John Kenneth Galbraith on Thinking
“The conventional view serves to protect us from the painful job of thinking.” John Kenneth Galbraith US (Canadian-born) administrator & economist (1908 – 2006)
Henry Van Dyke on Death
“Some people are so afraid to die that they never begin to live.” Henry Van Dyke
T. S. Eliot on Music
“You are the music while the music lasts.” T. S. Eliot
Albert Einstein on Mistakes
“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” Albert Einstein
Saint Augustine on Love
“Love is the beauty of the soul.” Saint Augustine
John Lehman on Power
“Power corrupts. Absolute power is kind of neat.” John Lehman, Secretary of the Navy, 1981-1987 US administrator (1942 – )
Louis L’Amour on Contentment
“Nobody got anywhere in the world by simply being content.” Louis L’Amour US novelist of westerns (1908 – 1988)
Socrates on Wisdom
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” Socrates
Paul Johnson on Meaning
“The word ‘meaningful’ when used today is nearly always meaningless.” Paul Johnson
Ralph Waldo Emerson on Friendship
“The only way to have a friend is to be one.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Oscar Wilde Cynical Quote
“True friends stab you in the front.” Oscar Wilde
Bob Wells on Government
“For every action there is an equal and opposite government program.” Bob Wells
Robert X. Cringely on Technology
“If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get a million miles per gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside.” Robert X. Cringely, InfoWorld magazine
Charles Lindbergh on Dreams
“Living in dreams of yesterday, we find ourselves still dreaming of impossible future conquests.” Charles Lindbergh
William G. McAdoo on Ignorance
“It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument.” William G. McAdoo US industrialist, lawyer, & politician (1863 – 1941)
Daniel J. Boorstin on Greatness
“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some hire public relations officers.” Daniel J. Boorstin US historian (1914 – )
King Farouk of Egypt on Politics
“The whole world is in revolt. Soon there will be only five Kings left–the King of England, the King of Spades, The King of Clubs, the King of Hearts, and the King of Diamonds.” King Farouk of Egypt, 1948 king of Egypt 1936-1952 (1920 – 1965)
John F. Kennedy on War
“Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind.” John F. Kennedy
Demosthenes on Business and Success
“Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.” Demosthenes
Robert Brault on Friendship
“I value the friend who for me finds time on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult his calendar.” Robert Brault
Aristotle on Humor
“Humor is the only test of gravity, and gravity of humor; for a subject which will not bear raillery is suspicious, and a jest which will not bear serious examination is false wit.” Aristotle Greek critic, philosopher, physicist, & zoologist (384 BC – 322 BC)
Bruce Grocott on Work
“I have long been of the opinion that if work were such a splendid thing the rich would have kept more of it for themselves.” Bruce Grocott British politician (1940 – )
Georg Christoph Lichtenberg Cynical Quote
“What a blessing it would be if we could open and shut our ears as easily as we open and shut our eyes!” Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742 – 1799)
Laurence J. Peter on Politics
“Democracy is a process by which people are free to choose the man who will get the blame.” Laurence J. Peter
Bertrand Russell on Society
“Many people would sooner die than think; In fact, they do so.” Bertrand Russell British author, mathematician, & philosopher (1872 – 1970)
Thomas Sowell on History and Society
“Much of the social history of the Western world over the past three decades has involved replacing what worked with what sounded good.” Thomas Sowell, Is Reality Optional?, 1993 (1930 – )
Oscar Levant on Humility
“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility, there are so few of us left.” Oscar Levant
Plato on War
“Only the dead have seen the end of the war.” Plato
Cullen Hightower on Politics
“We may not imagine how our lives could be more frustrating and complex–but Congress can.” Cullen Hightower
H. L. Mencken on Celebrities
“A celebrity is one who is known to many persons he is glad he doesn’t know.” H. L. Mencken US editor (1880 – 1956)
Henry Ward Beecher on Art
“Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.” Henry Ward Beecher
Michael Jordan on Sports
“I can accept failure, but I can’t accept not trying.” Michael Jordan
Evan Esar on Conscience
“Conscience is what makes a boy tell his mother before his sister does.” Evan Esar American Humorist (1899 – 1995)
Dwight D. Eisenhower on Peace
“Peace and justice are two sides of the same coin.” Dwight D. Eisenhower
Victor Hugo on Dreams
“There is nothing like a dream to create the future.” Victor Hugo
Robertson Davies on Books
“A truly great book should be read in youth, again in maturity and once more in old age, as a fine building should be seen by morning light, at noon and by moonlight.” Robertson Davies
Samuel Goldwyn on Movies
“A wide screen just makes a bad film twice as bad.” Samuel Goldwyn
Evan Esar on Character
“A signature always reveals a man’s character – and sometimes even his name.” Evan Esar American Humorist (1899 – 1995)
Thomas Jefferson on Liberty
I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. Thomas Jefferson 3rd president of US (1743 – 1826)
The Bible on Love
“Hatred stirs up trouble; love overlooks the wrongs that others do.” The Bible, Proverbs 10:12
P. J. O’Rourke on Politics and Luck
“A little government and a little luck are necessary in life, but only a fool trusts either of them.” P. J. O’Rourke US humorist & political commentator (1947-2022)
Scott Adams Cynical Quote
“You can never underestimate the stupidity of the general public.” Scott Adams, The Dilbert Future US cartoonist (1957 – )
Zig Ziglar on Success
“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” Zig Ziglar
Zig Ziglar on Success
“Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes.” Zig Ziglar
Benjamin Franklin on Wisdom
“The doors of wisdom are never shut.” Benjamin Franklin
Matthew Arnold on Society
“This strange disease of modern life, with its sick hurry, its divided aims.” Matthew Arnold
Benjamin Disraeli Cynical Quote
“How much easier it is to be critical than to be correct.” Benjamin Disraeli, Speech at the House of Commons, January 24, 1860 British politician (1804 – 1881)
Dwight D. Eisenhower on Television
“I can think of nothing more boring for the American people than to have to sit in their living rooms for a whole half hour looking at my face on their television screens.” Dwight D. Eisenhower 34th president of US 1953-1961 (1890 – 1969)
Amanda Cross on Quotations
“The point of quotations is that one can use another’s words to be insulting.” Amanda Cross US mystery novelist (1926 – 2003)
Robertson Davies Cynical Quote
“Few people can see genius in someone who has offended them.” Robertson Davies
Ann Landers on Love
“Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times.” Ann Landers
W. C. Fields Cynical Quote
“I am free of all prejudice. I hate everyone equally.” W. C. Fields US actor (1880 – 1946)
William Shakespeare on Peace
“A peace is of the nature of a conquest; for then both parties nobly are subdued, and neither party loser.” William Shakespeare
Francois de La Rochefoucauld Cynical Quote
“We all have strength enough to endure the misfortunes of others.” Francois de La Rochefoucauld French author & moralist (1613 – 1680)
Mark Twain on Genius
“Thousands of geniuses live and die undiscovered – either by themselves or by others.” Mark Twain US humorist, novelist, short story author, & wit (1835 – 1910)
Gilbert K. Chesterton on Education
“Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another.” Gilbert K. Chesterton
James Thorpe on Work
“Household tasks are easier and quicker when they are done by somebody else.” James Thorpe US football player & track athlete (1888 – 1953)
Stephen Hawking on Science
“If human life were long enough to find the ultimate theory, everything would have been solved by previous generations. Nothing would be left to be discovered.” Stephen Hawking, Interview with The Guardian (UK) September 27, 2005 English cosmologist and physicist (1942 – )
C. P. Snow on Happiness
“The pursuit of happiness is a most ridiculous phrase; if you pursue happiness you’ll never find it.” C. P. Snow English novelist & scientist (1905 – 1980)
Georg Christoph Lichtenberg on Opinions
“Nothing is more conducive to peace of mind than not having any opinions at all.” Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742 – 1799)
