Joseph De Maistre (1753–1821) Savoyard philosopher, writer, lawyer, and diplomat
"Of Experiment and of the Genius of Discoveries," p. 37
An Examination of the Philosophy of Francis Bacon (1836)
"Darwin's Middle Road", p. 66
The Panda's Thumb (1980)
Joseph De Maistre (1753–1821) Savoyard philosopher, writer, lawyer, and diplomat
"Of Experiment and of the Genius of Discoveries," p. 37
An Examination of the Philosophy of Francis Bacon (1836)
“People are the common denominator of progress.”
John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006) American economist and diplomat
Economic Development (1964), ch. 2
Context: People are the common denominator of progress. So, paucis verbis, no improvement is possible with unimproved people, and advance is certain when people are liberated and educated. It would be wrong to dismiss the importance of roads, railroads, power plants, mills, and the other familiar furniture of economic development. At some stages of development — the stage that India and Pakistan have reached, for example — they are central to the strategy of development. But we are coming to realize, I think, that there is a certain sterility in economic monuments that stand alone in a sea of illiteracy. Conquest of illiteracy comes first.
Ma Ying-jeou (1950) Taiwanese politician, president of the Republic of China
Ma Ying-jeou (2011) cited in: " ‘One China’ idea up for discussion: Ma http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2011/06/25/2003506626" in The Taipei Times, 25 June 2011. <br class="br">Statement made during the interview with Apple Daily, 24 June 2011. <br class="br">Strait issues
“The genius of the English has always been their ability to adapt.”
Roy Strong (1935) art historian from the United Kingdom
“I believe the common denominator of the Universe is not harmony, but chaos, hostility and murder.”
Werner Herzog (1942) German film director, producer, screenwriter, actor and opera director
"Grizzly Man" (2006)
“The people change, the common denominator is you.”
Phil McGraw (1950) American television host, psychologist, actor and film producer
Twitter post https://twitter.com/drphil/status/449952194788208641, 29 Mars 2014
Richard Dawkins book The Blind Watchmaker
Source: The Blind Watchmaker (1986), Chapter 8 “Explosions and Spirals” (pp. 195–196)
“The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits. ”
Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born physicist and founder of the theory of relativity
“PC is low, low church — it is the lowest common denomination.”
Martin Amis (1949) Welsh novelist
"The voice of the lonely crowd" (2002)