What is life but organized energy?
—Arthur C. Clarke, 1958
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Quotes
The only authors whom I acknowledge as American are the journalists. They indeed are not great writers, but they speak the language of their countrymen, and make themselves heard by them.
—Alexis de Tocqueville, 1840How to gain, how to keep, how to recover happiness is in fact for most men at all times the secret motive of all they do.
—William James, 1902Men argue, nature acts.
—Voltaire, 1764Living is an ailment that is relieved every sixteen hours by sleep. A palliative. Death is the cure.
—Sébastien-Roch Nicolas Chamfort, c. 1790Every individual existence goes out in a lonely spasm of helpless agony.
—William James, 1902Man is the only animal that can remain on friendly terms with the victims he intends to eat until he eats them.
—Samuel Butler, c. 1890Labor disgraces no man; unfortunately, you occasionally find men who disgrace labor.
—Ulysses S. Grant, 1877The country only has charms for those not obliged to stay there.
—Édouard Manet, c. 1860Many, many steeples would have to be stacked one on top of another to reach from the bottom to the surface of the sea. It is down there that the sea folk live.
—Hans Christian Andersen, 1837The most hateful torment for men is to have knowledge of everything but power over nothing.
—Herodotus, c. 425 BCLet me recommend the best medicine in the world: a long journey, at a mild season, through a pleasant country, in easy stages.
—James Madison, 1794It is a greater advantage to be honestly educated than honorably born.
—Erasmus, 1518