Football causeth fighting, brawling, contention, quarrel picking, murder, homicide and great effusion of bloode, as daily experience teacheth.
—Philip Stubbes, 1583
Archive
Quotes
Patriotism is an ephemeral motive that scarcely ever outlasts the particular threat to society that aroused it.
—Denis Diderot, 1774Man has here two and a half minutes—one to smile, one to sigh, and half a one to love; for in the midst of this minute he dies.
—Jean Paul, 1795Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
—George Washington, 1796If you are a dog and your owner suggests that you wear a sweater, suggest that he wear a tail.
—Fran Lebowitz, 1981The only function of a school is to make self-education easier.
—Isaac Asimov, 1974In the matter of furnishing, I find a certain absence of ugliness far worse than ugliness.
—Colette, 1944To be too conscious is an illness—a real thoroughgoing illness.
—Fyodor Dostoevsky, 1864Never trust her at any time when the calm sea shows her false alluring smile.
—Lucretius, c. 60 BCIs all our fire of shipwreck wood?
—Robert Browning, 1862A world is sooner destroyed than made.
—Thomas Burnet, 1684Not all heads have a brain.
—French proverbWhat keeps the democracy alive at all but the hatred of excellence, the desire of the base to see no head higher than their own?
—Mary Renault, 1956