George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish journalist, novelist
‘’It Shall Not Be Forgiven’’
Unspoken Sermons, First Series (1867)
Source: Unspoken Sermons: Series I, II, III
Source: Atlas Shrugged
George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish journalist, novelist
‘’It Shall Not Be Forgiven’’
Unspoken Sermons, First Series (1867)
Source: Unspoken Sermons: Series I, II, III
Niccolo Machiavelli book The Prince
Variant: A man who strives after goodness in all his acts is sure to come to ruin, since there are so many men who are not good.
Source: The Prince (1513), Ch. 15; translated by W. K. Marriot
“A murderer is only an extroverted suicide.”
Graham Chapman (1941–1989) English comedian, writer and actor
“Suicides are timid murderers. Masochism instead of Sadism.”
Cesare Pavese (1908–1950) Italian poet, novelist, literary critic, and translator
This Business of Living (1935-1950)
“Is it better for a man to have chosen evil than to have good imposed upon him?”
Anthony Burgess book A Clockwork Orange
Source: A Clockwork Orange
Annie Besant (1847–1933) British socialist, theosophist, women's rights activist, writer and orator
Source: Suicides and Compassion 1932, The Theosophist https://www.theosophyforward.com/index.php/theosophy/609-suicides-and-compassion.html (2012)
“That's how we stay young these days: murder and suicide.”
Eugéne Ionesco (1909–1994) Romanian playwright
Source: Man With Bags
“We need greater virtues to sustain good than evil fortune.”
François de La Rochefoucauld book Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
Il faut de plus grandes vertus pour soutenir la bonne fortune que la mauvaise.
Maxim 25.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665–1678)
Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American politician, 28th president of the United States (in office from 1913 to 1921)
Letter to Bernard Baruch (19 August 1916), PWW 38:51
1910s
Variant: Never attempt to murder a man who is committing suicide.