Archive

Quotes

Some of us would be greatly astonished to learn the reasons why others respect us.

—Marquis de Vauvenargues, 1746

Africa has her mysteries, and even a wise man cannot understand them. But a wise man respects them.

—Miriam Makeba, 1988

Intolerance is evidence of impotence.

—Aleister Crowley, c. 1925

Of troubles none is greater than to be robbed of one’s native land.

—Euripides, 431 BC

It’s good to remember that in crises, natural crises, human beings forget for a while their ignorances, their biases, their prejudices. For a little while, neighbors help neighbors and strangers help strangers.

—Maya Angelou, 2011

Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.

—George W. Bush, 2004

No nation is fit to sit in judgment upon any other nation.

—Woodrow Wilson, 1915

“Abroad,” that large home of ruined reputations.

—George Eliot, 1866

Many need no other provocation to enmity than that they find themselves excelled.

—Samuel Johnson, 1751

In settling an island, the first building erected by a Spaniard will be a church, by a Frenchman a fort, by a Dutchman a warehouse, and by an Englishman an alehouse.

—Francis Grose, 1787

Other nations use “force”; we Britons alone use “might.”

—Evelyn Waugh, 1938

When the missionaries first came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said, “Let us pray.” We closed our eyes. When we opened them, we had the Bible and they had the land.

—Desmond Tutu, 1984

A criminal may improve and become a decent member of society. A foreigner cannot improve. Once a foreigner, always a foreigner. There is no way out for him.

—George Mikes, 1946