What a torture to talk to filled heads that allow nothing from the outside to enter them.
—Joseph Joubert, 1807
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Quotes
Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the inclination of your heart and the desire of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
—Book of Ecclesiastes, c. 200 BCWe have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.
—Jonathan Swift, 1706Disbelief in magic can force a poor soul into believing in government and business.
—Tom Robbins, 1976Do you suppose it possible to know democracy without knowing the people?
—Xenophon, c. 370 BCThe brain may be regarded as a kind of parasite of the organism, a pensioner, as it were, who dwells with the body.
—Arthur Schopenhauer, 1851Resorting to the law to resolve a dispute is a declaration of spiritual bankruptcy.
—Quentin Crisp, 1984Real education must ultimately be limited to men who insist on knowing—the rest is mere sheep herding.
—Ezra Pound, 1934As usual, what we call “progress” is the exchange of one nuisance for another nuisance.
—Havelock Ellis, 1914In all the ancient states and empires, those who had the shipping, had the wealth.
—William Petty, 1690Bereavement is a darkness impenetrable to the imagination of the unbereaved.
—Iris Murdoch, 1974Men are generally more pleased with a widespread than with a great reputation.
—Pliny the Younger, c. 110Animals are such agreeable friends—they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.
—George Eliot, 1857