People wish to be poets more than they wish to write poetry, and that’s a mistake. One should wish to celebrate more than one wishes to be celebrated.
—Lucille Clifton (1936–2010) American Poet, Children’s Book-Writer
Thy wish was father, Harry, to that thought
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
We are never further from what we wish than when we believe that we have what we wished for.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
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
In all the professions every one affects a particular look and exterior, in order to appear what he wishes to be thought; so that it may be said the world is made up of appearances
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
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
A tough lesson in life that one has to learn is that not everybody wishes you well.
—Dan Rather (b.1931) American Newscaster, Author
The trouble with lying and deceiving is that their efficiency depends entirely upon a clear notion of the truth that the liar and deceiver wishes to hide. In this sense, truth, even if it does not prevail in public, possesses an ineradicable primacy over all falsehoods.
—Hannah Arendt (1906–75) German-American Philosopher, Political Theorist
Indeed, man wishes to be happy even when he so lives as to make happiness impossible.
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
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
The poor wish to be rich, the rich wish to be happy, the single wish to be married, and the married wish to be dead.
—Ask Ann Landers (1918–2002) American Advice Columnist
A man of the world must seem to be what he wishes to be thought.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
It is not good for all our wishes to be filled; through sickness we recognize the value of health; through evil, the value of good; through hunger, the value of food; through exertion, the value of rest.
—Dorothy Canfield Fisher (1879–1958) American Novelist
We are very far from always knowing our own wishes.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
A scientific man ought to have no wishes, no affections, – a mere heart of stone.
—Charles Darwin (1809–82) English Naturalist
Whoever wishes peace among peoples must fight statism.
—Ludwig von Mises (1881–1973) Austrian Economist, Philosopher, Author
Journalism wishes to tell what it is that has happened everywhere as though the same things had happened for every man. Poetry wishes to say what it is like for any man to be himself in the presence of a particular occurrence as though only he were alone there.
—Archibald MacLeish (1892–1982) American Poet, Dramatist
Wishing—the constant hectic of the fool.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
If I were to wish for anything, I should not wish for wealth and power, but for the passionate sense of potential—for the eye which, ever young and ardent, sees the possible. Pleasure disappoints; possibility never.
—Soren Kierkegaard (1813–55) Danish Philosopher, Theologian
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
America lives in the heart of every man everywhere who wishes to find a region where he will be free to work out his destiny as he chooses.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
Ideas any one can mould as he wishes.
—Josiah Royce (1855–1916) American Idealist Philosopher
I wish they would only take me as I am.
—Vincent van Gogh (1853–90) Dutch Painter
Consequently he who wishes to attain to human perfection, must therefore first study Logic, next the various branches of Mathematics in their proper order, then Physics, and lastly Metaphysics.
—Moses Maimonides (1135–1204) Jewish Philosopher, Rabbinic Scholar
I wish there were some cure, like the lover’s leap, for all heads of which some single idea has obtained an unreasonable and irregular possession
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
What we ardently wish we soon believe.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
The will is a beast of burden. If God mounts it, it wishes and goes as God wills; if Satan mounts it, it wishes and goes as Satan wills; Nor can it choose its rider… the riders contend for its possession.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
Although one may fail to find happiness in theatrical life, one never wishes to give it up after having once tasted its fruits.
—Anna Pavlova (1881–1931) Russian Ballerina