Whether for good or evil, it is sadly inevitable that all political leadership requires the artifices of theatrical illusion. In the politics of a democracy, the shortest distance between two points is often a crooked line.
—Arthur Miller, 2001
Archive
Quotes
I must be a mermaid, Rango. I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living.
—Anaïs Nin, 1950I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast, for I intend to go in harm’s way.
—John Paul Jones, 1778I am dying with the help of too many physicians.
—Alexander the Great, c. 323 BCIt’s the educated barbarian who is the worst: he knows what to destroy.
—Helen MacInnes, 1963Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern them.
—Paul Valéry, 1943Disbelief in magic can force a poor soul into believing in government and business.
—Tom Robbins, 1976Only connect! That was the whole of her sermon. Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height.
—E.M. Forster, 1910A private sin is not so prejudicial in this world as a public indecency.
—Miguel de Cervantes, 1615God seems to have left the receiver off the hook, and time is running out.
—Arthur Koestler, 1967Laws, like houses, lean on one another.
—Edmund Burke, 1765The mind of man is capable of anything.
—Guy de Maupassant, 1884How absurd men are! They never use the liberties they have, they demand those they do not have. They have freedom of thought, they demand freedom of speech.
—Søren Kierkegaard, 1843