Go to the ant, you lazybones; consider its ways, and be wise.
—Book of Proverbs, c. 350 BC
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Quotes
The Revolution is made by man, but man must forge his revolutionary spirit from day to day.
—Che Guevara, 1968Don’t lose your mind unless you have paid for it.
—Stanisław Jerzy Lec, 1957Fear is the foundation of most governments.
—John Adams, 1776In real friendship the judgment, the genius, the prudence of each party become the common property of both.
—Maria Edgeworth, 1787Medication alone is not to be relied on. In one half the cases medicine is not needed, or is worse than useless. Obedience to spiritual and physical laws—hygiene of the body and hygiene of the spirit—is the surest warrant for health and happiness.
—Harriot K. Hunt, 1856How absurd men are! They never use the liberties they have, they demand those they do not have. They have freedom of thought, they demand freedom of speech.
—Søren Kierkegaard, 1843At a dinner party one should eat wisely but not too well, and talk well but not too wisely.
—W. Somerset Maugham, 1896Drive out nature with a pitchfork, and she will always come back.
—Horace, c. 25 BCLaughter always arises from a gaiety of disposition, absolutely incompatible with contempt and indignation.
—Voltaire, 1736I’ve been bathing in the poem / Of star-infused and milky sea / Devouring the azure greens.
—Arthur Rimbaud, 1871When they shout “Long live progress,” always ask, “Progress of what?”
—Stanisław Jerzy Lec, 1957The mind that is not baffled is not employed.
—Wendell Berry, 1983