December 2008 Quotes

One of the greatest assets any man or woman can have on entering life's struggle is poverty.
- Richard Bedford Bennett

money is the worst of all contrabands because it commands everything else
- William Jennings Bryan

In a nation with 200 million people, a certain number of deranged people exist.
- Robert A Liston (Politics: From Precinct to Presidency)

I have not seen…any suggested changes that could replace our existing system without entirely eliminating one of the factors in our civilization that has contributed greatly to the progress of the world---that is, individual initiative, coupled with the desire to acheive and succeed.
- Richard Bedford Bennett

It is man alone who brings light to this world. Nature is dark, brooding and cruel. What compassion there is in the earth flows from the sterling heart of man.
- Whitley Strieber (Majestic)

man is more inclined to justify himself, no matter what, than to confess a guilt, admit a wrong, acknowledge a mistake.
- Robin Brockman (The Message)

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
- John Lennon (Imagine)

One science only will one genius fit;
So vast is art, so narrow human wit:
Not only bounded to peculiar arts,
But oft in those confined to single parts.
- Alexander Pope (An Essay on Criticism, Part I)

Be just, and generous when you have the means. Wealth will not take care of itself if not vigilantly cared for.
- John H R Molson

There is nothing dramatic about a mistake not made.
- Isaac Asimov (Fantastic Voyage II: Destination Brain)

The tears of the world are a constant quantity. For each one who begins to weep somewhere else another stops. The same is true of the laugh.
- Samuel Beckett (Waiting for Godot)

Men never seemed to understand, or care, when a woman wished to be looked at and when not.
- Robert Jordan (New Spring)

It takes great courage to love one's true self.
- Whitley Strieber (Majestic)

sooner or later even the worst luck changes.
- Stephen King (Cujo)

…if you're not prepared to defend yourself, then you'd better not do it.
- Peter C Newman (The Canadian Establishment: Volume One)

Love it hard and it will love you back hard. Try to play it easy and ease off and the first thing you know, there you are, on the outside, looking in, wondering what went wrong.
- Pete Rose

A good society is one in which the greatest possible number of persons enjoy the greatest possible amount of happiness.
- John Stuart Mill (On Liberty)

Man's virtue is…the quality which enables him to 'live well', for living is the soul's function; and to live well is to be happy.
- from The Republic of Plato, translated by Francis MacDonald Cornford

A person has to listen to others. He has to allow himself to be influenced to a certain extent.
- Robert A Liston (Politics: From Precinct to Presidency)

a lasting peace must be 'a peace without victory.
- Woodrow Wilson

The desireableness of a life is to be measured by the amount of interest and not the amount of ease in it.
- George MacDonald

there is a greater chance of success if two roads are open then if either one alone was.
- Isaac Asimov (Prelude to Foundation)

And he dreamed of another world
In another time
And another place

Where no man
Has to wear a sign
Saying where he's from
Saying what's his race

And he wants us to believe
This world that he sees
- The Trans-Siberian Orchestra (The World That He Sees)

Happy Birthday!
- Frosty the Snowman

Weight goes up or down as it ought. I shouldn't concern myself.
- Isaac Asimov (Foundation's Edge)

it is the obvious which is so difficult to see most of the time.
- Isaac Asimov (I, Robot)

What counts is the person, not the name.
- Isaac Asimov (Fantastic Voyage II: Destination Brain)

Women do not become exhausted...they only exhaust others.
- Robert Jordan (Lord of Chaos)

…an intelligent following of custom, or even occasionally an intelligent deviation from custom, is better than a blind and simply mechanical adhesion to it.
- John Stuart Mill (On Liberty)

Endings always come too fast,
They come too fast but they pass too slow
- Art Garfunkle (All I Know)