Archive

Quotes

No great idea in its beginning can ever be within the law.

—Emma Goldman, 1917

Ashore it’s wine, women, and song; aboard it’s rum, bum, and concertina.

—British naval saying, c. 1800

The brain may be regarded as a kind of parasite of the organism, a pensioner, as it were, who dwells with the body.

—Arthur Schopenhauer, 1851

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

—Marquis de Vauvenargues, 1746

In times of pestilence, gaiety and joyousness are most profitable.

—Jacme d’Agramont, 1348

Writing cannot express words fully; words cannot express thoughts fully.

—The Book of Changes, c. 350 BC

A man of genius makes no mistakes. His errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery.

—James Joyce, 1922

Curse on all laws but those which love has made.

—Alexander Pope, 1717

No preacher is listened to but time, which gives us the same train and turn of thought that elder people have in vain tried to put into our heads before.

—Jonathan Swift, 1706

When arms speak, the laws are silent.

—Cicero, 52 BC

Power is so apt to be insolent, and Liberty to be saucy, that they are very seldom upon good terms.

—George Savile, c. 1690

Bright youth passes as quickly as thought.

—Theognis, c. 550 BC

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

—The Bible