Any city, however small, is in fact divided into two, one the city of the poor, the other of the rich; these are at war with one another.
—Plato, c. 378 BCQuotes
God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.
—J.M. Barrie, 1922A merchant shall hardly keep himself from doing wrong.
—Ecclesiasticus, c. 180 BCAny serious attempt to do anything worthwhile is ritualistic.
—Derek Walcott, 1986A private sin is not so prejudicial in this world as a public indecency.
—Miguel de Cervantes, 1615Why is not a rat as good as a rabbit? Why should men eat shrimps and neglect cockroaches?
—Henry Ward Beecher, 1862Reality is always the foe of famous names.
—Petrarch, 1337The Romans would never have found time to conquer the world if they had been obliged first to learn Latin.
—Heinrich Heine, 1827Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern them.
—Paul Valéry, 1943One of the animals which a generous and sociable man would soonest become is a dog. A dog can have a friend; he has affections and character; he can enjoy equally the field and the fireside; he dreams, he caresses, he propitiates; he offends and is pardoned; he stands by you in adversity; he is a good fellow.
—Leigh Hunt, 1834The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.
—Aristotle, c. 330 BCThe body is an instrument which only gives off music when it is used as a body.
—Anaïs Nin, 1935There is no art without Eros.
—Max Frisch, 1983