And of all plagues with which mankind are curst,
Ecclesiastic tyrannyDaniel Defoe (1660?-1731) English journalist and novelist
The True-Born Englishman, Part 2 (1701)
But the Nature of the War is now alter’d,
`tis the longest Purse
Conquers the longest Sword.Daniel Defoe (1660?-1731) English journalist and novelist
(Attributed)
When kings the sword of justice first lay down,
They are no kings, though they possess the crown.
Titles are shadows, crowns are empty things,
The good of subjects is the end of kings.Daniel Defoe (1660?-1731) English journalist and novelist
The True-Born Englishman (1701)
The graveyards are full of people the world could not do without.
Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915) American writer, businessman, philosopher
“The Philistine” (May 1907)
(Source)
Sometimes misquoted as:Also attributed to Charles DeGaulle, Georges Clemenceau, and many others. More discussion: The Graveyards Are Full of Indispensable Men – Quote Investigator.
- "The graveyards are full of indispensable men"
- "The cemeteries are full of indispensable men."
- "The cemeteries are filled with people who thought the world could not get along without them."
Never speak of yourself to others; make them talk about themselves instead: therein lies the whole art of pleasing.
The Brothers Goncourt - Edmond (1822-96) & Jules (1830-70), French writers [a.k.a. J.E. de Goncourt]
Id
The artist who aims at perfection in everything achieves it in nothing.
Eugène Delacroix (1799-1863) French painter [Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix]
(Attributed)
Once in a while, God sends a good white person my way, even to this day. I think it
Bessie Delany (1891-1995) American writer, dentist [Annie Elizabeth Delany]
Having Our Say, ch. 12 (1992)
I thought I could change the world. It took me a hundred years to figure out I can’t change the world. I can only change Bessie. And honey, that ain’t easy either.
Bessie Delany (1891-1995) American writer, dentist [Annie Elizabeth Delany]
(Attributed)
Natural history teaches that when underdeveloped brains are in charge of great power, the result is extinction.
Jose M. R. Delgado (1915-2011) Spanish-American neuropsychiatrist, researcher
Physical Control of the Mind, ch. 2 (1969)
www.angelfire.com/tv/emp/13-16.htm
No trumpets sound when the important decisions of our life are made. Destiny is made known silently.
Agnes De Mille (1905-1993) American dancer, choreographer
(Attributed)
Many oppressed people happen to be our oppressors. So how do we act? How are we to begin? … I think the only choice that will enable us to hold to our vision without being scared into wanting to retreat is one that abandons the concept of naming enemies and adopts a concept familiar to the nonviolent tradition: naming behavior that is oppressive, naming abuse of power, that is held unfairly and must be destroyed, but naming no person one whom we are willing to destroy …
Barbara Deming (1917-1984) American author, activist, pacifist
“To Fear Jane Alpert is to Fear Ourselves – A Letter to Susan Sherman” (1975)
http://homepage.mac.com/dmccabe/janealpert.html
The longer we listen to one another — with real attention — the more commonality we will find in all our lives. That is, if we are careful to exchange with one another life stories and not simply opinions.
Barbara Deming (1917-1984) American author, activist, pacifist
Talk, Florida State U. (4 Mar 1977)
http://homepage.mac.com/dmccabe/rememberingwho.html
Think first of the action that is right to take, think later about coping with one’s fears.
Barbara Deming (1917-1984) American author, activist, pacifist
(Attributed)
It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory.
W. Edwards Deming (1900-1993) American management consultant, educator
(Attributed)
Learning is not compulsory; it’s voluntary. Improvement is not compulsory; it’s voluntary. But to survive, we must learn.
W. Edwards Deming (1900-1993) American management consultant, educator
“Quality, Productivity, and Competitive Position” seminar (24-28 Feb 1986)
(Source)
Often paraphrased: "Learning is not compulsory. Neither is survival."
If you can’t describe what you are doing as a process, you don’t know what you’re doing.
W. Edwards Deming (1900-1993) American management consultant, educator
(Attributed)
Nothing is so easy as to deceive one’s self; for what we wish, that we readily believe.
Demosthenes (384-322 BC) Greek orator and statesman
Third Olynthiac, sec. 19 (349 BC)
Alt. trans.: "Nothing is easier than self-deceit. For what each man wishes, that he also believes to be true."
Perfection does not exist. To understand this is the triumph of human intelligence; to expect to possess it is the most dangerous kind of madness.
Alfred De Musset (1810-1857) French Romantic poet, playwright
(Attributed)
I’m not a big one for “my nation, right or wrong.” I’ve always been extremely uneasy with the argument that “might makes right”. But sometimes my nation is right, and sometimes might is the correct answer. Sometimes when the entire world condemns you all it proves is that they value different things. What’s good for them may not be good for us. War is bad, but sometimes all the alternatives are worse.
Steven Den Beste (d. 2016) American essayist, engineer
U.S.S. Clueless (1 Sep. 2002)
http://denbeste.nu/cd_log_entries/2002/09/Moralblindness.shtml
Learn to live well, that thou may’st die so too;
To live and die is all we have to do.John Denham (1615-1668) English poet and dramatist
“Of Prudence,” l. 93 (c. 1667)
Before you put someone in their place, you should put yourself in theirs.
David Denotaris (contemp.) American motivational speaker
(Attributed)
If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.
[Veritatem inquirenti, semel in vita de omnibus, quantum fieri potest, esse dubitandum.]
René Descartes (1596-1650) French philosopher, mathematician
Principles of Philosophy [Principia Philosophiae], Part 1 “The Principles of Human Knowledge [De Principiis Cognitionis Humane],” Article 1 (1644)
Common, unsourced translation of Descartes first principle. Frequently mis-sourced to Discourse on Method (1637) or Meditations on First Philosophy (1641), though those predecessor works do speak of the same principle.
(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:
That in order to seek truth, it is necessary once in the course of our life, to doubt, as far as possible, of all things.
[tr. Veitch (1850)]
That in order to examine into the truth, it is necessary once on one's life to doubt of all things, so far as this is possible.
[tr. Haldane/Ross (1934)]
The seeker after truth must, once in the course of his life, doubt everything, as far as possible.
[tr. Miller & Miller (1982)]
That whoever is searching after truth must, once in his life, doubt all things; insofar as this is possible.
[tr. Cottingham/Stoothoff/Murdoch (1985)]
For it is not enough to have a good mind; the main thing is to apply it well. The greatest souls are capable of the greatest vices as well as the greatest virtues; and those who proceed but very slowly can make much greater progress, if they always follow the right path, than those who hurry and stray from it.
[Car ce n’est pas assez d’avoir l’esprit bon, mais le principal est de l’appliquer bien. Les plus grandes âmes sont capables des plus grands vices aussi bien que des plus grandes vertus; et ceux qui ne marchent que fort lentement peuvent avancer beaucoup davantage, s’ils suivent toujours le droit chemin, que ne font ceux qui courent et qui s’en éloignent.]
René Descartes (1596-1650) French philosopher, mathematician
Discourse on Method [Discours de la méthode], Part 1 (1637) [tr. Cottingham, Stoothoff (1985)]
(Source)
Sometimes quoted "the main thing is to use it well." (Source (French)). Alternate translations:
For ’tis not enough to have good faculties, but the principal is, to apply them well. The greatest Souls are as capable of the greatest Vices, as of the most eminent Vertues: And those who move but very slowly, may advance much farther, if they always follow the right way; then those who run and straggle from it.
[tr. Newcombe ed. (1649)]
For to be possessed of a vigorous mind is not enough; the prime requisite is rightly to apply it. The greatest minds, as they are capable of the highest excellences, are open likewise to the greatest aberrations; and those who travel very slowly may yet make far greater progress, provided they keep always to the straight road, than those who, while they run, forsake it.
[tr. Veitch (1901)
For to be possessed of good mental powers is not sufficient; the principal matter is to apply them well. The greatest minds are capable of the greatest vices as well as of the greatest virtues, and those who proceed very slowly may, provided they always follow the straight road, really advance much faster than those who, though they run, forsake it.
[tr. Haldane, Ross (1911)]
Good sense is of all things in the world the most equally distributed, for everybody thinks he is so well supplied with it, that even those most difficult to please in all other matters never desire more of it than they already possess.
[Le bon sens est la chose du monde la mieux partagée; car chacun pense en être si bien pourvu, que ceux même qui sont les plus difficiles à contenter en toute autre chose n’ont point coutume d’en désirer plus qu’ils en ont.]
René Descartes (1596-1650) French philosopher, mathematician
Discourse on Method [Discours de la méthode], Part 1, Opening Words (1637) [tr. Haldane & Ross (1911)]
(Source)
(Source (French)). Alternate translations:
Right understanding is the most equally divided thing in the World; for every one beleevs himself so well stor’d with it, that even those who in all other things are the hardest to be pleas’d, seldom desire more of it then they have.
[Newcombe ed. (1649)]
Good sense is, of all things among men, the most equally distributed; for every one thinks himself so abundantly provided with it, that those even who are the most difficult to satisfy in everything else, do not usually desire a larger measure of this quality than they already possess.
[tr. Veitch (1850)]
Good sense is the most fairly distributed thing in the world; for everyone thinks himself so well supplied with it, that even those who are hardest ot satisfy in every other way do not usually desire more of it than they already have.
[tr. Ascombe & Geach (1971)]
Good sense is the best distributed thing in the world: for everyone thinks himself so well endowed with it that even those who are hardest to please in everything else do not usually desire more of it than they possess.
[tr. Cottingham, Stoothoff (1985), sec. 1]
Common sense is the best distributed commodity in the world, for every man is convinced that he is well supplied with it.
[Oxford Reference]
Of all things, good sense is the most fairly distributed: everyone thinks he is so well supplied with it that even those who are the hardest to satisfy in every other respect never desire more of it than they already have.
Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.
Les absents ont toujours tort.
[The absent are always in the wrong.]Philippe Destouches (1680-1754) French playwright [b. Philippe Nericault]
L’Obstacle impr
No individual or group will be judged by whether they come up to or fall short of some fixed result, but by the direction in which they are moving. The band mans is the man who no matter how good he has been is beginning to deteriorate, to grow less good. The good man in the man who no matter how morally unworthy he has been is moving to become better. Such a conception makes one severe in judging himself and humane in judging others.
John Dewey (1859-1952) American teacher and philosopher
Reconstruction in Philosophy, ch. 7 “Moral Reconstruction” (1919)
(Source)
One time I figured out this: if you aren’t brave, it doesn’t matter what other virtues you have, because you aren’t going to act them out. What good does it do to be able to see truth if you’re too chickenshit to act on the basis of what you see? I finally reduced all human virtues to one: bravery.
Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away.
Philip K. Dick (1928-1982) American writer
Introduction, I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon, ed. Mark Hurst and Paul Williams (1985)
Fear can make you do more wrong than hate or jealousy. If you’re afraid, you don’t commit yourself to life completely; fear makes you always, always hold something back.
Philip K. Dick (1928-1982) American writer
Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said (1974)
“But you were always a good man of business, Jacob,” faltered Scrooge, who now began to apply this to himself.
“Business!” cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. “Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) English writer and social critic
A Christmas Carol (1843)
I say, David, to the young this is a world for action, and not for moping and droning in.
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) English writer and social critic
David Copperfield, ch. 10 (Mr. Murdstone) (1850)
Reflect upon your present blessings — of which every man has many — not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some. Fill your glass again, with a merry face and contented heart. Our life on it, but your Christmas shall be merry, and your new year a happy one!
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) English writer and social critic
Sketches by Boz, “Characters,” ch. 2 “A Christmas Dinner” (1833-36)
(Source)
My life is one demd horrid grind.
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) English writer and social critic
The Life And Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, ch. 64 (Mr Mantalini) (1839)
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness; it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) English writer and social critic
A Tale of Two Cities, ch. 1 (1859)
If I can stop one heart from breaking
I shall not live in vain
If I can ease one life the aching
Or cool one pain
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again
I shall not live in vain.
They say that God is everywhere, and yet we always think of Him as somewhat of a recluse.
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) American poet
Letter
Fame is a bee
It has a song —
It has a sting —
Ah, too, it has a wing.Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) American poet
“Fame is a bee” (undated)
Inebriate of air am I,
And debauchee of dew,
Reeling, through endless summer days,
From inns of molten blue.Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) American poet
“I taste a liquor never brewed,” l. 5
Because I could not stop for Death–
He kindly stopped for me–
The Carriage held but just Ourselves–
And ImmortalityEmily Dickinson (1830-1886) American poet
“Because I could not stop for Death”
There is no moral precept that does not have something inconvenient about it.
Denis Diderot (1713-1784) French editor, philosopher
(Attributed)
From fanaticism to barbarism is only one step.
Denis Diderot (1713-1784) French editor, philosopher
Essai sur le Mérite de la Vertu [Essay on Merit and Virtue] (1745)
Diderot’s essay is a translation of Shaftesbury’s Essay on the Merit of Virtue (1699).
Disturbances in society are never more fearful than when those who are stirring up the trouble can use the pretext of religion to mask their true designs.
Denis Diderot (1713-1784) French editor, philosopher
“Observations on the Drawing Up of Laws” (1774)
It is the friends you can call up at 4 a.m. that matter.
Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992) German-American actress, singer
(Attributed)
The weak are more likely to make the strong weak than the strong are likely to make the weak strong.
Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992) German-American actress, singer
Marlene Dietrich’s ABC, “Weakness” (1962)
(Source)
How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.
Annie Dillard (b. 1945) American author
The Writing Life (1989)
Love, with very young people, is a heartless business. We drink at that age from thirst, or to get drunk; it is only later in life that we occupy ourselves with the individuality of our wine.
Isak Dinesen (1885-1962) Danish writer [pseud. of Karen Christence, Countess Blixen]
“The Old Chevalier,” Seven Gothic Tales (1934)
(Source)
All things can be cured by salt water: sweat, tears, or the ocean.
Isak Dinesen (1885-1962) Danish writer [pseud. of Karen Christence, Countess Blixen]
(Attributed)
If they’re selling elephants two for a quarter, that’s a great bargain. But only if you have a quarter — and only if you need elephants.
David N. Dinkins (1927-2020) American politician, lawyer, author
(Attributed)
On a great land deal for the city; quoted by Leonard Buder, New York Times
In science one tries to tell people, in such a way as to be understood by everyone, something that no one ever knew before. But in poetry, it’s the exact opposite.
Paul Dirac (1902-1984) physicist
(Attributed)
quoted in H. Eves, Mathematical Circles Adieu (1977)
Man is a being born to believe. And if no church comes forward with its title-deeds of truth to guide him, he will find altars and idols in his own heart and his own imagination.
Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) English politician and author
Speech (25 Nov. 1864)
It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.
Walt Disney (1901-1966) American entrepreneur, animator, film producer, showman
(Attributed)
A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you’re talking real money.
Everett Dirksen (1896-1969) American politician
(Attributed)
Frequently attributed to Dirksen, but not found in his writings or speeches. An anonymous reference is made in "Topics of the Times," New York Times (10 Jan 1938): "Well, now, about this new budget. It's a billion here and a billion there, and by and by it begins to mount up into money."
My idea of an agreeable person is a person who agrees with me.
Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) English politician and author
Lothair, ch. 41 (Lothair) (1870)
Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think.
Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) English politician and author
(Attributed)
Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.
Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) English politician and author
(Attributed)