Archive

Quotes

It’s the end of the world every day, for someone.

—Margaret Atwood, 2000

The subconscious is ceaselessly murmuring, and it is by listening to these murmurs that one hears the truth.

—Gaston Bachelard, 1960

Iron may break gold, but water remains whole.

—Ge Hong, c. 300

An ugly sight, a man who’s afraid. 

—Jean Anouilh, 1944

I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.

—Thomas Jefferson, 1816

It is impossible to please all the world and one’s father.

—Jean de La Fontaine, 1668

One of the things men should most strive to do is win a good reputation and see that no one questions it.

—Juan Manuel, 1335

There is a demon who puts wings on certain tales and launches them like eagles out into space.

—Alexandre Dumas, 1846

God seems to have left the receiver off the hook, and time is running out.

—Arthur Koestler, 1967

The U.S. presidency is a Tudor monarchy plus telephones.

—Anthony Burgess, 1972

Nobody, sir, dies willingly.

—Antiphanes, c. 370 BC

Even though counting heads is not an ideal way to govern, at least it is better than breaking them.

—Learned Hand, 1932

Democracy produces both heroes and villains, but it differs from a fascist state in that it does not produce a hero who is a villain.

—Margaret Halsey, 1946