Every protective self deception is a crevice in our psyche with a little demon lurking in it, ready to become an episode of unexplained anxiety when life threatens. The self deceptions which are designed to protect us from pain actually end up delivering more pain. We fortify our deceptions to protect them from the natural corrections of daily life.
Roger L. Gould (contemp.) American author, psychoanalyst, sociologist
Transformations
Recollect how easy it is to assume that we, ourselves, are Christian people. Why? Oh, well, just the usual reasons: we say our prayers, when we are not too sleepy; and we come to church, when there is nothing much to do; and so, of course, there is no doubt of it, although our tempers may remain uncurbed, and our characters are not the least like Jesus Christ’s, nor growing any nearer it!
Of course, it all depends upon what we are praying for. If we are whimpering, and sniveling, and begging to be spared the discipline of life that is sent to knock some smatterings of manhood into us, the answer to that prayer may never come at all. Thank God!
If you consider the contribution of plumbing to human life, the other sciences fade into insignificance.
James Gorman (b. 1949) American science writer, journalist
Discover, “From fill to full: the search for the perfect flush-toilet technology” (May 1986)
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1511/is_v7/ai_4227446
Either I’ve been missing something or nothing has been going on.
Karen Elizabeth Gordon (contemp.) American writer
(Attributed)
I don’t want any yes-men around me. I want everybody to tell me the truth even if it costs them their jobs.
Samuel Goldwyn (1882-1974) American film producer
(Attributed)
Religious factions will go on imposing their will on others unless the decent people connected to them recognize that religion has no place in public policy. They must learn to make their views known without trying to make their views the only alternative.
You don’t need to be “straight” to fight and die for your country. You just need to shoot straight.
I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.
Barry Goldwater (1909-1998) American politician
Speech, accepting the GOP Presidential Nomination, San Francisco (16 Jul 1964)
(Source)
Goldwater believed the phrase originated in Cicero, though the source he used is questionable. Karl Hess was Goldwater's speech writer, and he said he derived the turn of phrase from Lincoln's "House Divided" speech. A closer match is this Thomas Paine passage.
More discussion of this quotation and its origins: On the Saying that "Extremism in Defense of Liberty is No Vice" - Niskanen Center
I think every good Christian ought to kick Falwell right in the ass.
Barry Goldwater (1909-1998) American politician
(Attributed)
When asked what he thought of Jerry Falwell's suggestion that every good Christian should be against Sandra Day O'Connor's nomination to the Supreme Court. John Dean later claimed he was there and that the news media "changed the anatomical reference" from "nuts."
BATGIRL: Chicks like you give women a bad name.
Akiva Goldsman (b. 1962) American screenwriter, producer
Batman & Robin (1997)
VIZZINI: Ha-ha, you fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is “Never get involved in a land war in Asia,” but only slightly less famous is this: “Never go in against a Sicilian, when death is on the line!” Hahahahahah! [Dies.]
When there’s more sick ones than well ones, by golly the sick ones will lock the well ones up.
Eric F. Goldman (1915-1989) American historian, writer
Crucial Decade (1956)
The moment avoiding failure becomes your motivator, you’re down the path of inactivity. You stumble only if you’re moving.
Roberto Goizueta (1931-1997) Cuban-American CEO of Coca-Cola
(Attributed)
Human beings reveal their character most clearly by what they find ridiculous.
[Durch nichts bezeichnen die Menschen mehr ihren Charakter als durch das, was sie lächerlich finden.]
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) German poet, statesman, scientist
Elective Affinities [Die Wahlverwandtschaften], Part 2, ch. 4, “From Ottilie’s Journal [Aus Ottiliens Tagebuche]” (1809) [tr. Hollingdale (1971)]
(Source)
(Source (German)). Alternate translation:
There is nothing in which people more betray their character than in what they find to laugh at.
[Niles ed. (1872)]
Men show their characters in nothing more clearly than in what they think laughable.
[Source]
For an opposite perspective, see Lichtenberg.
None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.
[Niemand ist mehr Sklave als der sich für frei hält ohne es zu sein.]
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) German poet, statesman, scientist
Elective Affinities [Die Wahlverwandtschaften], Part 2, ch. 5, “From Ottilie’s Journal [Aus Ottiliens Tagebuche]” (1809) [tr. Wenckstern (1853)]
(Source)
(Source (German)). Alternate translation:
No one is more a slave than the man who thinks himself free while he is not.
[Niles ed. (1872)]
No one is more a slave than he who thinks he is free without being so.
[tr. Hollingdale (1971)]