Let never man be bold enough to say,
Thus, and no farther shall my passion stray:
The first crime, past, compels us into more,
And guilt grows fate, that was but choice, before.Aaron Hill (1685-1750) English poet and playwright
Athelwold, Act V
One difference between savagery and civilization is a little courtesy. There’s no telling what a lot of courtesy would do.
Cullen Hightower (1923-2008) American writer, aphorist, salesman.
(Attributed)
We may not imagine how our lives could be more frustrating or complex — but Congress can.
Cullen Hightower (1923-2008) American writer, aphorist, salesman.
(Attributed)
Those who agree with us may not be right, but we admire their astuteness.
Cullen Hightower (1923-2008) American writer, aphorist, salesman.
(Attributed)
A censor is a man who knows more things than he thinks you ought to.
Granville Hicks (1908-1982) American writer and literary critic
(Attributed)
And while I at length debate and beate the bush,
There shall steppe in other men and catch the burdes.John Heywood (1497?-1580?) English playwright and epigrammist
Proverbes, Part 1, ch. 3 (1546)
(Source)
But doubt is as crucial to faith as darkness is to light. Without one, the other has no context and is meaningless. Faith is, by definition, uncertainty. It is full of doubt, steeped in risk. It is about matters not of the known, but of the unknown.
Carter Heyward (b. 1945) American cleric, feminist, theologian
A Priest Forever (1999)
I wanted to try to live in accord with the promptings which came from my true self. Why is that so difficult?
Herman Hesse (1877-1962) German-born Swiss poet, novelist, painter
Demian, ch. 3 (1919) [tr. Roloff and Lebeck (1965)]
Unhappiness is not knowing what we want and killing ourselves to get it.
Don Herold (1889-1966) American humorist, cartoonist, author
(Attributed)
(Source)
Quoted in Lawrence Peter, Peter's People (1979) as "Herold's Law."
It is better by noble boldness to run the risk of being subject to half the evils we anticipate than to remain in cowardly listlessness for fear of what might happen.
Herodotus (c.484-c.420 BC) Greek historian
Histories, Book 7, ch. 50
This I know — if all men should take their troubles to market to barter with their neighbors, not one when he had seen the troubles of other men but would be glad to carry his own home again.
Herodotus (c.484-c.420 BC) Greek historian
Histories
Beware of the Truth. If you find a truth it can demand that you make painful changes.
Frank Herbert (1920-1986) American writer
(Attributed)
One of the best things to come out of the home computer revolution could be the general and widespread understanding of how severely limited logic really is.
Frank Herbert (1920-1986) American writer
(Attributed)
I’m going to rub your faces in things you try to avoid. I don’t find it strange that all you want to believe in is only that which comforts you. How else do humans invent the traps which betray us into mediocrity? How else do we define cowardice?
Frank Herbert (1920-1986) American writer
Children of Dune
The people I distrust most are those who want to improve our lives but have only one course of action.
Frank Herbert (1920-1986) American writer
(Attributed)
The conception of two people living together for twenty-five years without having a cross word suggests a lack of spirit only to be admired in sheep.
A. P. Herbert (1890-1971) English humorist, novelist, playwright, politician [Alan Patrick Herbert; pseud. Albert Haddock]
(Attributed)
It is hard to fight with anger; for what it wants it buys at the price of soul.
Heraclitus of Ephesus (c.540-c.480 BC) Greek philosopher [Ἡράκλειτος, Herákleitos, Heracleitus]
(Attributed)
Much knowledge of divine things is lost to us through want of faith.
Heraclitus of Ephesus (c.540-c.480 BC) Greek philosopher [Ἡράκλειτος, Herákleitos, Heracleitus]
(Attributed)
Life’s what’s important. Walking, houses, family. Birth and pain and joy. Acting’s just waiting for a custard pie. That’s all.
Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003) American actress
Uncommon Scold, by Abby Adams (1989)
Acting is the most minor of gifts and not a very high-class way to earn a living. After all, Shirley Temple could do it at the age of four.
Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003) American actress
(Attributed)
We are taught you must blame your father, your sisters, your brothers, the school, the teachers — you can blame anyone but never blame yourself. It’s never your fault. But it’s always your fault, because if you wanted to change, you’re the one who has got to change. It’s as simple as that, isn’t it?
Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003) American actress
(Attributed)
If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased.
Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003) American actress
(Attributed)
Life can be wildly tragic at times, and I’ve had my share. But whatever happens to you, you have to keep a slightly comic attitude. In the final analysis, you have got not to forget to laugh.
Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003) American actress
(Attributed)
If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.
Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003) American actress
(Attributed)
Enemies are so stimulating.
Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003) American actress
(Attributed)
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!
Patrick Henry (1736-1799) American revolutionary and orator
Speech at the Second Virginia Convention (23 Mar 1775)
Full text.
We are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God Nature has placed in our power.
Patrick Henry (1736-1799) American revolutionary and orator
Speech at the Second Virginia Convention (23 Mar 1775)
Full text.
Extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, but sometimes the trial of extraordinary graces — sanctified afflictions are spiritual promotions.
Matthew Henry (1662-1714) English writer, religious philosopher
Letter
Quoted in J. Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895)
A tree growing out of the ground is as wonderful today as it ever was. It does not need to adopt new and startling methods.
Robert Henri (1865-1929) American painter
(Attributed)
The nightingale has a lyre of gold,
The lark’s is a clarion call,
And the blackbird plays but a boxwood flute,
But I love him best of all.William Ernest Henley (1849-1903) English poet, critic, editor
Echoes
I can’t believe how much I’ve grown up over the years. I used to think life was just drugs, sex, and rock ‘n’ roll. Thank God I had the guts to change and develop more mature values. Now it’s wine, women and song.
Marian Henley (contemp.) American cartoonist (Maxine)
Maxine
Grace under pressure.
Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) American writer
(Attributed)
How Hemingway defined "guts," quoted by Dorothy Parker in The New Yorker (30 Nov 1929)
Always do sober what you said you would do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut.
Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) American writer
(Attributed)
The world breaks everyone, and afterward many are strong in the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you, too, but there will be no special hurry.
Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) American writer
A Farewell to Arms, ch. 34 (1929)
Cowardice, as distinguished from panic, is almost always simply a lack of ability to suspend the functioning of the imagination.
Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) American writer
Men at War, Introduction (1942)
Every damn thing is your own fault, if you’re any good.
Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) American writer
Green Hills of Africa
Never confuse movement with action.
Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) American writer
Papa Hemingway: A Personal Memoir, to A.E. Hotchner (1967).
Remark to Marlene Dietrich, quoted by her.
To limit the press is to insult the nation; to prohibit the reading of certain books is to declare the inhabitants to be either fools or slaves.
Claude Adrien Helvétius (1715-1771) French philosopher
A Treatise on Man: His Intellectual Faculties and His Education [De l’homme] (1772)
The blessings promised us by Christ were not promised to those alone who were priests; woe unto the world, indeed, if all that deserved the name of virtue were shut up in a cloister.
Héloise (c. 1098-1164) Wife of Peter Abelard
Letter
Democracy used to be a good thing, but now it has gotten into the wrong hands.
Jesse Helms (1921-2008) American conservative politician
(Attributed)
Since when do you have to agree with people to defend them from injustice?
Lillian Hellman (1905-1984) American playwright, screenwriter
(Attributed)
I am not willing, now or in the future, to bring bad trouble to people who, in my past association with them, were completely innocent of any talk or any action that was disloyal or subversive. I do not like subversion or disloyalty in any form and if I had ever seen any I would have considered it my duty to have reported it to the proper authorities. But to hurt innocent people whom I knew many years ago in order to save myself is, to me, inhuman and indecent and dishonorable. I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this year’s fashions, even though I long ago came to the conclusion that I was not a political person and could have no comfortable place in any political group.
Lillian Hellman (1905-1984) American playwright, screenwriter
Letter to Rep. John S. Wood, House Committee on Un-American Activities (19 May 1952)
(Source)
National Archives copy. Reprinted in The Nation (31 May 1952).
In the letter Hellman offers to come before the committee and talk of her own life and beliefs, but not if she could then be compelled to "name names" of others. As a result of the letter and her invoking the Fifth Amendment at the HUAC hearings, Hellman was put on the Hollywood Blacklist for the rest of the decade.
Both [success and failure] are difficult to endure. Along with success come drugs, divorce, fornication, bullying, travel, medication, depression, neurosis and suicide. With failure comes failure.
Joseph Heller (1923-1999) American novelist
Interview with Sam Merrill (Playboy) (1975)
Reprinted in Conversations with Joseph Heller (1993); full text.
We have to remember that what we observe is not nature herself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning.
Werner Heisenberg (1901-1976) German physicist
Physics and Philosophy: The Revolution in Modern Science (1958), lectures at U. of St. Andrews, Scotland (Winter 1955-56)
We often know that [concepts] can be applied to a wide range of inner or outer experience, but we practically never know precisely the limits of their applicability. This is true even of the simplest and most general concepts like ‘existence’ and ‘space and time’. Therefore, it will never be possible by pure reason to arrive at some absolute truth.
Werner Heisenberg (1901-1976) German physicist
Physics and Philosophy: The Revolution in Modern Science (1958), lectures at U. of St. Andrews, Scotland (Winter 1955-56)
There are things that are so serious that you can only joke about them.
Niels Bohr (1885-1962) Danish physicist
(Attributed)
Sometimes misattributed to Werner Heisenberg. Quoted in A Pais, The Genius of Science: A Portrait Gallery (2000). Other sources give Pais' translation as ""Some subjects are so serious that one can only joke about them."Alt trans.: "Some things are so serious that one can only joke about them."
Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor, and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst. Breeds that forget this basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and freedoms.
Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988) American writer
Starship Troopers, ch. 2 [DuBois] (1959)
Companionship, partnership, mutual reassurance, someone to laugh with and grieve with, loyalty that accepts foibles, someone to touch, someone to hold your hand — these things are marriage, and sex is but the icing on the cake.
Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988) American writer
Time Enough for Love [Lazarus] (1973)
But goodness alone is never enough. A hard, cold wisdom is requred for goodness to accomplish good. Goodness without wisdom always accomplishes evil.
Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988) American writer
Stranger in a Strange Land, ch. 36 [Mike] (1961)
Full text.
To be matter of fact about the world is to blunder into fantasy — and dull fantasy at that, as the real world is strange and wonderful.
Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988) American writer
Time Enough for Love [Lazarus] (1973)
A miracle that takes place again and again and again is no longer a miracle; it’s just a nuisance.
Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988) American writer
Job: A Comedy of Justice (1984)
Stupidity cannot be cured with money, or through education, or by legislation.
Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988) American writer
Time Enough for Love [Lazarus] (1973)
If you can’t change your mind, are you sure you still have one?
Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988) American writer
(Attributed)
Sig line frequently given without attribution. Some cite Heinlein, but without source.
Don’t ever become a pessimist, Ira; a pessimist is correct oftener than an optimist, but an optimist has more fun — and neither can stop the march of events.
Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988) American writer
Time Enough for Love [Lazarus Long] (1973)
You have attributed conditions to villainy that simply result from stupidity.