I know that my retirement will make no difference in its cardinal principles, that it will always fight for progress and reform, never tolerate injustice or corruption, always fight demagogues of all parties, never belong to any party, always oppose privileged classes and public plunderers, never lack sympathy with the poor, always remain devoted to the public welfare, never be satisfied with merely printing news, always be drastically independent, never be afraid to attack wrong, whether by predatory plutocracy or predatory poverty.
Joseph Pulitzer (1847–1911) Hungarian-American newspaper publisher [b. Politzer József]
Retirement speech (10 Apr 1907)
On the St Louis Post-Dispatch. Since Nov 1911, this has been "The Post-Dispatch Platform" on its editorial page.
Advertising may be described as the science of arresting human intelligence long enough to get money from it.
Stephen Leacock (1869-1944) Canadian economist, writer and humorist
The Garden of Folly, “The Perfect Salesman” (1924)
I met men who invoked the name of the Prince of Peace in their diatribes against war, and who put rifles in the hands of Pinkertons with which to shoot down strikers at their own factories. I met men incoherent with indignation at the brutality of prizefighting, and who, at the same time, were parties to the adulteration of food that killed each year more babies than even red-handed Herod had killed.
Jack London (1876-1916) American novelist
“What Life Means to Me” (1906)
It’s always better to sacrifice your opponent’s men.
Savielly Tartakower (1887-1956) Russian chess grandmaster
(Attributed)
Up to now, America has not been a good milieu for the rise of a mass movement. What starts out here as a mass movement ends up as a racket, a cult, or a corporation. Unlike those anywhere else, the masses in America have never despaired of the present and are not willing to sacrifice it for a new life and a new world.
Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
“The Negro Revolution,” The Temper of Our Time (1967)
(Source)
Frequently misquoted as "Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket."
Originally published in the New York Times Magazine (1964-11-29).
I believe that the public temper is such that the voters of the land are prepared to support the party which gives the best promise of administering the government in the honest, simple, and plain manner which is consistent with its character and purposes. They have learned that mystery and concealment in the management of their affairs cover tricks and betrayal. The statesmanship they require consists in honesty and frugality, a prompt response to the needs of the people as they arise, and a vigilant protection of all their varied interests.
Grover Cleveland (1837–1908) American President (1885–1889, 1893–1897)
Letter accepting Democratic nomination for President (8 Aug 1884)
(Source)
Just as love for one individual which excludes the love for others is not love, love for one’s country which is not part of one’s love for humanity is not love, but idolatrous worship.
Erich Fromm (1900-1980) American psychoanalyst and social philosopher
The Sane Society, 3.C (1955)
From the saintly and single-minded idealist to the fanatic is often but a step.
Friedrich A. Hayek (1899-1992) Austrian-born economist and philosopher
The Road to Serfdom, ch. 4 (1944)
Their mistakes are always due to lack of moderation and taking things too far, contrary to Chilon’s saying. That is, they do everything to excess: they love excessively, they hate excessively, and so on and so forth.
καὶ ἅπαντα ἐπὶ τὸ μᾶλλον καὶ σφοδρότερον ἁμαρτάνουσι, παρὰ τὸ Χιλώνειον （πάντα γὰρ ἄγαν πράττουσιν: φιλοῦσι γὰρ ἄγαν καὶ μισοῦσιν ἄγαν καὶ τἆλλα πάντα ὁμοίως）, καὶ εἰδέναι ἅπαντα οἴονται καὶ διισχυρίζονται （τοῦτο γὰρ αἴτιόν ἐστιν καὶ τοῦ πάντα ἄγαν）
Aristotle (384-322 BC) Greek philosopher
Rhetoric [Ῥητορική; Ars Rhetorica], Book 2, ch. 12, sec. 14 (2.12.14) / 1389b (350 BC) [tr. Waterfield (2018)]
(Source)
Speaking of youth.
Chilon was one of "the Seven Wise Men" of Greece. His maxim was "Μηδὲν ἄγαν" ["Never go to extremes."] (Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers, 1.41)
(Source (Greek)). Alternate translations:
- "And all their errors are on the side of excess, and too much zeal, contrary to Chilo's rule; for they carry every thing too far. For they are extreme in their friendships, and in their hates, and in all other their actions are similarly excessive." [Source (1847)]
- "And all their errors are on the side of excess and too great earnestness, in contravention of Chilo's rule; for the young carry everything to an excess; for their friendships are in excess, their hatreds are in excess, and they do everything else with the same degree of earnestness." [tr. Buckley (1850)]
- "All their mistakes are on the side of excess or vehemence -- against the maxim of Chilon; they do everything too much; they loe to much, hate too much, and so in all else." [tr. Jebb (1873)]
- "All their mistakes are in the direction of doing things excessively and vehemently. They disobey Chilon's precept by overdoing everything, they love too much and hate too much, and the same thing with everything else." [tr. Roberts (1924)]
- "All their errors are due to excess and vehemence and their neglect of the maxim of Chilon, for they do everything to excess, love, hate, and everything else." [tr. Freese (1926)]
- "And quite all the mistakes they make tend in the direction of excess and vehemence, in violation of the saying of Chilon, for they do all things excessively: they feel friendly affection to excess and hatred to excess, and all else similarly." [tr. Bartlett (2019)]
To put everything in balance is good, to put everything in harmony is better.
[Mettre tout en équilibre, c’est bien; mettre tout en harmonie, c’est mieux.]
Victor Hugo (1802-1885) French writer
Quatre-vingt-treize [Ninety-Three], Book 7, ch. 5 (1874)
Admitting Error clears the Score
And proves you Wiser than before.Arthur Guiterman (1871-1943) American poet, humorist
“Of Apology,” A Poet’s Proverbs (1924)
The consumer isn’t a moron. She is your wife.
David Ogilvy (1911–1999) British advertising executive
Confessions of an Advertising Man (1971)
I have become disconsolate. In the secret of my heart I am in perpetual quarrel with God that He should allow such things to go on. My non-violence seems almost impotent. But the answer comes at teh end of the daily quarrel that neither God nor non-violence is impotent. Impotence is in men. I must try on without losing faith even though I break in the attempt.
Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948) Indian philosopher and nationalist [Mahatma Gandhi]
Press statement (5 Sep 1939)
On the impending war in Europe.
I conceive of God, in fact, as a means of liberation and not a means to control others.
James Baldwin (1924-1987) American novelist, playwright, activist
“In Search of a Majority,” Speech, Kalamazoo College (Feb 1960)
To those who say — My friends, to those who say that we are rushing this issue of civil rights, I say to them we are 172 years late. To those who say — To those who say that this civil-rights program is an infringement on states’ rights, I say this: The time has arrived in America for the Democratic party to get out of the shadow of states’ rights and to walk forthrightly into the bright sunshine of human rights.
Hubert Horatio Humphrey (1911-1978) American politician
Speech, Democratic National Convention, Philadelphia (14 Jul 1948)
There are people that, if they don’t know, you can’t tell ’em.
Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong (1900-1971) American musician
(Attributed)
With what reason canst thou expect that they children should follow thy good instructions, when thou thyself givest them an ill example? Thou dost but as it were beckon to them with they head, and shew them the way to heaven by thy good counsel, but thou takest them by the hand and leadest them in the way to hell by thy contrary example.
John Tillotson (1630-1694) English prelate, Archbishop of Canterbury
Sermon 62 “On the Education of Children”
Collected in The works of Dr. John Tillotson, Vol 3, ed. Thomas Birch (1820). Full text.
More commonly quoted in the paraphrase/modernization by John Charles Ryle, Bp. of Liverpool (1880-1900): "To give children good instruction, and a bad example, is but a beckoning to them with the head to show them the way to heaven, while we take them by the hand and lead them in the way to hell."
For there is nothing so characteristic of narrowness and littleness of soul as the love of riches.
[Nihil enim est tam angusti animi tamque parvi quam amare divitias.]
Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) Roman orator, statesman, philosopher
De Officiis [On Duties; On Moral Duty; The Offices], Book 1, ch. 20 (1.20) / sec. 68 (44 BC) [tr. Miller (1913)]
(Source)
(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:
For nothing is a greater sign of a narrow, mean, and sordid spirit, than to dote on riches.
[tr. Cockman (1699)]
For there is not a greater symptom of a narrow and little mind, than the love of wealth.
[tr. McCartney (1798)]
For nothing so truly characterizes a narrow, grovelling disposition as to love riches.
[tr. Edmonds (1865)]
For nothing shows so narrow and small a mind as the love of riches.
[tr. Peabody (1883)]
Shun the love of money, for there is no surer sign of a narrow, grovelling spirit.
[tr. Gardiner (1899)]
Nothing is as good an index of a narrow and trivial spirit as the love of wealth.
[tr. Edinger (1974)]
Love is blind, but desire just doesn’t give a good goddam.
James Thurber (1894-1961) American cartoonist and writer
“The Clothes Moth and the Luna Moth”, The New Yorker (19 May 1956)
My doom is, I love thee still.
Let no man dream but that I love thee still.Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) English poet
Idylls of the King, “Guinevere” (1859-1885)
Full text.
The world can only be grasped by action, not by contemplation. The hand is more important than the eye. We are active; and indeed we know, as something more than a symbolic accident in the evolution of man, that it is the hand that drives the subsequent evolution of the brain. We find tools today made by man before he became man. Benjamin Franklin in 1778 called man “a tool-making animal,” and that is right.
Jacob Bronowski (1908-1974) Polish-English humanist and mathematician
The Ascent of Man, ch. 3 (1973)
Ideologies are administered by bureaucracies that control their meaning. They develop systems, they decide what is right- and what is wrong-thinking, who is faithful and who is a heretic; in short, the manipulation of ideologies becomes one of the most important means for the control of people through the control of their thoughts.
Erich Fromm (1900-1980) American psychoanalyst and social philosopher
May Man Prevail?, ch. 4 (1961)
Must a government, of necessity, be too strong for the liberties of its own people, or too weak to maintain its own existence?
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)
Message to Congress (4 Jul 1861)
From 30 feet away she looked like a lot of class. From 10 feet away she looked like something made up to be seen from 30 feet away.
Raymond Chandler (1888-1959) American novelist
The High Window (1942)
Perhaps it is impossible for a person who does no good not to do harm.
Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896) American author
Uncle Tom’s Cabin, ch. 28 “Reunion” (1852)
(Source)
ROBIN: Atomic batteries to power. Turbines to speed.
BATMAN: Roger. Ready to move out.Lorenzo Semple, Jr. (1922-2014) American screenwriter
Batman (movie) (1966)
As Batman and Robin prepare to leave the Batcave in the Batmobile.
Flattery is so necessary to all of us that we flatter one another just to be flattered in return.
Marjorie Bowen (1885-1952) British writer [pseud. of Mrs Gabrielle Margaret V[ere] Long née Campbell; a/k/a Joseph Shearing, George R. Preedy, John Winch, Robert Paye, Margaret Campbell]
“The Art of Flattery,” World’s Wonder and Other Essays (1938)
I wouldn’t give a fig for the simplicity on this side of complexity; I would give my right arm for the simplicity on the far side of complexity.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809-1894) American poet, essayist, scholar
(Attributed)
But reason always cuts a poor figure beside sentiment; the one being essentially restricted, like everything that is positive, while the other is infinite.
[Mais la raison est toujours mesquine auprès du sentiment; l’une est naturellement bornée, comme tout ce qui est positif, et l’autre est infini.]
Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850) French novelist, playwright
A Woman of Thirty [La Femme de trente ans], ch. 3 “At Thirty Years” (1842) [tr. Marriage]
Because the road is rough and long,
Shall we despise the skylark’s song?Anne Brontë (1820-1849) British novelist, poet [pseud. Acton Bell]
“Views of Life”
To keep people buying, you need first to make them dissatisfied with what they have. … Advertising is nothing more than a technique to keep people in a state of perpetual dissatisfaction with what they possess and in a permanent state of itchy acquisitiveness.
Felix Greene (1909-1985) British-American journalist
“The Face of Capitalism,” The Enemy: What Every American Should Know About Imperialism (1970)
If you are honest because you think that is the best policy, your honesty has already been corrupted.
Sydney J. Harris (1917-1986) Anglo-American columnist, journalist, author
(Attributed)
To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war.
Winston Churchill (1874-1965) British statesman and author
Remarks, White House luncheon (25 Jun 1954)
On dealing with the Soviets. Quoted in NY Times (27 Jun 1954). Full text.
One resists the invasion of armies; one does not resist the invasion of ideas.
[On résiste à l’invasion des armées; on ne résiste pas à l’invasion des idées.]
Victor Hugo (1802-1885) French writer
The History of a Crime [Histoire d’un Crime], ch. 10, Conclusion [tr. Joyce & Locker]
Alternate translations/paraphrases:
- One withstands the invasion of armies; one does not withstand the invasion of ideas.
- One can resist the invasion of armies; one cannot resist the invasion of ideas.
- One cannot resist an idea whose time has come.
- No one can resist an idea whose time has come.
- Nothing is stronger than an idea whose time has come.
- Armies cannot stop an idea whose time has come.
- No army can stop an idea whose time has come.
- Nothing is as powerful as an idea whose time has come.
- Nothing is so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
- There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come.
You can tell the ideals of a nation by its advertisements.
Norman Douglas (1868-1952) Austro-British writer
South Wind, ch. 7 (1917)
If I could persuade myself that I should find Him in a Himalayan cave, I would proceed there immediately. But I know that I cannot find Him apart from humanity.
Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948) Indian philosopher and nationalist [Mahatma Gandhi]
Harijan (29 Aug 1936)
Any real change implies the breakup of the world as one has always known it, the loss of all that gave one an identity, the end of safety. And at such a moment, unable to see and not daring to imagine what the future will now bring forth, one clings to what one knew, or dreamed that one possessed. Yet, it is only when a man is able, without bitterness or self-pity, to surrender a dream he has long cherished or a privilege he has long possessed that he is set free — he has set himself free — for higher dreams, for greater privileges.
James Baldwin (1924-1987) American novelist, playwright, activist
“Faulkner and Desegregation,” Partisan Review (Fall 1956)
The story of the labor movement needs to be taught in every school in this land. … America is a living testimonial to what free men and women, organized in free democratic trade unions can do to make a better life … we ought to be proud of it!
Hubert Horatio Humphrey (1911-1978) American politician
Speech, Minnesota State AFL-CIO Convention (1977)
Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) American political philosopher, polymath, statesman, US President (1801-09)
Letter to the Danbury Baptists (1 Jan 1802)
(Source)
Addressed to "messrs. Nehemiah Dodge, Ephraim Robbins, & Stephen S. Nelson, a committee of the Danbury Baptist association in the state of Connecticut."
If it’s heaven for climate, it’s hell for company.
James Barrie (1860-1937) Scottish novelist and dramatist
The Little Minister, ch. 3 (1891)
A similar quote is cited to Mark Twain at about the same time. More research into this quotation can be found here.
Ultimately, a genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus, but a molder of consensus.
Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) American clergyman, civil rights leader, social activist, preacher
Speech, Labor Leadership Assembly for Peace (Nov 1967)
Often quoted as "moulder of consensus."
If the government is in the hands of a few, they will tyrannize the many; if in the hands of the many, they will tyrannize over the few.
Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804) American statesman, author
Letter to Robert Morris (30 Apr 1781)
Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.
Raymond Chandler (1888-1959) American novelist
(Attributed)
Any mind that is capable of a real sorrow is capable of good.
Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896) American author
Uncle Tom’s Cabin, ch. 28 “Reunion” (1852)
(Source)
MARIANA: No legacy is so rich as honesty.
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet
All’s Well that Ends Well, Act 3, sc. 5, l. 13 (3.5.13) (1602?)
(Source)
Mankind are very odd Creatures: One Half censure what they practice, the other half practice what they censure; the rest always say and do as they ought.
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard’s Almanack (Jun 1752)
I talk half the time to find out my own thoughts, as a school-boy turns his pockets inside out to see what is in them. One brings to light all sorts of personal property he had forgotten in his inventory.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809-1894) American poet, essayist, scholar
The Poet at the Breakfast Table (1872)
There are two species of timidity, — the timidity of the mind, and the timidity of the nerves; a physical timidity, and a moral timidity. The one is independent of the other. The body may fear and tremble, while the mind is calm and courageous, or vice versa. This is the key to many moral eccentricities. When the two are united in one man, that man will be a cipher all his life.
[Il y a deux timidités: la timidité d’esprit, la timidité de nerfs ; une timidité physique et une timidité morale. L’une est indépendante de l’autre. Le corps peut avoir peur et trembler pendant que l’esprit reste calme et courageux, et vice versa. Ceci donne la clef de bien des bizarreries morales. Quand les deux timidités se réunissent chez un homme, il sera nul pendant toute sa vie.]
Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850) French novelist, playwright
A Bachelor’s Establishment [Un ménage de garçon], ch. 9 (1842) [tr. Wormeley]
Our experience is composed rather of illusions lost than of wisdom acquired.
Joseph Roux (1834-1886) French Catholic priest
Meditations of a Parish Priest: Thoughts, Part 4, #28 [tr. Hapgood (1886)]
Preach, my dear Sir, a crusade against ignorance; establish and improve the law for educating the common people. Let our countrymen know that the people alone can protect us against these evils, and that the tax which will be paid for this purpose is not more than the thousandth part of what will be paid to kings, priests and nobles who will rise up among us if we leave the people in ignorance.
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) American political philosopher, polymath, statesman, US President (1801-09)
Letter to George Wythe (13 Aug 1786)
(Source)
I am afraid we must make the world honest before we can honestly say to our children that honesty is the best policy.
George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) British playwright and critic
Radio broadcast (11 Jul 1932)
‘In war-time,’ I said, ‘truth is so precious she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies.’
Winston Churchill (1874-1965) British statesman and author
The Second World War, Vol. 5: Closing the Ring, ch. 21 “Teheran: The Crux” (1952)
Discussing Operation Overlord (the invasion of France) with Stalin at the Teheran Conference (30 Nov 1943).
You have enemies? Why, it is the story of every man who has done a great deed or created a new idea. It is the cloud which thunders around everything that shines. Fame must have enemies, as light must have gnats. Do no bother yourself about it; disdain. Keep your mind serene as you keep your life clear.
[Vous avez des ennemis? Mais c’est l’histoire de tout homme qui a fait une action grande ou crée une idée neuve. C’est la nuée qui bruit autour de tout ce qui brille. Il faut que la renommé ait des ennemis comme il faut que la lumière ait des moucherons. Ne vous en inquiétez pas, dédaignez! Ayez la sérénité dans votre esprit comme vous avez la limpidité dans votre vie.]
Victor Hugo (1802-1885) French writer
Villemain (1845)
Some things that provoke yong men to wed in haste,
Show after wedding that haste maketh waste.John Heywood (1497?-1580?) English playwright and epigrammist
Proverbes, Part 2, ch. 2 (1546)
(Source)
I believe that if, at the end of it all, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn’t always know this, and am happy I lived long enough to find it out.
Roger Ebert (1942-2013) American film critic, journalist, screenwriter
“The Essential Man,” Esquire (Mar 2010)
Full text.
