He makes no friend who never made a foe.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) English poet
Idylls of the King, “Lancelot and Elaine,” l.1082 (1859-85)
It is our duty as men and women to proceed as though the limits of our abilities do not exist.
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955) French Jesuit priest, paleontologist, philosopher
(Attributed)
Conscience is, in most men, an anticipation of the opinion of others.
Henry Taylor (1800-1886) English dramatist, poet, bureaucrat, man of letters
The Statesman: An Ironical Treatise on the Art of Succeeding, ch. 9 (1836)
The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they’re going to have some pretty annoying virtues.
Victory goes to the player who makes the next-to-last mistake.
Savielly Tartakower (1887-1956) Russian chess grandmaster
(Attributed)
And this made me remember that common saying everyone in China was raised with: “If you can’t change your fate, change your attitude.”
Amy Tan (b. 1952) American novelist
The Kitchen God’s Wife, ch. 17 (1991)
(Source)
Usually quoted without the attribution to a common saying.
LECTER: A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.
Ted Tally (b. 1952) American screenwriter, playwright
The Silence of the Lambs (1991) [film based on the novel by Thomas Harris]
ARMY OFFICER: Dr. Aoki, as a zoologist what would you say the beast is? Would you say it’s a bird, or is it a reptile?
DR. AOKI: I would like to say there isn’t any recorded history of it. Let’s just call it a monster.
Niisan Takahashi (1926-2015) Japanese screenwriter [高橋 二三, b. Yukito Takahashi]
Gamera vs. Gyaos [Gamera tai Gyaosu] (1967)
Every child comes with the message that God is not yet tired of the man.
Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) Indian Bengali poet, philosopher [a.k.a. Rabi Thakur, Kabiguru]
Stray Birds (1916)
Alt. trans.: "Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man."
I have spent my days stringing and unstringing my instrument, while the song I came to sing remains unsung.
Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) Indian Bengali poet, philosopher [a.k.a. Rabi Thakur, Kabiguru]
“Waiting,” Gitanjali (1913)
Alt trans:
"The song I came to sing
remains unsung to this day.
I have spent my days in stringing
and in unstringing my instrument.""The song that I came to sing remains unsung to this day,
I have spent my days in stringing and unstringing my instrument."Sometimes titled "Song Unsung"
Full text.
Praise shames me, for I secretly beg for it.
Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) Indian Bengali poet, philosopher [a.k.a. Rabi Thakur, Kabiguru]
Stray Birds (1916)
You can’t cross the sea merely by staring at the water.
Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) Indian Bengali poet, philosopher [a.k.a. Rabi Thakur, Kabiguru]
(Attributed)
The mountain remains unmoved at seeming defeat by the mist.
Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) Indian Bengali poet, philosopher [a.k.a. Rabi Thakur, Kabiguru]
“Fireflies” (1926)
Full text.
If you shut your door to all errors, truth will be shut out.
Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) Indian Bengali poet, philosopher [a.k.a. Rabi Thakur, Kabiguru]
Stray Birds (1916)
The Lord respects me when I work,
But He loves me when I sing.Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) Indian Bengali poet, philosopher [a.k.a. Rabi Thakur, Kabiguru]
“Fireflies” (1926)
(Source)
Alt. trans.:
"God honours me when I work,
He loves me when I sing."
Faith is the bird that feels the light
And sings when the dawn is still dark.Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) Indian Bengali poet, philosopher [a.k.a. Rabi Thakur, Kabiguru]
“Fireflies” (1926)
Full text.
Fear is not in the habit of speaking truth. When perfect sincerity is expected, perfect freedom must be allowed; nor has anyone who is apt to be angry when he hears the truth any cause to wonder that he does not hear it.
Tacitus (c.56-c.120) Roman historian, orator, politician [Publius or Gaius Cornelius Tacitus]
(Attributed)
It is human nature to hate the man whom you have to hurt.
[Proprium humani ingenii est odisse quem laeseris.]
Tacitus (c.56-c.120) Roman historian, orator, politician [Publius or Gaius Cornelius Tacitus]
Agricola, ch. 42 (AD 98)
(Source)
Alt trans: "It belongs to human nature to hate those you have injured."
Candor and generosity, unless tempered by due moderation, lead to ruin.
Tacitus (c.56-c.120) Roman historian, orator, politician [Publius or Gaius Cornelius Tacitus]
Histories, Book 3, ch. 86 (AD 115-16)
To show resentment at a reproach is to acknowledge that one may have deserved it.
Tacitus (c.56-c.120) Roman historian, orator, politician [Publius or Gaius Cornelius Tacitus]
Annals (AD 117)
People often say that this or that person has not yet found himself. But the self is not something one finds, it is something one creates.
Thomas Szasz (1920-2012) Hungarian-American psychiatrist, educator
“Personal Conduct,” The Second Sin (1973)
Happiness is an imaginary condition formerly often attributed by the living to the dead, now usually attributed by adults to children, and by children to adults.
Thomas Szasz (1920-2012) Hungarian-American psychiatrist, educator
“Happiness,” The Second Sin (1973)
Reason is a very light rider, and easily shook off.
Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) English writer and churchman
A Tale of a Tub, Sec. 9 (1704)
Commonly paraphrased as above. The full quote (emphasis mine):It would be a mighty advantage accruing to the public from this inquiry that all these would very much excel and arrive at great perfection in their several kinds, which I think is manifest from what I have already shown, and shall enforce by this one plain instance, that even I myself, the author of these momentous truths, am a person whose imaginations are hard-mouthed and exceedingly disposed to run away with his reason, which I have observed from long experience to be a very light rider, and easily shook off; upon which account my friends will never trust me alone without a solemn promise to vent my speculations in this or the like manner, for the universal benefit of human kind, which perhaps the gentle, courteous, and candid reader, brimful of that modern charity and tenderness usually annexed to his office, will be very hardly persuaded to believe.
Full text.
Where I am not understood, it shall be concluded that something very useful and profound is couched beneath.
Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) English writer and churchman
A Tale of a Tub, Preface (1704)
When a true genius appears in this world, you may know him by this sign: that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.
Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) English writer and churchman
“Thoughts on Various Subjects” (1706)
Full text.
The Stoical scheme of supplying our wants by lopping off our desires, is like cutting off our feet when we want shoes.
Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) English writer and churchman
“Thoughts on Various Subjects” (1706)
Full text.
We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.
Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) English writer and churchman
“Thoughts on Various Subjects” (1706)
Full text.
I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.
Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) English writer and churchman
“Thoughts on Various Subjects” (1706)
Full text.
There is a transcendent power in example. We reform others unconsciously when we walk uprightly.
Anne Sophie Swetchine (1782-1857) Russian-French author and salonist [Madame Swetchine]
(Attributed)
Par-runts of rugmonkeys everywhere are worrying that their children will want to become Force-wielding breath masked Sithlords? Sweet Cream-of-Jesus on TOAST POINTS, people!! So now we have to fear that every crib-lizard that loves Anakin Skywalker will become Evil Incarnate. It’s been a lovely planet, but I think I need to go, now.
(Other Authors and Sources)
Alan D. Swan
If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything. It is open to everything. In the beginner’s mind, there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind, there are few.
Shunryū Suzuki (1905-1971) Japanese Zen Buddhist master
Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, Prologue (1973)
For Zen students a weed is a treasure. […] You should rather be grateful for the weeds you have in you mind, because eventually they will enrich your practice.
Shunryū Suzuki (1905-1971) Japanese Zen Buddhist master
Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, ch. 1 “Right Practice” (1973)
May your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you strike, fall like a thunderbolt.
Sun-Tzu (fl. 6th C. AD) Chinese general and philosopher [a.k.a. Sun Wu]
(Attributed)
Opportunities multiply as they are seized.
Sun-Tzu (fl. 6th C. AD) Chinese general and philosopher [a.k.a. Sun Wu]
(Spurious)
Visible goodwill is the strongest negotiation strategy. Don’t let somebody else determine your behavior.
(Other Authors and Sources)
S. U. Sunrei
Men never cling to their dreams with such tenacity as at the moment when they are losing faith in them, and know it, but do not dare yet to confess it to themselves.
William Graham Sumner (1840-1910) American minister, sociologist, anthropologist.
The Independent, “The Banquet of Life” (28 Jun. 1887)
(also cited 23 Jun.)
Nagging is the repetition of unpalatable truths.
Edith Summerskill (1901-1980) English politician, physician, author
Speech (1960)
“As you’re evidently bent on talking you might as well talk to some purpose by telling me what you know about yourself.”
“Oh, what I know about myself isn’t really worth telling,” said Anne eagerly. “If you’ll only let me tell you what I imagine about myself you’ll think it ever so much more interesting.”
Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942) Canadian author
Anne of Green Gables, ch. 5 “Anne’s History” (1908)
Marilla and Anne. Full text.
As swords were designed to kill
They did well to make them tongue-shaped.Anwar I-Suhaili (fl. c. 1590) Persian artist, writer
(Attributed)
We attract hearts by the qualities we display; we retain them by the qualities we possess.
Jean Baptiste Antoine Suard (1734-1817) French journalist
(Attributed)
And I know of the Future Judgment,
How dreadful soe’er it be,
That to sit alone with my Conscience
Will be Judgment enough for me.Charles William Stubbs (1845-1912) British cleric (Bishop of Truro)
“The Judgment of Conscience,” st. 13, Bryhtnoth’s Prayer and Other Poems (1899)
(Source)
You can’t get spoiled if you do your own ironing.
I’ve told you this long tale of my time at Vassar because what everybody says is absolutely true. These are, or these were, the halcyon days. Real Life is actually a lot more like high school. The common denominator prevails. Excellence is not always recognized or rewarded. What we watch on our screens, whom we elect, are determined to a large extent by public polls. Looks count. A lot. And unlike the best of the college experience, when ideas and solutions somehow seem attainable if you just get up early, stay up late, try hard enough, and find the right source or method, things on the outside sometimes seem vast and impossible, and settling, resigning oneself, or hiding and hunkering down becomes the best way of getting along.
Meryl Streep (b. 1949) American actress
Commencement Address, Vassar College (1983)
Full text. Sometimes quoted (as a generic "commencement address"): "You have been told that Real Life is not like college, and you have been correctly informed. Real Life is more like high school."
I have learned throughout my life as a composer chiefly through my mistakes and pursuits of false assumptions, not by my exposure to founts of wisdom and knowledge.
The trouble with music appreciation in general is that people are taught to have too much respect for music — they should be taught to love it instead.
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) American composer
“Subject: Music,” New York Times Magazine (27 Sep 1964)
ZATHRAS: Yes, Zathras is used to being beast of burden to other people’s needs. Very sad life. Probably have very sad death. But at least there is symmetry.
J. Michael (Joe) Straczynski (b. 1954) American screenwriter, producer, author [a/k/a "JMS"]
Babylon 5, 3×16 “War Without End,” Part 1 (13 May 1996)
DELENN: In my experience, if you cannot say what you mean, you cannot mean what you say.
J. Michael (Joe) Straczynski (b. 1954) American screenwriter, producer, author [a/k/a "JMS"]
Babylon 5, 4×06 “Into the Fire” (3 Feb 1997)
MARCUS: You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair; then I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be much worse if life were fair, and all the terrible things that happened to us come because we actually deserved them?’ So now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe.
J. Michael (Joe) Straczynski (b. 1954) American screenwriter, producer, author [a/k/a "JMS"]
Babylon 5, 3×13 “A Late Delivery from Avalon” (22 Apr 1996)
IVANOVA: You’re having delusions of grandeur again.
MARCUS: Well, if you’re going to have delusions, you may as well go for the really satisfying ones.J. Michael (Joe) Straczynski (b. 1954) American screenwriter, producer, author [a/k/a "JMS"]
Babylon 5, 4×03 “The Summoning” (18 Nov 1996)
LONDO: I suppose there’ll be a war now, hmm? All that running around and shooting at one another. You would have thought sooner or later it’d go out of fashion.
J. Michael (Joe) Straczynski (b. 1954) American screenwriter, producer, author [a/k/a "JMS"]
Babylon 5: The Gathering (1993)
LONDO: Ah, arrogance and stupidity all in the same package. How efficient of you.
J. Michael (Joe) Straczynski (b. 1954) American screenwriter, producer, author [a/k/a "JMS"]
Babylon 5: In the Beginning (1998)
So we’re just in this maze for now, trying to figure out if that glint in the distance is daylight, or a Minotaur with an Uzi.
J. Michael (Joe) Straczynski (b. 1954) American screenwriter, producer, author [a/k/a "JMS"]
rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated, “ATTN JMS: Warner Bros” (8 Dec 1996)
(Source)
It saddens me that literacy has become suspect, and degraded, given how many millions of years of evolution spent developing the ability to create language. The quality of our thoughts is bordered on all sides by our facility with language. The less precise the usage, the less clear the process of language, the less you can achieve what you want to achieve when you open you mouth to say something. We have slowly bastardized and degraded and weakened the language, abetted and abided by a growing cultural disdain for literacy, a cyclical trend toward anti-intellectualism.
J. Michael (Joe) Straczynski (b. 1954) American screenwriter, producer, author [a/k/a "JMS"]
rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated, “ATTN JMS: Influences?” (27 Oct 1995)
(Source)
SEBASTIAN: Good luck to you in your “holy cause,” Captain Sheridan. May your choices have better results than mine: remembered not as a messenger, remembered not as a reformer, not as a prophet, not as a hero, not even as Sebastian. Remembered only as “Jack.”
J. Michael (Joe) Straczynski (b. 1954) American screenwriter, producer, author [a/k/a "JMS"]
Babylon 5, 2×21 “Comes the Inquisitor” (22 Apr 1995)
SHERIDAN: Oh, now that is a lie!
DELENN: Minbari do not lie.
SHERIDAN: Well then it is slander.
DELENN: To be slander, it must be false. That’s two down.
SHERIDAN: Well then it’s damned inconvenient.
DELENN: The truth always is.J. Michael (Joe) Straczynski (b. 1954) American screenwriter, producer, author [a/k/a "JMS"]
Babylon 5: Thirdspace (1998)