“For life and love you gave to me
I give my thanks for eternity.”
Bobby Sands (1954–1981) Irish volunteer of the Provisional Irish Republican Army
Dear Mum
Context: A guide to me in times of plight
A princess like a star so bright
For life would never have been the same
If I hadn’t of learned what small things came. So forgive me Mum just a little more
For not loving you so much before,
For life and love you gave to me
I give my thanks for eternity.
“Most of us live betwixt quiet despair and furious nihilism.”
Albert Caraco (1919–1971) French-Uruguayan philosopher
Source: Ma confession (1975), p. 94
Albert Caraco (1919–1971) French-Uruguayan philosopher
Translation from: Albert Carao (1919-1917) http://illusioncity.net/albert-caraco/ at illusioncity.net by Snake June 17, 2012 <br class="br">Ma confession (1975)
“Let your hook always be cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be fish.”
Casus ubique valet; semper tibi pendeat hamus
Quo minime credas gurgite, piscis erit.
Book III, line 425
Ars Amatoria (The Art of Love)
Source: Heroides
Context: Chance is always powerful. Let your hook always be cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be fish.
“The distinguishing property of man is to search for and to follow after truth.”
In primisque hominis est propria veri inquisitio atque investigatio. Itaque cum sumus necessariis negotiis curisque vacui, tum avemus aliquid videre, audire, addiscere cognitionemque rerum aut occultarum aut admirabilium ad beate vivendum necessarian! ducimus. Ex quo intellegitur, quod verum, simplex sincerumque sit, id esse naturae hominis aptissimum. Huic veri videndi cupiditati adiuncta est appetitio quaedam principatus, ut nemini parere animus bene informatus a natura velit nisi praecipienti aut docenti aut utilitatis causa iuste et legitime imperanti; ex quo magnitudo animi existit humanarumque rerum contemptio.
Marcus Tullius Cicero (-106–-43 BC) Roman philosopher and statesman
Book I, section 13
Variant translation: Above all, the search after truth and its eager pursuit are peculiar to man. And so, when we have leisure from the demands of business cares, we are eager to see, to hear, to learn something new, and we esteem a desire to know.
De Officiis – On Duties (44 BC)
Context: The distinguishing property of man is to search for and to follow after truth. Therefore, when relaxed from our necessary cares and concerns, we then covet to see, to hear, and to learn somewhat; and we esteem knowledge of things either obscure or wonderful to be the indispensable means of living happily.* From this we understand that truth, simplicity, and candour, are most agreeable to the nature of mankind. To this passion for discovering truth, is added a desire to direct; for a mind, well formed by nature, is unwilling to obey any man but him who lays down rules and instructions to it, or who, for the general advantage, exercises equitable and lawful government. From this proceeds loftiness of mind, and contempt for worldly interests.
“It is wrong not to give a hand to the fallen; this law is universal to the whole human race.”
Iniquum est conlapsis manum non porrigere; commune hoc ius generis humani est.
Marcus Annaeus Seneca (-54–39 BC) Roman scholar
Book I, Chapter I; slightly modified translation from Norman T. Pratt Seneca's Drama (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1983) p. 140
Controversiae
“Let us live – we must die.”
Vivamus, moriendum est.
Marcus Annaeus Seneca (-54–39 BC) Roman scholar
Book II, Chapter VI; translation from Michael Winterbottom, Declamations of the Elder Seneca (London: Heinemann, 1974) vol. 1 p. 349
Some editions of Seneca prefer the reading Bibamus, moriendum est (Let us drink – we must die).
Controversiae
“We must not say that every mistake is a foolish one.”
Non enim omnis error stultitia est dicenda.
Marcus Tullius Cicero (-106–-43 BC) Roman philosopher and statesman
Book II, Chapter LII, section 90
De Divinatione – On Divination (44 BC)
“The cause is hidden. The effect is visible to all.”
Causa latet, vis est notissima
Variant translation: The cause is hidden; the effect is visible to all.
Book IV, 287
Metamorphoses (Transformations)
Variant: The cause is hidden, but the result is well known.
“I will either find a way, or make one.”
Aut viam inveniam aut faciam.
Hannibal (-247–-183 BC) military commander of Carthage during the Second Punic War
Latin proverb, most commonly attributed to Hannibal in response to his generals who had declared it impossible to cross the Alps with elephants; English translation as quoted in Salesmanship and Business Efficiency (1922) by James Samuel Knox, p. 27.
Gabriel Marcel (1889–1973) French philosopher, playwright, music critic and leading Christian existentialist
Source: Man Against Mass Society (1952), p. 25
“Wanting to be someone else is a waste of who you are”
Kurt Cobain (1967–1994) American musician and artist
Variant: Wanting to be someone else is the waste of who you are
“Arrest me for sitting on a bus? You may do that.”
Rosa Parks (1913–2005) African-American civil rights activist
Robert Greene (1959) American author
Chap. 8 : Change Your Circumstances by Changing Your Attitude
The Laws of Human Nature (2018)
Bob Marley (1945–1981) Jamaican singer, songwriter, musician
Variant: You may not be her first, her last, or her only. She loved before she may love again. But if she loves you now, what else matters? She's not perfect — you aren't either, and the two of you may never be perfect together but if she can make you laugh, cause you to think twice, and admit to being human and making mistakes, hold onto her and give her the most you can. She may not be thinking about you every second of the day, but she will give you a part of her that she knows you can break — her heart. So don't hurt her, don't change her, don't analyze and don't expect more than she can give. Smile when she makes you happy, let her know when she makes you mad, and miss her when she's not there.
“Being oppressed means the absence of choices”
Bell Hooks (1952) American author, feminist, and social activist
“Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.”
Mary Oliver (1935–2019) American writer
"Sometimes", § 4
Red Bird (2008)
Variant: Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.
