What is popularly called fame is nothing but an empty name and a legacy from paganism.
—Erasmus, 1515
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Quotes
I have often said that if I wish to name-drop, I have only to list my ex-friends.
—Norman Podhoretz, 1999’Tis not a ridiculous devotion to say a prayer before a game at tables?
—Thomas Browne, 1642People react to fear, not love—they don’t teach that in Sunday school, but it’s true.
—Richard Nixon, 1975Knowledge is an ancient error reflecting on its youth.
—Francis Picabia, 1949A fair complexion is unbecoming to a sailor: he ought to be swarthy from the waters of the sea and the rays of the sun.
—Ovid, c. 1 BCWhen the abbot throws the dice, the whole convent will play.
—Martin Luther, c. 1540Enemies to me are the sauce piquant to my dish of life.
—Elsa Maxwell, 1955Most new discoveries are suddenly-seen things that were always there.
—Susanne K. Langer, 1942No real friendship without absolute liberty.
—George Sand, 1866Commerce has made all winds her ministers.
—John Sterling, 1843The law’s made to take care o’ raskills.
—George Eliot, 1860There is no man so fortunate that there shall not be by him when he is dying some who are pleased with what is going to happen.
—Marcus Aurelius, c. 175