Silence is as deep as eternity, speech as shallow as time.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
In examinations the foolish ask questions that the wise cannot answer.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Hypocrisy is nothing, in fact, but a horrible hopefulness.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
Revenge is the abject pleasure of an abject mind.
—Juvenal (c.60–c.136 CE) Roman Poet
It is an excellent rule to be observed in all discussions, that men should give soft words and hard arguments; that they should not so much strive to silence or vex, as to convince their opponents.
—John Wilkins (1614–72) English Anglican Clergyman, Author, Administrator
If government were a product, selling it would be illegal
—P. J. O’Rourke (1947–2022) American Journalist, Political Satirist
Philosophy is not a theory but an activity.
—Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889–1951) Austrian-born British Philosopher
The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks.
—Tennessee Williams (1911–83) American Playwright
Victory belongs to the most persevering.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
God created the flirt as soon as he made the fool.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
Confidence contributes more to conversation than wit.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
All women are flirts, but some are restrained by shyness, and others by sense.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Friends are kisses blown to us by angels.
—Unknown
Love is like dew that falls on both nettles and lilies.
—Swedish Proverb
It’s the most unhappy people who most fear change.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author
Ostentation is the signal flag of hypocrisy.—The charlatan is verbose and assumptive; the Pharisee is ostentatious, because he is a hypocrite.—Pride is the master sin of the devil, and the devil is the father of lies.
—Edwin Hubbell Chapin (1814–80) American Preacher, Poet
Everyone wishes that the man whom he fears would perish.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
The wisest have the most authority.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
One can find so many pains when the rain is falling.
—John Steinbeck (1902–68) American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Journalist
Every flower is a soul blossoming in Nature.
—Gerard de Nerval (1808–55) French Poet, Essayist, Critic
God sells us all things at the price of labor.
—Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) Italian Polymath, Painter, Sculptor, Inventor, Architect
Change of weather is the discourse of fools.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
It is the quality of our work which will please God and not the quantity.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Just vengeance does not call for punishment.
—Pierre Corneille (1606–84) French Poet, Dramatist
Compassion will cure more sins than condemnation.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Schizophrenia may be a necessary consequence of literacy.
—Marshall Mcluhan (1911–80) Canadian Writer, Thinker, Educator
They talk of a man betraying his country, his friends, his sweetheart. There must be a moral bond first. All a man can betray is his conscience…
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.
—Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) Bengali Poet, Polymath
You may delay, but time will not, and lost time is never found again.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Only in love are unity and duality not in conflict.
—Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) Bengali Poet, Polymath
Wine is a turncoat; first a friend and then an enemy.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
As government expands, liberty contracts
—Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American Head of State
Ambition is a vice, but it may be the father of virtue.
—Quintilian (c.35–c.100 CE) Roman Rhetorician, Literary Critic
Diligence is the mother of good luck.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
God respects me when I work; but God loves me when I sing.
—Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) Bengali Poet, Polymath
Lust is the craving for salt of a man who is dying of thirst.
—Frederick Buechner (b.1926) American Presbyterian Clergyman, Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist, Theologian
Every unjust man is unjust against his will
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
Compassion is the basis of all morality.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
One must be poor to know the luxury of giving.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Rebuke with soft words and hard arguments.
—Common Proverb
Bigger snacks mean bigger slacks.
—Indian Proverb
Guilt soon learns to lie.
—Mary Elizabeth Braddon (1835–1915) English Novelist
The one prudence in life is concentration; the one evil is dissipation.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Peace is not the absence of war but the presence of justice.
—Harrison Ford (b.1942) American Actor
Without a rich heart, wealth is an ugly beggar.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
When ambition ends, happiness begins.
—Thomas Merton (1915–68) American Trappist Monk
In high vengeance there is noble scorn.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
A solitude is the audience-chamber of God.
—Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) English Writer, Poet
Worry is the only insupportable misfortune of life.
—Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke (1678–1751) English Politician, Philosopher
A photograph is usually looked at—seldom looked into.
—Ansel Adams (1902–84) American Photographer