February 2009 Quotes

…a god is a being of entire simplicity and truthfulness in word and in deed. In himself he does not change, nor does he delude others, either in dreams or in waking moments, by apparitions or oracles or signs. - from The Republic of Plato, translated by Francis MacDonald Cornford

If the mind is kept in use, its powers are inexhaustible.
- Gilbert Highet (Man's Unconquerable Mind)

Emotion is individual; transient. Reason is permanent.
- Gilbert Highet (Man's Unconquerable Mind)

The mark of a genius is it’s ability to bide.
- Stephen King (The Stand)

Grief is like a drunken houseguest, always coming back for one more goodbye hug.
- Stephen King (Bag of Bones)

Let us not then speak ill of our generation, it is not any unhappier then its predecessors.
- Samuel Beckett (Waiting for Godot)

…only the dead could afford oblivion.
- Robert Jordan (New Spring)

…fear was a poor tool, and one that always cut the user eventually.
- Robert Jordan (New Spring)

Your [first lover] wears part of your soul as a ribbon in her hair forever.
- Robert Jordan (New Spring)

Only a fool believed women less dangerous than men, but women often seemed to think men fools when it came to women.
- Robert Jordan (New Spring)

A man's past belonged to himself and the people who had lived it with him; it was not a matter for gossip with an inquisitive woman.
- Robert Jordan (New Spring)

…"stubborn" was a redundancy when it came to men.
- Robert Jordan (New Spring)

…when what they do is hidden, men sometimes deal with strangers in ways they wouldn't if there were other eyes to see. And the quickest to harm a stranger are the soonest to think a stranger will harm them.
- Robert Jordan (The Eye of the World)

It was easier to be brave…when someone needed your protection.
- Robert Jordan (The Eye of the World)

Under this flag may our youth find new inspiration for loyalty to Canada; for a patriotism based not on any mean or narrow nationalism, but on the deep and equal pride that all Canadians will feel for every part of this good land.
- Lester B Pearson

Men believe the worst easily, and women believe it hides something still darker
- Robert Jordan (Lord of Chaos)

Dance with her, and she will forgive much; dance well, and she will forgive anything.
- Robert Jordan (Lord of Chaos)

What you want is what you cannot have. What you cannot have is what you want.
- Robert Jordan (Lord of Chaos)

…men love to talk and gossip. All you need do is listen, or even pretend to, and a man will tell you his whole life.
- Robert Jordan (Winter's Heart)

…what killed you was always what you never expected.
- Robert Jordan (Crossroads of Twilight)

Careless expressions gave away too much to an opponent.
- Robert Jordan (Crossroads of Twilight)

The Creator had made the world and then left humankind to make of it what they would, a heaven or the Pit of Doom by their choosing. The Creator had made many worlds, watched each flower or die, and gone on to make endless worlds beyond. A gardener did not weep for each blossom that fell.
- Robert Jordan (Crossroads of Twilight)

Straight forward is not always the best way. Sometimes, certain things must be done behind masks, for safety.
- Robert Jordan (Crossroads of Twilight)

Fear is a useful spur to the wits, and to determination, when well controlled. If we have no fear of our enemies, that leaves only contempt, and contempt leads to the enemy's victory.
- Robert Jordan (Crossroads of Twilight)

No need to live in trouble until trouble comes.
- Stephen King (Wizard and Glass)

It was all right to feel fear, but sometimes a very bad idea to show it.
- Stephen King (Wizard and Glass)

Words between women need trouble no man's ear
- Stephen King (Wizard and Glass)

…her father had taught her to measure herself by her ability to do the things she'd said she would do
- Stephen King (Wizard and Glass)