No one regards what is before his feet; we all gaze at the stars.
—Ennius (Roman Poet)
The only person entitled to use the imperial ‘we’ in speaking of himself is a king, an editor, and a man with a tapeworm.
—Robert G. Ingersoll (American Lawyer, Orator, Agnostic)
Civilization rests on a set of promises; if the promises are broken too often, the civilization dies, no matter how rich it may be, or how mechanically clever. Hope and faith depend on the promises; if hope and faith go, everything goes.
—Herbert Agar (American Journalist, Historian)
The depth and strength of a human character are defined by its moral reserves. People reveal themselves completely only when they are thrown out of the customary conditions of their life, for only then do they have to fall back on their reserves.
—Leon Trotsky (Russian Revolutionary)
People lie so that others will form beliefs that are not true. The more consequential the beliefs—that is, the more a person’s well-being demands a correct understanding of the world or of other people’s opinions—the more consequential the lie.
—Sam Harris (American Neuroscientist, Atheist, Author)
Search not a Wound too deep, lest thou make a new one.
—Thomas Fuller (English Cleric, Historian)
When it comes to getting things done, we need fewer architects and more bricklayers.
—Colleen Barrett (American Businessperson)
Failure is more frequently from want of energy than want of capital.
—Daniel Webster (American Statesman, Lawyer)
What identifies an individual as a king is how other people behave towards him. All authority is assumed, and if other people don’t accept your authority then you don’t have it. Perhaps the critical thing to being a convincing figure of authority is actually not to try too hard.
—Patrick Stewart (British Actor)
The beauty of the brain is that you can still be as greedy as you like for knowledge and it doesn’t show.
—Stephen Fry (English Actor, Writer)
Nothing is lost upon a person who is bent upon growth; nothing is wasted on one who is always preparing for his work and life by keeping eyes, mind, and heart open to nature, men, books, experience. Such a man finds ministries to his education on all sides; everything cooperates with his passion for growth.
—Hamilton Wright Mabie (American Essayist, Editor)
Charity is a very complicated thing. Its important to find an area where you can really help and you can feel the results. Charity is not like feeding pigeons in the square. It is a process that requires professional management.
—Roman Abramovich (Russian-Israeli Businessman)
To have good ideas, you have to have a lot of ideas.
—Linus Pauling (American Scientist, Peace Activist)
A horse is dangerous at both ends and uncomfortable in the middle.
—Ian L. Fleming (English Novelist, Journalist)