Archive

Quotes

Anyone who’s never watched somebody die is suffering from a pretty bad case of virginity.

—John Osborne, 1956

For, say they, when cruising in an empty ship, if you can get nothing better out of the world, get a good dinner out of it, at least.

—Herman Melville, 1851

The things of the night cannot be explained in the day, because they do not then exist.

—Ernest Hemingway, 1929

Whatsoever is, is in God.

—Benedict de Spinoza, 1677

Drunkenness is the very sepulcher / Of man’s wit and his discretion.

—Geoffrey Chaucer, c. 1390

The gods play games with men as balls.

—Plautus, c. 200 BC

Whatever the apparent cause of any riots may be, the real one is always want of happiness.

—Thomas Paine, 1792

Money, not morality, is the principle of commercial nations.

—Thomas Jefferson

The history of the world is the record of the weakness, frailty, and death of public opinion.

—Samuel Butler, c. 1902

Some things are privileged from jest—namely, religion, matters of state, great persons, all men’s present business of importance, and any case that deserves pity.

—Francis Bacon, 1597

In real friendship the judgment, the genius, the prudence of each party become the common property of both.

—Maria Edgeworth, 1787

Without virtue, both riches and honor, to me, seem like the passing cloud.

—Confucius, c. 350 BC

It’s frightening to think that you mark your children merely by being yourself… it seems unfair. You can’t assume the responsibility for everything you do—or don’t do.

—Simone de Beauvoir, 1966