For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearance, as though they were realities and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
All the things you think you should have done that you didn’t do, and all of the things that you shouldn’t have done, accept them. You did (or did not) do them. That’s reality. That’s happened. No changing the past.
—Peter McWilliams (1949–2000) American Author, Self-Help Writer
What you can’t get is just what suits you.
—French Proverb
I want to be able to live without a crowded calendar. I want to be able to read a book without feeling guilty, or go to a concert when I like.
—Golda Meir (1898–1978) Israeli Head of State
It is not irritating to be where one is. It is only irritating to think one would like to be somewhere else.
—John Cage (1912–92) American Composer
Realism is a bad word. In a sense everything is realistic. I see no line between the imaginary and the real.
—Federico Fellini (1920–93) Italian Filmmaker
Reality is not always probable, or likely.
—Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986) Argentine Writer, Essayist, Poet
Either you deal with what is the reality, or you can be sure that the reality is going to deal with you
—Alex Haley (1921–92) American Novelist, Biographer
The realities of nature surpass our most ambitious dreams.
—Auguste Rodin (1840–1917) French Sculptor
Misfortunes come to all men.
—Chinese Proverb
He who cannot change the very fabric of his thought will never be able to change reality, and will never, therefore, make any progress.
—Anwar el-Sadat (1918–81) Egyptian Head of State, Political leader
In nature, the emphasis is in what is rather than what ought to be.
—Huston Smith (1919–2016) American Scholar, Professor
You cannot do wrong without suffering wrong.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
There are occasions when it is undoubtedly better to incur loss than to make gain.
—Plautus (Titus Maccius Plautus) (c.250–184 BCE) Roman Comic Playwright
Comparisons of one’s lot with others’ teaches us nothing and enfeebles the will.
—Thornton Wilder (1897–1975) American Novelist, Playwright
Great leadership does not mean running away from reality. Sometimes the hard truths might just demoralize the company, but at other times sharing difficulties can inspire people to take action that will make the situation better.
—John Kotter (b.1947) American Management Consultant
This sort of adoration of the real is but a heightening of the beau ideal.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
It is common to overlook what is near by keeping the eye fixed on something remote. In the same manner present opportunities are neglected and attainable good is slighted by minds busied in extensive ranges, and intent upon future advantages. Life, however short, is made shorter by waste of time.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
I believe in a real, physical world. I figure if the world existed only in my mind, it would pay more attention to me.
—Robert Brault
If someone offers to furnish a sure test, ask what the test was which made the sure test sure.
—Unknown
Happiness is an imaginary condition, formerly often attributed by the living to the dead, now usually attributed by adults to children, and by children to adults.
—Thomas Szasz (1920–2012) Hungarian-American Psychiatrist, Psychoanalyst
Reality only reveals itself when it is illuminated by a ray of poetry.
—Georges Braque (1882–1963) French Painter, Artist, Sculptor
What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
Why is it that reality, when set down untransposed in a book, sounds false?
—Simone Weil (1909–1943) French Philosopher, Political Activist
Men simply copied the realities of their hearts when they built prisons.
—Richard Wright (1908–1960) American Novelist, Short-Story Writer
The successful people of this world take life as it comes. They just go out and deal with the world as it is.
—Ben Stein (b.1944) American Writer, Actor, Commentator
Before we set our hearts too much on anything, let us examine how happy are those who already possess it.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
In Rome you long for the country. In the country you praise to the skies the distant town.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
Nothing exists except atoms and empty space; everything else is opinion.
—Democritus (c.460–c.370 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
It is a sad truth, but we have lost the faculty of giving lovely names to things. Names are everything. I never quarrel with actions. My one quarrel is with words. The man who could call a spade a spade should be compelled to use one. It is the only thing he is fit for.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
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