When they shout “Long live progress,” always ask, “Progress of what?”
—Stanisław Jerzy Lec, 1957
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Quotes
Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.
—Socrates, c. 430 BCFriendship is a plant that loves the sun—thrives ill under clouds.
—Bronson Alcott, 1872The fundamental concept in social science is power, in the same sense in which energy is the fundamental concept in physics.
—Bertrand Russell, 1938A crowded police court docket is the surest sign that trade is brisk and money plenty.
—Mark Twain, 1872I have often said that if I wish to name-drop, I have only to list my ex-friends.
—Norman Podhoretz, 1999There are twelve hours in the day, and above fifty in the night.
—Madame de Sévigné, 1671Take back your golden fiddles, and we’ll beat to open sea.
—Rudyard Kipling, 1892War is fear cloaked in courage.
—William Westmoreland, 1966Religion is by no means a proper subject of conversation in mixed company.
—Philip Dormer Stanhope, 1754The mind that is not baffled is not employed.
—Wendell Berry, 1983The highest result of education is tolerance.
—Helen Keller, 1903It is wretched business to be digging a well just as you’re dying of thirst.
—Plautus, c. 193 BC