Leo Tolstoy The Kingdom of God Is Within You
Source: The Kingdom of God is Within You (1894), Chapter V, Contradiction Between our Life and our Christian Conscience
Source: Power and Innocence (1972), Ch. 11 : The Humanity of the Rebel
Context: The authentic rebel knows that the silencing of all his adversaries is the last thing on earth he wishes: their extermination would deprive him and whoever else remains alive from the uniqueness, the originality, and the capacity for insight that these enemies — being human — also have and could share with him. If we wish the death of our enemies, we cannot talk about the community of man. In the losing of the chance for dialogue with our enemies, we are the poorer.
Leo Tolstoy The Kingdom of God Is Within You
Source: The Kingdom of God is Within You (1894), Chapter V, Contradiction Between our Life and our Christian Conscience
“You know what I wish? I wish all the scum of the Earth had one throat and I had my hands about it.”
Alan Moore (1953) English writer primarily known for his work in comic books
Source: Absolute Watchmen
Ursula K. Le Guin (1929–2018) American writer
Source: Earthsea Books, The Tombs of Atuan (1971), Chapter 7, "The Great Treasure" (Arha)
Galileo Galilei book Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems
Source: Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (1632), p. 322
Context: In the long run my observations have convinced me that some men, reasoning preposterously, first establish some conclusion in their minds which, either because of its being their own or because of their having received it from some person who has their entire confidence, impresses them so deeply that one finds it impossible ever to get it out of their heads. Such arguments in support of their fixed idea as they hit upon themselves or hear set forth by others, no matter how simple and stupid these may be, gain their instant acceptance and applause. On the other hand whatever is brought forward against it, however ingenious and conclusive, they receive with disdain or with hot rage — if indeed it does not make them ill. Beside themselves with passion, some of them would not be backward even about scheming to suppress and silence their adversaries.
Song Silence is Golden http://www.lyricsdownload.com/tremeloes-silence-is-golden-lyrics.html
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892–1973) British philologist and author, creator of classic fantasy works
"Alboin Errol", in The Lost Road (1987). Compare this with "The lyf so short, the craft so longe to lerne" by Geoffrey Chaucer
Henry Steele Commager (1902–1998) American historian
Source: Freedom, Loyalty, Dissent (1954), p. 147