is better to be faithful than famous. Theodore RooseveltTo announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Theodore Roosevelt, 1918It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. Theodore Roosevelt, 1910The best executive is the one who has enough sense to pick good people to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it. Theodore RooseveltI was a vegetarian until I started leaning toward the sunlight. Rita RudnerThe highest reward for a person’s toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it. John RuskinAristotle maintained that women have fewer teeth than men; although he was twice married, it never occurred to him to verify this statement by examining his wives' mouths. Bertrand RussellMany people would sooner die than think; In fact, they do so. Bertrand RussellPatriotism is the willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons. Bertrand RussellTo be able to fill leisure intelligently is the last product of civilization, and at present very few people have reached this level. Bertrand Russell |
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Addresses are given to us to conceal our whereabouts.Saki (H.H. Munro)Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness. George SandSure, winning isn't everything. It's the only thing. Harry SandersFinance is the art of passing money from hand to hand until it finally disappears. Robert W. SarnoffI reject your reality, and substitute my own. Adam Savage, of Discovery Channel’s MythbustersI know the answer! The answer lies within the heart of all mankind! The answer is . . . twelve? . . . I think I'm in the wrong building. Charles M. SchultzAny intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius—and a lot of courage—to move in the opposite direction. E.F. SchumacherHappiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory. Albert SchweitzerYou must give some time to your fellow man. Even if it’s a little thing, do something for those who have need of help, something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it. For remember, you don’t live in a world all your own. Your brothers are here, too. Albert SchweitzerI’m Hub McCann. I’ve fought in two world wars and countless smaller ones on three continents. I’ve led thousands of men into battle with everything from horses and swords to artillery and tanks. I’ve seen the headwaters of the Nile, and tribes of natives no white man had ever seen before. I’ve won and lost a dozen fortunes, killed many men and loved only one woman with a passion a flea like you could never begin to understand. That’s who I am. Now, go home, boy! Hub McCann, Secondhand LionsYou know the Greeks didn’t write obituaries. They only asked one question after a man died: “Did he have passion?” Dean Kansky, SerendipityMaybe the absence of signs is a sign. Jonathan Trager, SerendipityBe wary of the man who urges an action in which he himself incurs no risk. Joaquin SetantiI was going to buy a copy of The Power of Positive Thinking, and then I thought: What the hell good would that do? Ronnie ShakesThe first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers. William Shakespeare, Henry IV Part IThis above all: to thine own self be true And it must follow, as the night the day Thou canst not then be false to any man. William Shakespeare, as Polonius, Hamlet, Act I, Scene iii To what base uses we may return, Horatio! . . . No, faith, not a jot, but to follow him thither with modesty enough, and likelihood to lead it; as thus: Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander returneth to dust; the dust is earth; of earth we make loam; and why of that loam whereto he was converted might they not stop a beer barrel? Imperious Caesar, dead and turned to clay,Might stop a hole to keep the wind away. William Shakespeare, as Hamlet, Hamlet, Act V, Scene iReality is wrong. Dreams are for real. Tupac ShakurThe reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man. George Bernard ShawAll great truths begin as blasphemies. George Bernard ShawNothing is ever accomplished by a reasonable man. George Bernard ShawThe power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it. George Bernard ShawDo not wrong or hate your neighbor, for it is not he that you wrong: You wrong yourself. Shawnee Indian ChantYou can make a lot of money with an awesome marketing plan and a mediocre product. You will never even come close to making as much with an awesome product and a mediocre marketing plan. Ann Sieg, Lies Of Network MarketingYou can have the most lucrative compensation plan in the world, with the most revolutionary product on the planet and the greatest upline ever—but if you're using ancient and ineffective techniques to market your business, none of that matters. Ann Sieg, The Renegade Network MarketerLife is too important to take seriously. Corky Siegel“Freedom is not something you get as a present,” said Pietro. “You can live in a dictatorship and be free—on one condition: that you fight the dictatorship. The man who thinks with is own mind and keeps it uncorrupted is free. The man who fights for what he thinks is right is free. But you can live in the most democratic country on earth, and if you’re lazy, obtuse or servile within yourself, you’re not free. Even without any violent coercion, you’re a slave. You can’t beg your freedom from someone. You have to seize it—everyone as much as he can.” Ignazio Silone, Bread and WineThe real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do. B.F. SkinnerWe must free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest. We must learn to sail in high winds. Leif SmithHe had occasional flashes of silence, that made his conversation perfectly delightful. Sydney Smith, referring to MacaulayThink not those faithful who praise all thy words and actions, but those who kindly reprove thy faults. SocratesIt is not living that is important, but living rightly. SocratesI was bruised and battered And I couldn’t tell what I felt I was unrecognizable to myself Saw my reflection in a window I didn’t know my own face Oh brother are you gonna leave me wasting away On the streets of Philadelphia? Bruce Springsteen, from “Streets of Philadelphia”A good rule is never to look into the face of man in the morning until you have looked into the face of God. An equally good rule is always to have business with heaven before you have any business on earth. Charles H. SpurgeonThe moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, 1890Someone s always playing corporation games Who cares? They’re always changing corporation names We just want to dance here, someone stole the stage They call us “irresponsible,” write us off the page Marconi plays the mamba, listen to the radio Don’t you remember? We built this city on rock ’n roll Starship, “We Built This City”And he piled upon the whale’s white hump, the sum of all the rage and hate felt by his whole race. If his chest had been a cannon, he would have shot his heart upon it. Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek: First Contact, quoting from Moby DickLuminous beings are we, not this crude matter. Master Yoda, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes BackEverybody knows if you are too careful you are so occupied in being careful that you are sure to stumble over something. Gertrude Stein, Everybody’s Autobiography, 1937Man does not live by words alone, despite the fact that sometimes he has to eat them. Adlai E. Stevenson Jr, quoted in Human Behavior, May 1978Freedom is not an ideal, it is not even a protection, if it means nothing more than freedom to stagnate, to live without dreams, to have no greater aim than a second car and another television set. Adlai E. Stevenson JrYou cannot run away from a weakness; you must sometimes fight it out or perish. And if that be so, why not now, and where you stand? Robert Louis StevensonRock ’n roll has become a great mongrel form, it needs new blood like a vampire: get this, suck that, exploit here and there; then it grows and stays contemporary. It’s not a stationary thing, it has to move on. Sting, in an interview with Creem Magazine, February 1991A diplomat . . . is a person who can tell you to go to hell in such a way that you actually look forward to the trip. Caskie StinnettThe days of the digital watch are numbered. Tom StoppardIt’s not the voting that’s democracy; it’s the counting. Tom StoppardIf Jesus Christ be God, and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him. C.T. StuddTo love is to receive a glimpse of heaven. Karen SundeBlessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed. Jonathan SwiftDiscovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought. Albert von Szent-Gyorgyi |
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Oil prices have fallen lately. We include this news for the benefit of gas stations, which otherwise wouldn’t learn of it for six months.Bill Tammeus, in Toronto’s National Newspaper, 1991The great thing about television is that if something important happens anywhere in the world, day or night, you can always change the channel. From the television show, TaxiIf thou shouldst never see my face again, Pray for my soul. More things are wrought by prayer Than this world dreams of. Alfred, Lord Tennyson, "The Passing of Arthur"I hold it true,what’er befall; I feel it, when I sorrow most; ’Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all. Alfred, Lord Tennyson, “In Memoriam”Nobody in the game of football should be called a genius. A genius is somebody like Norman Einstein. Joe Theisman, Former quarterbackThe cloning of humans is on most of the lists of things to worry about from Science, along with behaviour control, genetic engineering, transplanted heads, computer poetry and the unrestrained growth of plastic flowers. Lewis ThomasWashington is the only place where sound travels faster than light. C.V.R. ThompsonDreams are the touchstones of our character. Henry David ThoreauLife is something that everyone should try at least once. James ThurberIt is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers. Henry J. TillmanAnyone nit-picking enough to write a letter of correction to an editor doubtless deserves the error that provoked it. Alvin TofflerIn the name of God, stop a moment, cease your work, look around you. Leo TolstoyI have learned this at least by my experiment: if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. Henry David ThoreauAny fool can make a rule, and any fool will mind it. Henry David ThoreauLife is something that everyone should try at least once. Henry J. TillmanNot all who wander are lost. J.R.R. TolkienReality is nothing but a collective hunch. Lily TomlinAmerica is a large, friendly dog in a very small room. Every time it wags its tail, it knocks over a chair. Arnold ToynbeeEducation . . . has produced a vast population able to read but unable to distinguish what is worth reading. G.M. TrevelyanOnce a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear. Harry S Truman, August 8, 1950The one sure way to success is to know everything you can about what you do. Donald TrumpIf you're going to think, think big. If you're going to live, live large. Donald TrumpYour mind can build castles—just make sure the foundations are in place first. Donald TrumpJust the omission of Jane Austen's books alone would make a fairly good library out of a library that hadn't a book in it. Mark TwainThe man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them. Mark TwainA classic is something that everybody wants to have read and nobody has read. Mark TwainSuppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself. Mark TwainWhen we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained. Mark TwainHonesty is the best policy—when there is money in it. Mark TwainAlways do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. Mark TwainA banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining, but wants it back the minute it begins to rain. Mark TwainA lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes. Mark TwainA man cannot be comfortable without his own approval. Mark TwainAdvertisements contain the only truths to be relied on in a newspaper. Mark TwainAll you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure. Mark TwainAlways acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more. Mark TwainBe careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint. Mark Twain |
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It's hard for many people to believe that there are extraordinary things inside themselves, as well as others. I hope you can keep an open mind. Elijah Price, UnbreakableYou know what the scariest thing is? To not know your place in this world. Elijah Price, UnbreakableA friend is someone who will help you move. A real friend is someone who will help you move a body. UnknownArtificial Intelligence is no match for natural stupidity. UnknownA stitch in time would have confused Einstein. UnknownAn effective way to deal with predators is to taste terrible. UnknownAll power corrupts, but we need the electricity. UnknownThere's a pinch of the madman in every great man. UnknownIf the world should blow itself up, the last audible voice would be that of an expert saying it can't be done. Peter Ustinov |
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Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow.Jeff ValdezWhen a thought is too weak to be expressed simply, simply drop it. Marquis de VauvenarguesIf you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. Vincent Van GoghI’ve been amazed at how often those outside the discipline of design assume that what designers do is decoration. Good design is problem solving. Jeffery VeenNever have children, only grandchildren. Gore VidalIt is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong. VoltaireAny reviewer who expresses rage and loathing for a novel is preposterous. He or she is like a person who has put on full armor and attacked a hot fudge sundae. Kurt Vonnegut |
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Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?H.M. Warner, Warner Brothers, 1927I think there is a world market for maybe five computers. Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us. Bill Watterson, creator of Calvin and HobbesNothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself. A.H. WeilerIt matters not whether you win or lose; what matters is whether I win or lose. Darrin WeinbergFor every action there is an equal and opposite government program. Bob WellsBeware you be not swallowed up in books! An ounce of love is worth a pound of knowledge. John WesleyGod show me the way because the Devil trying to break me down (Jesus Walks with me) The only thing that I pray is that me feet don't fail me now (Jesus Walks) And I don't think there is nothing I can do now to right my wrongs (Jesus Walks with me) I want to talk to God but I'm afraid because we ain't spoke in so long Kanye West, Jesus WalksKeep a diary, and someday it'll keep you. Mae WestThis "telephone" has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us. Western Union internal memo, 1876.You have to break in two to love someone. What Dreams May ComeWhat folks call impossible is just something they haven't seen before. What Dreams May ComeLasting fulfillment comes not from achieving and acquiring, but from becoming who you really are. Jennifer WhiteWe think in generalities, but we live in detail. Alfred North WhiteheadBring all the art and science of the world, and baffle and humble it with one spear of grass. Walt WhitmanThe universal and fluid soul impounds within itself not only all the good characters and heroes, but the distorted characters, murderers, thieves. Walt WhitmanThe proof of a poet is that his country absorbs him as affectionately as he has absorbed it. Walt WhitmanExpecting the world to treat you fairly because you are a good person is a little like expecting the bull not to attack you because you are a vegetarian. Dennis WholeyThere may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest. Elie WieselThe difference between literature and journalism is that journalism is unreadable and literature is not read. Oscar WildeI sometimes think that God, in creating man, overestimated His ability. Oscar WildeMost modern calendars mar the sweet simplicity of our lives by reminding us that each day that passes is the anniversary of some perfectly uninteresting event. Oscar WildeI love acting. It is so much more real than life. Oscar WildeThe basis for optimism is sheer terror. Oscar WildeI am not young enough to know everything. Oscar WildeAlas, I am dying beyond my means. Oscar Wilde, as he sipped champagne on his deathbedA little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal. Oscar WildeAlways forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much. Oscar WildeA man cannot be too careful in the choice of his enemies. Oscar WildeArguments are to be avoided; they are always vulgar and often convincing. Oscar WildeBiography lends to death a new terror. Oscar WildeConsistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative. Oscar WildeCynicism is knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing. Oscar WildeFashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months. Oscar WildeThe world is wide, and I will not wast my life in friction when it could be turned into momentum. Frances WillardCynics regarded everybody as equally corrupt . . . Idealists regarded everybody as equally corrupt, except themselves. Robert Anton WilsonNeutrality is no longer feasible or desirable where the peace of the world is involved and the freedom of its peoples, and the menace to that peace and freedom lies in the existence of autocratic governments backed by organized force which is controlled wholly by their will, not by the will of their people. Woodrow Wilson, War Message to Congress, delivered 2 April 1917Every time you suppress some part of yourself or allow others to play you small, you are in essence ignoring the owner's manual your creator gave you and destroying your design. Oprah Winfrey, O Magazine, February 2003I've come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that's as unique as a fingerprint—and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you. Oprah Winfrey, O Magazine, September 2002The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance—and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning. Oprah Winfrey, O Magazine, September 2002I believe that one of life's greatest risks is never daring to risk. Oprah Winfrey, O Magazine, September 2002Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it. Oprah Winfrey, O Magazine, September 2002Before you agree to do anything that might add even the smallest amount of stress to your life, ask yourself: What is my truest intention? Give yourself time to let a yes resound within you. When it's right, I guarantee that your entire body will feel it. Oprah Winfrey, O Magazine, October 2002Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new center of gravity. Don't fight them. Just find a different way to stand. Oprah Winfrey, O Magazine, October 2002The whole point of being alive is to evolve into the complete person you were intended to be. Oprah Winfrey, O MagazineI believe the choice to be excellent begins with aligning your thoughts and words with the intention to require more from yourself. Oprah Winfrey, O Magazine, December 2003Every time you state what you want or believe, you're the first to hear it. It's a message to both you and others about what you think is possible. Don't put a ceiling on yourself. Oprah Winfrey, O Magazine, December 2003Every day brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes, and dance. Oprah Winfrey, O Magazine, May 2003A child, more than all other gifts That earth can offer to declining man, Brings hope with it, and forward-looking thoughts. WordsworthSometimes I dance around my apartment in my underwear. Doesn't make me Madonna; never will. Cyn, Working GirlI bought some batteries, but they weren't included. Steven WrightI woke up one morning and all of my stuff had been stolen . . . and replaced by exact duplicates. Steven WrightI'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize. Steven WrightBorrow money from pessimists. They don't expect it back. Steven WrightHalf the people you know are below average. Steven Wright99% of lawyers give the rest a bad name. Steven Wright42.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot. Steven WrightA conscience is what hurts when all of your other parts feel good. Steven WrightA clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory. Steven WrightI had a crush on my dental hygienist. Before my appointment, I would eat a whole box of Oreo cookies. Steven WrightAll those who believe in psycho kinesis, raise my hand. Steven WrightI almost had a psychic girlfriend, but she left me before we met. Steven WrightOK, so what's the speed of dark? Steven WrightHow do you tell when you're out of invisible ink? Steven WrightIf everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something. Steven WrightDepression is merely anger without enthusiasm. Steven WrightWhen everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane. Steven WrightAmbition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy. Steven WrightHard work pays off in the future, laziness pays off now. Steven WrightI intend to live forever. So far, so good . . . Steven WrightIf Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends? Steven WrightEagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines. Steven WrightWhat happens if you get scared half to death twice? Steven WrightMy mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder." Steven WrightWhy do psychics have to ask you for your name? Steven WrightIf at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried. Steven WrightA conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. Steven WrightExperience is something you don't get until just after you need it. Steven WrightThe hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of the bread. Steven WrightTo steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. Steven Wright |
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Be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone; but if someone puts his hand on you, send him to the cemetery.Malcolm X, Malcolm X Speaks, 1965You're not to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it. Malcolm XScully, I was like you once. I didn't know who to trust. Then I . . . I chose another path . . . another life, another fate, where I found my sister. The end of my world was unrecognisable and upside down. There was one thing that remained the same. You . . . were my friend, and you told me the truth. Even when the world was falling apart, you were my constant . . . my touchstone. Fox Mulder, The X-FilesYou're not being honest with yourself. Think back. There was a time when you feared for your future, for your career when you were first partnered with this man. I told you, I've studied you for years . . . and if you would permit me, I'd like to make an observation. You're drawn to powerful men, but you fear their power. You keep your guard up, a wall around your heart. How else do you explain that fearless devotion to a man obsessed, and, yet, a life alone? You'd die for Mulder but you won't allow yourself to love him. The Cigarette Smoking Man, The X-FilesTime passes in moments . . . moments which, rushing past, define the path of a life, just as surely as they lead towards its end. How rarely do we stop to examine that path, to see the reasons why all things happen, to consider whether the path we take in life is our own making, or simply one into which we drift with eyes closed. But what if we could stop, pause to take stock of each precious moment before it passes? Might we then see the endless forks in the road that have shaped a life? And, seeing those choices, choose another path? Dana Scully, The X-FilesWe call it the miracle of life. Conception—a union of perfect opposites—essence transforming into existence, an act without which mankind would not exist and humanity cease to exist. Or is this just nostalgia now? An act of biology, commandeered by modern science and technology? God-like, we extract, implant, inseminate . . . and we clone. But has our ingenuity rendered the miracle into a simple trick? In the artifice of replicating life, can we become the creator? Then what of the soul? Can it, too, be replicated? Does it live in this matter we call DNA? Or is its placement the opposite of artifice, capable only by God? How did this child come to be? What set its heart beating? Is it the product of a union? Or the work of a divine hand? An answered prayer? A true miracle? Or is it a wonder of technology—the intervention of other hands? What do I tell this child about to be born? What do I tell Scully? And what do I tell myself? Fox Mulder, The X-FilesThere are more worlds than the ones you can hold in your hand. Albert Hosteen, The X-FilesI once had a talk with Mulder about starlight; how it's billions of years old. Stars that are now long dead, whose light is still travelling through time. It won't die, that light. Maybe that's the only thing that never does. He said that's where souls reside. I hope he's right. Dana Scully, The X-FilesI think the most rewarding relationships, the ones that last, are born from friendship. One day you look at the person and see more than you did the night before, like a switch was flicked somewhere. And the person who was just a friend is suddenly the only person you can imagine yourself with. Dana Scully, The X-FilesAnyone who can appease a man's conscience can take his freedom away from him. The Cigarette Smoking Man, The X-FilesThe fiercest enemy is the man who has nothing left to lose. The Cigarette Smoking Man, The X-FilesNothing happens in contradiciton to nature, only in contradiction to what we know of it. Dana Scully, The X-Files |
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The concept is interesting and well-formed, but in order to earn better than a "C," the idea must be feasible.A Yale University management professor in response to Fred Smith's paper proposing reliable overnight delivery service. (Smith later founded Federal Express)Complain to one who can help you. Yugoslav Proverb |
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The ultimate calling upon the follower of Christ is to live a life reflecting who he is. Ravi ZachariasWe are fashioned by God to be thinking and emotional creatures. The emotions should follow reason, and not the other way around. Ravi ZachariasDuct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together . . . Carl Zwanzig |
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