Archive

Quotes

All art is a revolt against man’s fate.

—André Malraux, 1951

Rivalry adds so much to the charms of one’s conquests.

—Louisa May Alcott, 1866

The more enlightened our houses are, the more their walls ooze ghosts.

—Italo Calvino, 1967

The severity of a teacher is better than the love of a father.

—Saadi, 1258

Never trust her at any time when the calm sea shows her false alluring smile.

—Lucretius, c. 60 BC

Till taught by pain, / Men really know not what good water’s worth.

—Lord Byron, 1819

And what will history say of me a thousand years hence?

—Marcus Tullius Cicero, 59 BC

Slang is a language that rolls up its sleeves, spits on its hands, and goes to work.

—Carl Sandburg, 1959

There is no man so fortunate that there shall not be by him when he is dying some who are pleased with what is going to happen.

—Marcus Aurelius, c. 175

Where shall I, of wandering weary, find my resting place at last?

—Heinrich Heine, 1827

Everything that deceives does so by casting a spell.

—Plato, c. 375 BC

The snotgreen sea. The scrotumtightening sea.

—James Joyce, 1922

By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.

—Confucius, c. 500 BC