Trade’s proud empire hastes to swift decay.
—Oliver Goldsmith, 1770Quotes
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.
—Saint Augustine, c. 390You shall judge of a man by his foes as well as by his friends.
—Joseph Conrad, 1900The first mistake of art is to assume that it’s serious.
—Lester Bangs, 1971Where shall I, of wandering weary, find my resting place at last?
—Heinrich Heine, 1827Histories are more full of examples of the fidelity of dogs than of friends.
—Alexander Pope, 1709Alongside all swindlers the state now stands there as swindler-in-chief.
—Jacob Burckhardt, c. 1875The best physician is he who can distinguish the possible from the impossible.
—Herophilus, c. 290 BCLove is giving something you haven’t got to someone who doesn’t exist.
—Jacques LacanAnd to our age’s drowsy blood / Still shouts the inspiring sea.
—James Russell Lowell, 1848If you stain clear water with filth, you will never find a drink.
—Aeschylus, 458 BCI don’t believe in an afterlife, although I am bringing a change of underwear.
—Woody Allen, 1971Flesh was the reason why oil painting was invented.
—Willem de Kooning, 1949