We who officially value freedom of speech above life itself seem to have nothing to talk about but the weather.
—Barbara Ehrenreich, 1991
Archive
Quotes
The legislator is like the navigator of a ship on the high seas. He can steer the vessel on which he sails, but he cannot alter its construction, raise the wind, or stop the waves from swelling beneath his feet.
—Alexis de Tocqueville, 1835On the loftiest throne in the world, we still sit only on our own rump.
—Michel de Montaigne, 1580It raineth every day, and the weather represents our tearful despair on a large scale.
—Mary Boykin Chesnut, 1865Tomorrow we take to the mighty sea.
—Horace, 23 BCThe more corrupt the state, the more numerous its laws.
—Tacitus, c. 110Knowledge is an ancient error reflecting on its youth.
—Francis Picabia, 1949The more sifted, the finer the flour; the more often repeated, the rougher the gossip.
—Korean proverbThank God for tea! What would the world do without tea? How did it exist? I am glad I was not born before tea.
—Sydney Smith, 1855In all the ancient states and empires, those who had the shipping, had the wealth.
—William Petty, 1690Every country has the government it deserves.
—Joseph de Maistre, 1811Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.
—Zora Neale Hurston, 1942People commonly travel the world over to see rivers and mountains, new stars, garish birds, freak fish, grotesque breeds of human; they fall into an animal stupor that gapes at existence, and they think they have seen something.
—Søren Kierkegaard, 1843