There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.
—Oscar Wilde, 1891
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Quotes
We who officially value freedom of speech above life itself seem to have nothing to talk about but the weather.
—Barbara Ehrenreich, 1991The 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, 1840Envy and hatred are apt to blind the eyes and render them unable to behold things as they are.
—Margaret of Valois, c. 1600Write while the heat is in you. The writer who postpones the recording of his thoughts uses an iron which has cooled to burn a hole with. He cannot inflame the minds of his audience.
—Henry David Thoreau, 1852Many need no other provocation to enmity than that they find themselves excelled.
—Samuel Johnson, 1751Those who go overseas find a change of climate, not a change of soul.
—Horace, c. 20 BCI am an old scholar, better-looking now than when I was young. That’s what sitting on your ass does to your face.
—Leonard Cohen, 1970It’s easy to be independent when you’ve got money. But to be independent when you haven’t got a thing—that’s the Lord’s test.
—Mahalia Jackson, 1966Money is mourned with deeper sorrow than friends or kindred.
—Juvenal, 128A private sin is not so prejudicial in this world as a public indecency.
—Miguel de Cervantes, 1615I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine. War is hell.
—William Tecumseh Sherman, 1879He who laugheth too much, hath the nature of a fool; he that laugheth not at all, hath the nature of an old cat.
—Thomas Fuller, 1732