The bathing was so delightful this morning, and Molly so pressing with me to enjoy myself, that I believe I stayed in rather too long, as since the middle of the day I have felt unreasonably tired. I shall be more careful another time, and shall not bathe tomorrow as I had before intended.
—Jane Austen, 1804
Archive
Quotes
Natural rights is simple nonsense: natural and imprescriptible rights, rhetorical nonsense—nonsense upon stilts.
—Jeremy Bentham, c. 1832Once something becomes discernible, or understandable, we no longer need to repeat it. We can destroy it.
—Robert Wilson, 1991Epitaph, n. An inscription on a tomb, showing that virtues acquired by death have a retroactive effect.
—Ambrose Bierce, 1906Commerce tends to wear off those prejudices which maintain distinction and animosity between nations.
—William Robertson, 1769The first duty of a good inquisitor is to suspect especially those who seem sincere to him.
—Umberto Eco, 1980Man is the only animal for whom his own existence is a problem which he has to solve and from which he cannot escape.
—Erich Fromm, 1947Trade’s proud empire hastes to swift decay.
—Oliver Goldsmith, 1770Democracy, like the human organism, carries within it the seed of its own destruction.
—Veronica Wedgwood, 1946Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own thoughts, unguarded.
—The Dhammapada, c. 400 BCA first-class man subsists on the matter he destroys.
—Saul Bellow, 1989Let me recommend the best medicine in the world: a long journey, at a mild season, through a pleasant country, in easy stages.
—James Madison, 1794Your piping-hot lie is the best of lies.
—Plautus, c. 200 BC