I believe every human has a finite number of heartbeats. I don’t intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises.

Neil Armstrong (1930-2012) American astronaut, aviator, educator
(Spurious)

Armstrong says that he did not originate this, but repeated it as something he had heard in order to disagree with it.
 
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A mediocre idea that generates enthusiasm will go further than a great idea that inspires no one.

Mary Kay Ash
Mary Kay Ash (1918-2001) American entrepreneur
Mary Kay on People Management (1984)
 
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There is no such whetstone, to sharpen a good wit and encourage a will to learning, as is praise.

Roger Ascham (1515-1568) English author and scholar
The Schoolmaster, Book I (1570)
 
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True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.

Arthur Ashe (1943-1993) American athlete
(Attributed)

Quoted in Readers Digest, "Points to Ponder" (Sep 1994)
 
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Like other occult techniques of divination, the statistical method has a private jargon deliberately contrived to obscure its methods from non-practitioners.

Colonel G. O. Ashley (d. 1997) American military pilot, instructor, journalist
(Attributed)
 
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I don’t subscribe to the thesis, “Let the buyer beware.” I prefer the disregarded one that goes, “Let the seller be honest.”‘

Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) Russian-American author, polymath, biochemist
Letter to Stanley Asimov (13 Apr 1969)

In Stanley Asimov, Yours, Isaac Asimov, A Lifetime of Letters, ch. 38 "Modesty, Honest, and Other Traits" (1995)
 
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It is change, continuing change, inevitable change, that is the dominant factor in society today. No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be.

Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) Russian-American author, polymath, biochemist
“My Own View,” The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction [ed. Robert Holdstock] (1978)
 
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I am completely convinced that hell does not exist except in the minds of pious sadists.

Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) Russian-American author, polymath, biochemist
(Attributed)
 
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We have only a slim chance of getting through the problems that face us now, but if too many Miniver Cheevys sit back to drink and long for a non-existent past, that slim chance will decrease to zero.

Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) Russian-American author, polymath, biochemist
Familiar Poems, Annotated, “Miniver Cheevy” (1977)
 
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The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not “Eureka!” but “That’s funny…”

Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) Russian-American author, polymath, biochemist
(Attributed)

Unsourced. More information here.
 
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The true delight is in the finding out rather than in the knowing.

Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) Russian-American author, polymath, biochemist
(Attributed)
 
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From my close observation of writers (almost all my friends are writers) they fall into two groups: 1) those who bleed copiously and visibly at any bad review, and 2) those who bleed copiously and secretly at any bad review.

Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) Russian-American author, polymath, biochemist
Gold: The Final Science Fiction Collection, Part III, ch 10 “Book Reviews” (2003)

Full text.
 
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When, however, the lay public rallies round an idea that is denounced by distinguished but elderly scientists and supports that idea with great fervor and emotion — the distinguished but elderly scientists are then, after all, probably right.

Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) Russian-American author, polymath, biochemist
Fantasy & Science Fiction (in answer to Clarke’s First Law) (1977)

See Clarke.
 
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Even as a youngster, though, I could not bring myself to believe that if knowledge presented danger, the solution was ignorance. To me, it always seemed that the solution had to be wisdom. You did not refuse to look at danger, rather you learned how to handle it safely.

Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) Russian-American author, polymath, biochemist
The Caves of Steel, Introduction (novel 1954, intro 1983)
 
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The young specialist in English Lit, … lectured me severely on the fact that in every century people have thought they understood the Universe at last, and in every century they were proved to be wrong. It follows that the one thing we can say about our modern “knowledge” is that it is wrong.
… My answer to him was, “… when people thought the Earth was flat, they were wrong. When people thought the Earth was spherical they were wrong. But if you think that thinking the Earth is spherical is just as wrong as thinking the Earth is flat, then your view is wronger than both of them put together.”

Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) Russian-American author, polymath, biochemist
“The Relativity of Wrong” (1996)
 
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Any technological advance can be dangerous. Fire was dangerous from the start, and so (even more so) was speech — and both are still dangerous to this day — but human beings would not be human without them.

Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) Russian-American author, polymath, biochemist
The Caves of Steel, Introduction (novel 1954, intro 1983)
 
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It is forbidden to descry other sects; the true believer gives honor to whatever in them is worthy of honor.

Ashoka (c. 269-232 BC) Indian Buddhist emperor [Asoka, Piyadasi]
Edict
 
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The main dangers in this life are the people who want to change everything — or nothing.

Nancy Astor (1879-1964) American socialite and English politician [Nancy Witcher Langhorne; Viscountess Astor; Lady Astor]
(Attributed)
 
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It is not by the sword or the spear, by soldiers or by armed force that truth is to be promoted, but by counsel and gentle persuasion.

Athanasius (293-373) Bishop of Alexandria, theologian, saint
Divinia Institutia, 54

Migne, Patrologia Latina, 6: 1061
 
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In every age “the good old days” were a myth. No one ever thought they were good at the time. For every age has consisted of crises that seemed intolerable to the people who lived through them.

Brooks Atkinson (1894-1984) American drama critic and journalist
Once Around the Sun, “February 8” (1951)
    (Source)
 
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People everywhere enjoy believing things that they know are not true. It spares them the ordeal of thinking for themselves and taking the responsibility for what they know.

Brooks Atkinson (1894-1984) American drama critic and journalist
Once Around the Sun, “February 2” (1951)
    (Source)
 
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The most fatal illusion is the settled point of view. Since life is growth and motion, a fixed point of view kills anybody who has one.

Brooks Atkinson (1894-1984) American drama critic and journalist
Once Around the Sun (1951)
 
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Democracy means government by discussion, but it is only effective if you can stop people talking.

Clement Attlee
Clement Attlee (1883-1967) English politician and Prime Minister (1945-51)
Speech at Oxford (14 Jun. 1957)
 
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Procrastination and worry are the twin thieves that will try to rob you of your brilliance — but even the smallest action will drive them from your camp.

(Other Authors and Sources)
Gil Atkinson
 
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I have no objections to churches so long as they do not interfere with God’s work.

Brooks Atkinson (1894-1984) American drama critic and journalist
(Attributed)
 
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Silence is a text easy to misread.

A. A. Attanasio (b. 1951) American writer [Alfred Angelo Attanasio, a.k.a Adam Lee]
“The Eagle and the Sword”
 
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We are all here on earth to help others; what on earth the others are here for I don’t know.

W. H. Auden (1907-1973) Anglo-American poet [Wystan Hugh Auden]
The Dyer’s Hand, and Other Essays (1968)
 
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We would rather be ruined than changed,
We would rather die in our dread
Than climb the cross of the moment
And let our illusions die.

W. H. Auden (1907-1973) Anglo-American poet [Wystan Hugh Auden]
The Age of Anxiety, Part 6 [Malin] (1948)
    (Source)
 
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Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh.

W. H. Auden (1907-1973) Anglo-American poet [Wystan Hugh Auden]
The Dyer’s Hand and Other Essays, Part 7 “The Shield of Perseus,” “Notes on the Comic” (1962)
    (Source)
 
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The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

W. H. Auden (1907-1973) Anglo-American poet [Wystan Hugh Auden]
Twelve Songs, Number 9 (1936)
 
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Evil is unspectacular and always human
And shares our bed and eats at our own table.

W. H. Auden (1907-1973) Anglo-American poet [Wystan Hugh Auden]
“Herman Melville” (1939)
    (Source)
 
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Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.

Berthold Auerbach (1812-1882) German author
(Attributed)

Later attributed to Pablo Picasso, and (mistakenly) to Red Auerbach.

 
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But I wretched, most wretched, in the very commencement of my early youth, had begged chastity of Thee, and said, “Give me chastity and continency, only not yet.”

[At ego adulescens miser ualde, miser in exordio ipsius adulescentiae, etiam petieram a te castitatem et dixeram, ‘Da mihi castitatem et continentiam, sed noli modo.’]

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Christian church father, philosopher, saint [b. Aurelius Augustinus]
Confessions, Book 8, ch. 7 / ¶ 17 (8.7.17) (c. AD 398) [tr. Pusey (1838)]
    (Source)

Augustine describing his youth when he wanted God to remove his sinful sexual desires -- but not before he could satisfy them.

(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:

But I, miserable young man, supremely miserable even in the very outset of my youth, had entreated chastity of Thee, and said, “Grant me chastity and continency, but not yet.”
[tr. Pilkington (1876)]

But I, miserable youth, most miserable, in the very beginning of my youth had sought from Thee chastity, and said, “Give me chastity and continency, but not now.”
[tr. Hutchings (1890)]

Yea, wretched, O wretched youth that I had been, on the very threshold of my youth, I had even begged of Thee the gift of chastity; but I had said “Give me chastity and self- control, but not just yet.”
[tr. Bigg (1897), 8.7.2]

But I in my great worthlessness -- for it was greater thus early -- had begged You for chastity, saying: “Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet.”
[tr. Sheed (1943)]

But, wretched youth that I was -- supremely wretched even in the very outset of my youth -- I had entreated chastity of thee and had prayed, “Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet.”
[tr. Outler (1955)]

But I, a most wretched youth, most wretched from the very start of my youth, had even sought chastity from you, and had said, "Give me chastity and continence, but not yet!"
[tr. Ryan (1960)]

As a youth I had been woefully at fault, particularly in early adolescence. I had prayed to you for chastity and said, "Give me chastity and continence, but not yet."
[tr. Pine-Coffin (1961)]

But I, wretched young man that I was -- even more wretched at the beginning of my youth -- had begged you for chastity and had said, "Make me chaste and continent, but not yet."
[tr. Warner (1963)]

But I, most wretched youth, and more wretched at my youth’s beginning, had even sought chastity at your hands and said: 'Give me chastity and self-control but not yet.'
[tr. Blaiklock (1983)]

 
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We need not despair of any man, so long as he lives. For God deemed it better to bring good out of evil than not to permit evil at all.

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Christian church father, philosopher, saint [b. Aurelius Augustinus]
(Attributed)

Variant: "God judged it better to bring good out of evil than to suffer no evil to exist. "
 
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Suppress prostitution, and capricious lusts will overthrow society.

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Christian church father, philosopher, saint [b. Aurelius Augustinus]
De Ordine, 2.4.12

Variant: "If you do away with harlots, the world will be convulsed with lust."

 
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The world is like a book, and those that never leave home read but one page.

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Christian church father, philosopher, saint [b. Aurelius Augustinus]
(Attributed)

Variants:
  • "The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page."
  • "The world is a great book, of which they that never stir from home read only a page."
 
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Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.

[Est autem fides credere quod nondum vides; cuius fidei merces est videre quod credis.]

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Christian church father, philosopher, saint [b. Aurelius Augustinus]
Sermons, 43.1.1

Variant: "For what is faith unless it is to believe what you do not see?"
 
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To many, total abstinence is easier than perfect moderation.

[Multi quidem facilius se abstinent ut non utantur, quam temperent ut bene utantur.]

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Christian church father, philosopher, saint [b. Aurelius Augustinus]
On the Good of Marriage, ch. 21 (AD 401)

Variant: "Complete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation."

 
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God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination.

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Christian church father, philosopher, saint [b. Aurelius Augustinus]
(Attributed)
 
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What, then, is time? I know well enough what it is, provided that nobody asks me; but if I am asked what it is and try to explain, I am baffled.

[Quid est ergo tempus? Si nemo ex me quaerat, scio; si quaerenti explicare velim, nescio.]

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Christian church father, philosopher, saint [b. Aurelius Augustinus]
Confessions, Book 11, ch. 14 / ¶ 17 (11.14.17) (c. AD 398) [tr. Pine-Coffin (1961)]
    (Source)

(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:

What then is time? If no one asks me, I know: if I wish to explain it to one that asketh, I know not.
[tr. Pusey (1838)]

What then is time? If no one asks me, I know; if I wish to explain it to one that asketh, I know not.
[ed. Shedd (1860)]

What, then, is time? If no one ask of me, I know; if I wish to explain to him who asks, I know not.
[tr. Pilkington (1876)]

What then is time? If no one asks me, I know; if I want to explain it to a questioner, I do not know.
[tr. Sheed (1943)]

What, then, is time? If no one asks me, I know what it is. If I wish to explain it to him who asks me, I do not know.
[tr. Outler (1955)]

What, then, is time? If no one asks me, I know; if I want to explain it to someone who does ask me, I do not know.
[tr. Ryan (1960)]

What then is time? I know what it is if no one asks me what it is; but if I want to explain it to someone who has asked me, I find that I do not know.
[tr. Warner (1963)]

 
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This clearly shows that we learn better in a free spirit of curiosity than under fear and compulsion.

[Hinc satis elucet maiorem habere vim ad discenda ista liberam curiositatem quam meticulosam necessitatem.]

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Christian church father, philosopher, saint [b. Aurelius Augustinus]
Confessions, Book 1, ch. 14 / ¶ 23 (1.14.23) (c. AD 398) [tr. Pine-Coffin (1961)]
    (Source)

(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:

No doubt, then, that a free curiosity has more force in our learning these things, than a frightful enforcement.
[tr. Pusey (1838)]

Hereby it appears that free curiosity has more force in our learning of tongues than frightful enforcement.
[ed. Shedd (1860)]

From this it is sufficiently clear that a free curiosity hath more influence in our learning these things than a necessity full of fear.
[tr. Pilkington (1876)]

Whence it is sufficiently clear, that the free desire of knowledge has more power to make us learn these things than the urgency of fear.
[tr. Hutchings (1890)]

It is plain then that the freedom of curiosity is a far better instructor in language than the compulsion of fear.
[tr. Bigg (1897)]

All this goes to prove that free curiosity is of more value in learning than harsh discipline.
[tr. Sheed (1943)]

From this it is sufficiently clear that a free curiosity is more effective in learning than a discipline based on fear.
[tr. Outler (1955)]

Hence it is plain enough that for learning a language free interest has greater power than frightening constraint.
[tr. Ryan (1960)]

It is clear enough from this that free curiosity is a more powerful aid to the learning of languages than a forced discipline.
[tr. Warner (1963)]

By this it is clear that a free curiosity is a greater force in learning than a fear-ridden compulsion.
[tr. Blaiklock (1983)]

 
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Men go forth to marvel at the heights of mountains and the huge waves of the sea, the broad flow of the rivers, the vastness of the ocean, the orbits of the stars, and yet they neglect to marvel at themselves.

[Et eunt homines mirari alta montium et ingentes fluctus maris et latissimos lapsus fluminum et oceani ambitum et gyros siderum, et relinquunt se ipsos.]

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Christian church father, philosopher, saint [b. Aurelius Augustinus]
Confessions, Book 10, ch. 8 / ¶ 15 (10.8.15) (c. AD 398) [tr. Outler (1955)]
    (Source)

(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:

And men go abroad to admire the heights of mountains, the mighty billows of the sea, the broad tides of rivers, the compass of the ocean, and the circuits of the stars, and pass themselves by.
[tr. Pusey (1838)]

And men go forth to wonder at the heights of mountains, the huge waves of the sea, the broad flow of the rivers, the extent of the ocean, and the courses of the stars, and omit to wonder at themselves.
[tr. Pilkington (1876)]

And men travel to admire the heights of mountains, and the vast waves of the sea, and the broad streams of rivers, and the circuit of the ocean, and the orbits of stars, and pass over themselves.
[tr. Hutchings (1890)]

Here are men going afar to marvel at the heights of mountains, the mighty waves of the sea, the long courses of great rivers, the vastness of the ocean, the movements of the stars, yet leaving themselves unnoticed.
[tr. Sheed (1943)]

Men go forth to marvel at the mountain heights, at huge waves in the sea, at the broad expanse of flowing rivers, at the wide reaches of the ocean, and at the circuits of the stars, but themselves they pass by.
[tr. Ryan (1960)]

Yet men go out and gaze in astonishment at high mountains, the huge waves of the sea, the broad reaches of rivers, the ocean that encircles the world, or the stars in their courses. But they pay no attention to themselves.
[tr. Pine-Coffin (1961)]

And men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, the huge waves of the sea, the broad streams of rivers, the vastness of the ocean, the turnings of the stars -- and they do not notice themselves.
[tr. Warner (1963)]

Men go to wonder at the heights of mountains, and the huge billows of the sea, the broad sweeps of the rivers, the curve of ocean and the circuits of the stars, and yet pass by themselves.
[tr. Blaiklock (1983)]

 
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You can force a man to enter a church , to approach the altar, to receive the sacrament, but you cannot force him to believe.

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Christian church father, philosopher, saint [b. Aurelius Augustinus]
(Attributed)
 
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I was asking myself these questions, weeping all the while with the most bitter sorrow in my heart, when all at once I heard the sing-song voice of a child in a nearby house. Whether it was the voice of a boy or a girl I cannot say, but again and again it repeated the refrain “Take it and read, take it and read.”

[Dicebam haec et flebam amarissima contritione cordis mei. Et ecce audio vocem de vicina domo cum cantu dicentis et crebro repetentis, quasi pueri an puellae, nescio: “tolle lege, tolle lege.”]

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Christian church father, philosopher, saint [b. Aurelius Augustinus]
Confessions, Book 8, ch. 12 / ¶ 29 (8.12.29) (c. AD 398) [tr. Pine-Coffin (1961)]
    (Source)

Augustine writes of being unable to break himself away from his life of carnal sin, until, at this moment, he gets what he deems an inspiration from God to open the Bible at random and, reading Romans 13:13-14, makes his full conversion to Christianity.

(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:

So was I speaking and weeping in the most bitter contrition of my heart, when, lo! I heard from a neighbouring house a voice, as of boy or girl, I know not, chanting, and oft repeating, "Take up and read; Take up and read."
[tr. Pusey (1838) and ed. Shedd (1860)]

I was saying these things and weeping in the most bitter contrition of my heart, when, lo, I heard the voice as of a boy or girl, I know not which, coming from a neighbouring house, chanting, and oft repeating, “Take up and read; take up and read.
[tr. Pilkington (1876)]

I spoke thus , and wept in the bitterest sorrow of my heart. And lo, I heard a voice as of a boy or girl from a neighbouring house, I know not which, chanting, and frequently repeating, "Take, read; take, read."
[tr. Hutchings (1890)]

Thus I spoke, weeping in bitter contrition of heart, when, lo, I heard a voice from the neighbouring house. It seemed as if some boy or girl, I knew not which, was repeating in a kind of chant the words, "Take and read, take and read."
[tr. Bigg (1897)]

Such things I said, weeping in the most bitter sorrow of my heart. And suddenly I heard a voice from some nearby house, a boy’s voice or a girl’s voice, I do not know: but it was a sort of sing-song, repeated again and again, “Take and read, take and read.”
[tr. Sheed (1943)]

I was saying these things and weeping in the most bitter contrition of my heart, when suddenly I heard the voice of a boy or a girl -- I know not which -- coming from the neighboring house, chanting over and over again, “Pick it up, read it; pick it up, read it.”
[tr. Outler (1955)]

Such words I spoke, and with most bitter contrition I wept within my heart. And lo, I heard from a nearby house, a voice like that of a boy or a girl, I know not which, chanting and repeating over and over, “Take up and read. Take up and read.”
[tr. Ryan (1960)]

So I spoke, weeping in the bitter contrition of my heart. Suddenly a voice reaches my ears from a nearby house. It is the voice of a boy or a girl (I don’t know which) and in a kind of singsong the words are constantly repeated: “Take it and read it. Take it and read it.”
[tr. Warner (1963)]

Such were my words and I wept in the bitter contrition of my heart. And, see, I heard a voice from a neighbouring house chanting repeatedly, whether a boy’s or a girl’s voice I do not know: "Pick it up and read it, pick it up and read it."
[tr. Blaiklock (1983)]

 
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More quotes by Augustine of Hippo

For how can anything done by the will of God be contrary to nature, when the will of so great a creator constitutes the nature of each created thing? A portent therefore happens not contrary to nature, but contrary to what is known of nature.

[Quo modo est enim contra naturam, quod Dei fit uoluntate, cum uoluntas tanti utique conditoris conditae rei cuiusque natura sit? Portentum ergo fit non contra naturam, sed contra quam est nota natura.]

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Christian church father, philosopher, saint [b. Aurelius Augustinus]
City of God [De Civitate Dei], Book 21, ch. 8 (21.8) (AD 412-416) [tr. Green (Loeb) (1972)]
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Commonly: "Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature."

(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:

For how is that contrary to nature which happens by the will of God, since the will of so mighty a Creator is certainly the nature of each created thing? A portent, therefore, happens not contrary to nature, but contrary to what we know as nature.
[tr. Dods (1871)]

Nothing that happens by the will of God can be ‘contrary to nature.’ The ‘nature’ of any particular created thing is precisely what the supreme Creator of the thing willed it to be. Hence, a portent is merely contrary to nature as known, not to nature as it is.
[tr. Walsh/Honan (1954)]

For how can an event be contrary to nature when it happens by the will of God, since the will of the great Creator assuredly is the nature of every created thing? A portent, therefore, does not occur contrary to nature, but contrary to what is known of nature.
[tr. Bettenson (1972)]

 
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When it comes time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home.

Chief Aupumut (fl. 18th C.) Mohican leader (also "Aupaumut").
(Attributed) (1725)

Sometimes attributed to Tecumseh (1768-1813).

 
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One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other.

Austen - One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other - wist.info quote

Jane Austen
Jane Austen (1775-1817) English novelist
Emma, Vol. 1, ch. 9 [Emma] (1816)
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I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, though not in principle.

Jane Austen
Jane Austen (1775-1817) English novelist
Pride and Prejudice, ch. 58 [Darcy] (1813)
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Where so many hours have been spent in convincing myself that I am right, is there not some reason to fear I may be wrong?

Jane Austen
Jane Austen (1775-1817) English novelist
Sense and Sensibility, ch. 31 [Col. Brandon] (1811)
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The danger from computers is not that they will eventually get as smart as men, but we will meanwhile agree to meet them halfway.

Bernard Avishai (b. 1949) Canadian-American writer, management consultant, political economist
Article on George Orwell’s “Newspeak” (1983)

Referenced on the author's site.

 
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On two occasions I have been asked, — “Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?” In one case a member of the Upper, and in the other a member of the Lower, House put this question. I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.

Charles Babbage (1791-1871) English mathematician, computer pioneer, philosopher
Passages from the Life of a Philosopher, ch. 5 “Difference Engine No. 1” (1864)
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Ah! How sweet coffee tastes! Lovelier than a thousand kisses, sweeter far than muscatel wine! I must have coffee .

Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) German composer
Kafee-Kantate (1732)
 
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Here’s a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: If you’re alive, it isn’t.

Richard Bach (b. 1936) American writer
Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah, ch. 15, epigraph (1977)
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Don’t be dismayed at good-byes.
A farewell is necessary before you can meet again.
And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes,
is certain for those who are friends.

Richard Bach (b. 1936) American writer
Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah, ch. 18, epigraph (1977)
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A synonym is a word you use when you can’t spell the word you first thought of.

Burt Bacharach (b. 1929) American songwriter
(Attributed)
 
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