
Dutch television interview (March 1, 2007)
2007, 2008
Orion (1843), Book iii, Canto ii.
Dutch television interview (March 1, 2007)
2007, 2008
Of Fundamentals.
Political, Moral, and Miscellaneous Reflections (1750), Political Thoughts and Reflections
Variant: The key to wisdom is this - constant and frequent questioning, for by doubting we are led to question and by questioning we arrive at the truth.
Lee Scoresby and Stanislaus Grumman in Ch. 14 : Alamo Gulch
His Dark Materials, The Subtle Knife (1997)
Context: "You have a strange way about you, Dr. Grumman. You ever spend any time among the witches?"
"Yes," said Grumman. "And among academicians, and among spirits. I found folly everywhere, but there were grains of wisdom in every stream of it. No doubt there was much more wisdom that I failed to recognize. Life is hard, Mr. Scoresby, but we cling to it all the same."
"And this journey we're on? Is that folly or wisdom?"
"The greatest wisdom I know."
"Tell me again what your purpose is. You're going to find the bearer of this subtle knife, and what then?"
"Tell him what his task is."
"And that's a task that includes protecting Lyra," the aeronaut reminded him.
"It will protect all of us."
“Back of every mistaken venture and defeat is the laughter of wisdom, if you listen.”
Incidentals (1904); this is sometimes paraphrased: "I am an idealist. I believe in everything — I am only looking for proofs."
Context: Back of every mistaken venture and defeat is the laughter of wisdom, if you listen. Every blunder behind us is giving a cheer for us, and only for those who were willing to fail are the dangers and splendors of life. To be a good loser is to learn how to win. I was sure there are ten men in me and I do not know or understand one of them. I could safely declare, I am an idealist. A Parisian cynic says "I believe in nothing. I am looking for clues." My statement would be : I believe in everything — I am only looking for proofs.
“Our civilization is flinging itself to pieces. Stand back from the centrifuge.”
Source: Fahrenheit 451
“Hasten slowly, and without losing heart,
Put your work twenty times upon the anvil.”
Hâtez-vous lentement ; et, sans perdre courage,
Vingt fois sur le métier remettez votre ouvrage.
Canto I, l. 171
The Art of Poetry (1674)
“Time trieth troth in every doubt.”
Part II, chapter 5.
Proverbs (1546), Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)
History of the Thirty Years War - Volume II
The Thirty Years War