A quotation from Kerry Greenwood

[…] the bitterness to which all viola players are prone, while there are violins in the world.

Kerry Greenwood (b. 1954) Australian author and lawyer
Phryne Fisher, Book 15, Death by Water, ch. 10 (2005)


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A quotation from Robert Louis Stevenson

Never allow your mind to dwell on your own misconduct: that is ruin. The conscience has morbid sensibilities; it must be employed but not indulged, like the imagination or the stomach.

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Essay (1880-01/02?), “Reflections and Remarks on Human Life,” § 7.1 “Discipline of Conscience”


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A quotation from Thoreau

It is characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things.

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American philosopher and writer
Walden; or, Life in the Woods, ch. 1 “Economy” (1854)


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A quotation from Shaw

When you see a rich man’s wife (or anyone else’s wife) shaking her head over the thriftlessness of the poor because they do not all save, pity the lady’s ignorance; but do not irritate the poor by repeating her nonsense to them.

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Irish playwright and critic
The Intelligent Woman’s Guide to Socialism and Capitalism, ch. 2 (1928)


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A quotation from Theodore Bikel

To conquer hate seems a nigh impossible task. But I prefer to make common cause with those whose weapons are guitars, banjos, fiddles and words.

Theodore Bikel (1924–2015) Austrian-American actor, singer, political activist.
Essay (2010) in Judea and Ruth Pearl (ed.), I Am Jewish: Personal Reflections Inspired by the Last Words of Daniel Pearl, Part 4


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A quotation from Carlyle

Beware of speaking. Speech is human, Silence is divine: yet also brutish and dead; therefore we must learn both arts, they are both difficult.

Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) Scottish essayist and historian
Notebook (1830-10)


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A quotation from Josh Billings

Kats are very humble, espeshily just after they hav committed sum nu kind ov deviltry.
 
[Cats are very humble, especially just after they have committed some new kind of deviltry.]

Josh Billings (1818-1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1876-02 (1876 ed.)


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A quotation from Franklin

Pride and the Gout,
Are seldom cur’d throughout.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1747 ed.)


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A quotation from Shelley

All things that we love and cherish,
   Like ourselves must fade and perish;
Such is our rude mortal lot —
   Love itself would, did they not.

Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) English poet
Poem (1820), “Death,” st. 4, Posthumous Poems (1824)


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A quotation from Baltasar Gracián

As many tastes as heads, and as different.
 
[Tantos son los gustos como los rostros, y tan varios.]

Baltasar Gracián y Morales (1601-1658) Spanish Jesuit priest, writer, philosopher
The Art of Worldly Wisdom [Oráculo Manual y Arte de Prudencia], § 101 (1647) [tr. Duff (1877)]


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A quotation from Terry Pratchett

People who would not believe a High Priest if he said the sky was blue, and was able to produce signed affidavits to this effect from his white-haired old mother and three Vestal virgins, would trust just about anything whispered darkly behind their hand by a complete stranger in a pub.

Terry Pratchett (1948-2015) English author
Discworld, Book 18, Maskerade (1995)


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A quotation from Samuel Johnson

The desires of man increase with his acquisitions; every step which he advances brings something within his view, which he did not see before, and which, as soon as he sees it, he begins to want. Where necessity ends, curiosity begins; and no sooner are we supplied with every thing that nature can demand, than we sit down to contrive artificial appetites.

Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) English writer, lexicographer, critic
Essay (1758-11-11), The Idler, No. 30


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A quotation from Eleanor Roosevelt

When I see someone who looks fairly desperate, I would rather give money, on the chance of sometimes giving unwisely, than to withhold it from some one person who might need a helping hand and who deserves it.

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) First Lady of the US (1933–1945), politician, diplomat, activist
Column (1942-11), “If You Ask Me,” Ladies’ Home Journal, Vol. 59


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A quotation from Richard Steele

There is no Pleasure like that of receiving Praise from the Praiseworthy.

Richard Steele (1672-1729) Anglo-Irish writer, journalist, playwright, politician
Essay (1709-11-02), The Tatler, No. 89


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A quotation from Adlai Stevenson

The government must be the trustee for the little man because no one else will be. The powerful can usually help themselves — and frequently do.

Adlai Stevenson (1900–1965) American diplomat, statesman
Speech (1955-10-29), “The Crisis in Agriculture,” Democratic Rally, Duluth, Minnesota

Adlai Stevenson quotation


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A quotation from Maurois

Growing old is no more than a bad habit which a busy man has no time to form.
 
[Vieillir n’est qu’une mauvaise habitude; l’homme occupé n’a pas le temps de la prendre.]

André Maurois (1885-1967) French author [b. Émile Salomon Wilhelm Herzog]
The Art of Living [Un Art de Vivre], ch. 8 “The Art of Growing Old” (1939) [tr. Whitall (1940)]


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A quotation from Mark Twain

Laws are coldly reasoned out and established upon what the lawmakers believe to be a basis of right. But customs are not. Customs are not enacted, they grow gradually up, imperceptibly and unconsciously, like an oak from its seed. In the fullness of their strength they can stand up straight in front of a world of argument and reasoning and yield not an inch.

Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
Essay (1906), “The Gorky Incident,” Letters from the Earth (c. 1909; pub. 1962) [ed. DeVoto (1939)]


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A quotation from Robert Louis Stevenson

Solitude is the climax of the negative virtues. When we go to bed after a solitary day we can tell ourselves that we have not been unkind nor dishonest nor untruthful; and the negative virtues are agreeable to that dangerous faculty we call the conscience. That they should ever be admitted for a part of virtue is what I cannot explain. I do not care two straws for all the nots.

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Essay (1880-01/02?), “Reflections and Remarks on Human Life,” § 4.6 “Solitude and Society”


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A quotation from Arthur Conan Doyle

You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is clear.

Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) British writer and physician
Story (1891-07), “A Scandal in Bohemia,” ch. 1 [Holmes], The Strand Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 1


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A quotation from Thomas Carlyle

The weakest living creature, by concentrating his powers on a single object, can accomplish something: the strongest, by dispensing his over many, may fail to accomplish anything. The drop, by continually falling, bores its passage through the hardest rock; the hasty torrent rushes over it with hideous uproar, and leaves no trace behind.

Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) Scottish essayist and historian
The Life of Friedrich Schiller, Part 2 (1825)


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A quotation from Josh Billings

I notiss that when a man runs hiz hed aginst a post, he cusses the post fust, all kreashun next, and sumthing else last, and never thinks ov cussing himself.
 
[I notice that when a man runs his head against a post, he cusses the post first, all creation next, and something else last, and never thinks of cussing himself.]

Josh Billings (1818-1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Josh Billings’ Trump Kards, ch. 7 “When I waz a Boy” (1874)


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A quotation from Ben Franklin

Strive to be the greatest Man in your Country, and you may be disappointed; Strive to be the best, and you may succeed: He may well win the race that runs by himself.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1747 ed.)


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A quotation from Shaw

All censorships exist to prevent any one from challenging current conceptions and existing institutions. All progress is initiated by challenging current conceptions, and executed by supplanting existing institutions. Consequently the first condition of progress is the removal of censorships.

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Irish playwright and critic
Mrs. Warren’s Profession, Preface (1893)


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A quotation from Douglas Adams

It can be very dangerous to see things from somebody else’s point of view without the proper training.

Douglas Adams (1952-2001) English author, humorist, screenwriter
Hitchhiker’s Guide No. 5, Mostly Harmless, ch. 15 (1992)


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A quotation from Nora Ephron

Never marry a man you wouldn’t want to be divorced from.

Nora Ephron (1941-2012) American screenwriter, author, journalist, director
Essay (2006), “What I Wish I’d Known,” I Feel Bad About My Neck (2007)

Never marry a man you wouldn’t want to be divorced from. - Nora Ephron


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A quotation from Molly Ivins

   I am not anti-gun. I’m pro-knife. Consider the merits of the knife.
   In the first place, you have to catch up with someone in order to stab him. A general substitution of knives for guns would promote physical fitness. We’d turn into a whole nation of great runners. Plus, knives don’t ricochet. And people are seldom killed while cleaning their knives.

Molly Ivins (1944-2007) American writer, political columnist [Mary Tyler Ivins]
Essay (1993-03-09), “Get a Knife, Get a Dog, but Get Rid of Guns,” Creators Syndicate column, Fort Worth Star-Telegram


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A quotation from James Howell

One may live and learn, and be hang’d and forget all.

James Howell (c. 1594–1666) Welsh historian and writer
Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659)
[compiler]


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A quotation from Bill Watterson

CALVIN: I don’t care about issues! I’ve got better things to do than argue with every wrong-headed crackpot with an ignorant opinion! I’m a busy man! I say, either agree with me or take a hike! I’m right, period! End of discussion!

Bill Watterson (b. 1958) American cartoonist
Calvin and Hobbes (1993-11-16)

Calvin and Hobbes (1993-11-16) excerpt


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A quotation from Ambrose Bierce

DEMAGOGUE, n. A political opponent.

Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914?) American writer and journalist
“Demagogue,” “Devil’s Dictionary” column, San Francisco Wasp (1882-01-20)


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