Louis XIV of France (1638–1715) King of France and Navarra, from 1643 to 1715
J'ai failli attendre.
Regarded as apocryphal by E. Fournier, L'Esprit dans l'Histoire (4th ed. 1884). ch.xlviii
Disputed
Popular quotes page 94
“Never dream of forcing men into the ways of God. Think yourself, and let think.”
John Wesley (1703–1791) Christian theologian
Sermon 37 "The Nature of Enthusiasm"
Sermons on Several Occasions (1771)
Context: Beware you are not a fiery, persecuting enthusiast. Do not imagine that God has called you (just contrary to the spirit of Him you style your Master) to destroy men’s lives, and not to save them. Never dream of forcing men into the ways of God. Think yourself, and let think. Use no constraint in matters of religion. Even those who are farthest out of the way never compel to come in by any other means than reason, truth, and love.
“We must be clear that when it comes to atoms, language can be used only as in poetry.”
Niels Bohr (1885–1962) Danish physicist
In his first meeting with Werner Heisenberg in early summer 1920, in response to questions on the nature of language, as reported in Discussions about Language (1933); quoted in Defense Implications of International Indeterminacy (1972) by Robert J. Pranger, p. 11, and Theorizing Modernism : Essays in Critical Theory (1993) by Steve Giles, p. 28
Context: We must be clear that when it comes to atoms, language can be used only as in poetry. The poet, too, is not nearly so concerned with describing facts as with creating images and establishing mental connections.
“Isn't it bewildering … that everything is so beautiful, despite all the horrors that exist?”
Sophie Scholl (1921–1943) White Rose member
As quoted in O<sub>2</sub> : Breathing New Life Into Faith (2008) by Richard Dahlstrom, p. 223; this source is disputed as it does not cite an original document for the quote.
Disputed
Context: Isn't it bewildering … that everything is so beautiful, despite all the horrors that exist? Lately I've noticed something grand and mysterious peering into my sheer joy in all that is lovely — the sense of a Creator whom innocent creation worships with its beauty. Only man can be hateful or ugly, because he possesses a free will to cut himself off from the chorus of praise. It often seems that he will succeed in drowning out this chorus with his cannon thunder, curses, and blasphemy. But it has become clear to me this spring that he cannot. And so I must try to throw myself on the side of the victor.
“Build your opponent a golden bridge to retreat across.”
Sun Tzu (-543–-495 BC) ancient Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher from the Zhou Dynasty
This has appeared as a variant of Sun Tzu's assertion to "leave a way of escape." Tu Mu, commenting on Sun Tzu, advises, "Show him there is a road to safety..." Ch. 7; it has also recently appeared on the internet attributed to Scipio Africanus, but without citation.
Disputed
“Deep down, the young are lonelier than the old.”
Anne Frank (1929–1945) victim of the Holocaust and author of a diary
Source: The Diary of a Young Girl
“Happiness consists in getting enough sleep. Just that, nothing more.”
Robert A. Heinlein book Starship Troopers
Source: Starship Troopers
Kanō Jigorō (1860–1938) Japanese educator and judoka
Budo Secrets (2002)
Context: Jigoro Kano's Five Principles of Judo:
1. Carefully observe oneself and one's situation, carefully observe others, and carefully observe one's environment,
2. Seize the initiative in whatever you undertake,
3. Consider fully, act decisively,
4. Know when to stop,
5. Keep to the middle.
Jane Goodall (1934) British primatologist, ethologist, and anthropologist
" An Interview with Jane Goodall https://web.archive.org/web/20100920074838/http://www.idausa.org:80/essays/goodallinterview.html", In Defense of Animals (date unknown) <br class="br">Context: Researchers find it very necessary to keep blinkers on. They don't want to admit that the animals they are working with have feelings. They don't want to admit that they might have minds and personalities because that would make it quite difficult for them to do what they do; so we find that within the lab communities there is a very strong resistance among the researchers to admitting that animals have minds, personalities and feelings.
Richard Bach (1936) American spiritual writer
Illusions : The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah (1977)
Source: Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah
“The art of war is of vital importance to the State.”
Sun Tzu book The Art of War
The Art of War, Chapter I · Detail Assessment and Planning
Context: The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.
“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.”
Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born physicist and founder of the theory of relativity
In answer to a question asked by the editors of Youth, a journal of Young Israel of Williamsburg, NY. Quoted in the New York Times, June 20, 1932, pg. 17 http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40617F83B5A13738DDDA90A94DE405B828FF1D3 <br class="br">Unsourced variant: Only a life in the service of others is worth living. <br class="br">1930s <br class="br">Variant: I believe in one thing—that only a life lived for others is a life worth living.
Sun Tzu (-543–-495 BC) ancient Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher from the Zhou Dynasty
Translation by Lionel Giles
Source: The Art of War, Chapter IV · Disposition of the Army
Freddie Mercury (1946–1991) British singer, songwriter and record producer
"The Man Who Would Be Queen" in Melody Maker (2 May 1981) http://www.queenarchives.com/index.php?title=Freddie_Mercury_-_05-02-1981_-_Melody_Maker.
“How many people you know who can name every serial killer who ever existed in a row?”
Eminem (1972) American rapper and actor
2000s, Relapse (2009)
Nikola Tesla (1856–1943) Serbian American inventor
About the role of J. Pierpont Morgan, and the failure of Tesla's "World System" project
My Inventions (1919)
Context: He had the highest regard for my attainments and gave me every evidence of his complete faith in my ability to ultimately achieve what I had set out to do. I am unwilling to accord to some small−minded and jealous individuals the satisfaction of having thwarted my efforts. These men are to me nothing more than microbes of a nasty disease. My project was retarded by laws of nature. The world was not prepared for it. It was too far ahead of time, but the same laws will prevail in the end and make it a triumphal success.
“Your worst sin is that you have destroyed and betrayed yourself for nothing.”
Fyodor Dostoyevsky book Crime and Punishment
Source: Crime and Punishment (Zločin a trest)
“It's so easy to laugh, it's so easy to hate, it takes strength to be gentle and kind.”
Morrissey (1959) English singer
from the 1986 song "I Know It's Over"
From songs
“The moon has set,
And the Pleiades.
Midnight.
The hour has gone by.
I sleep alone.”
Sappho (-630–-570 BC) ancient Greek lyric poet
Stanley Lombardo translations, Frag. 72