If all the year were playing holidays, to sport would be as tedious as to work: but when they seldom come, they wished for come, and nothing pleaseth but rare accidents.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Like our shadows, Our wishes lengthen as our sun declines.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
When we get to wishing a great deal for ourselves, whatever we get soon turns into mere limitation and exclusion.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
The trouble with most people is that they think with their hopes or fears or wishes, rather than their minds.
—William C. Durant (1861–1947) American Industrialist
When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce.
—Sun Tzu (fl. c.544–496 BCE) Chinese General, Military Theorist
There is nothing more properly the language of the heart than a wish. It is the thirst and egress of it, after some wanted, but desired object.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
Whoever wishes to keep a secret must hide the fact that he possesses one.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person’s ultimate good as far as it can be obtained
—C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish-born British Academic, Author, Literary Scholar
Wishes run over in loquacious impotence; will presses on with laconic energy.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Economics is a subject that does not greatly respect one’s wishes.
—Nikita Khrushchev (1894–1971) Russian Head of State, Political leader
The best friend is the man who in wishing me well wishes it for my sake.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
We all have our own life to pursue, our own kind of dream to be weaving, and we all have the power to make wishes come true, as long as we keep believing.
—Louisa May Alcott (1832–88) American Novelist
Who is the wisest man? He who neither knows or wishes for anything else than what happens.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish; but wish the things which happen to be as they are, and you will have a tranquil flow of life
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
No matter how happily a woman may be married, it always pleases her to discover that there is a nice man who wishes that she were not.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
I wish they would only take me as I am.
—Vincent van Gogh (1853–90) Dutch Painter
Ideas any one can mould as he wishes.
—Josiah Royce (1855–1916) American Idealist Philosopher
The way for a young man to rise is to improve himself in every way he can, never suspecting that anybody wishes to hinder him.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Don’t be afraid of missing opportunities. Behind every failure is an opportunity somebody wishes they had missed.
—Lily Tomlin (b.1939) American Comedy Actress
Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
Happy the man who early learns the wide chasm that lies between his wishes and his powers.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
In the silence of night I have often wished for just a few words of love from one man, rather than the applause of thousands of people.
—Judy Garland (1922–69) American Actress, Singer
If a man could have half his wishes, he would double his troubles.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
A hangover is when you open your eyes in the morning and wish you hadn’t
—Drew Barrymore (b.1975) American Actress, Producer, Director
If a lecturer, he wishes to be heard; if a writer, to be read. He always hopes for a public beyond that of the long-suffering wife.
—Samuel Eliot Morison (1887–1976) American Historian, Naval Officer
We are very far from always knowing our own wishes.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
The megalomaniac differs from the narcissist by the fact that he wishes to be powerful rather than charming, and seeks to be feared rather than loved. To this type belong many lunatics and most of the great men of history.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
God sometimes does try to the uttermost those whom he wishes to bless.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Every man desires to live long, but no man wishes to be old.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist