Divine nature gave the fields; human art built the cities.
—Marcus Terentius Varro, c. 70 BC
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Quotes
Gossip is a sort of smoke that comes from the dirty tobacco pipes of those who diffuse it; it proves nothing but the bad taste of the smoker.
—George Eliot, 1876One’s friends are that part of the human race with which one can be human.
—George Santayana, c. 1914It is men who make a city, not walls or ships.
—Thucydides, 410 BCThere is not so contemptible a plant or animal that does not confound the most enlarged understanding.
—John Locke, 1689Commerce has made all winds her ministers.
—John Sterling, 1843We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.
—Jonathan Swift, 1706Life is a farce, and should not end with a mourning scene.
—Horace Walpole, 1784Friendships begin with liking or gratitude—roots that can be pulled up.
—George Eliot, 1876If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to.
—Dorothy ParkerThere is a sickness among tyrants: they cannot trust their friends.
—Aeschylus, c. 458 BCA woman’s greatest glory is to be little talked about by men, whether for good or ill.
—Pericles, c. 450 BCAll people have the common desire to be elevated in honor, but all people have something still more elevated in themselves without knowing it.
—Mencius, c. 330 BC