Richard T. Ely (1854–1943) United States economist and author
Richard T. Ely, Socialism : an examination of its nature, its strength and its weakness, with suggestions for social reform http://archive.org/details/socialismanexam02goog (1894) <br class="br">As quoted in: Charles Austin Beard and Mary Ritter Beard, basic history of the United States http://books.google.gr/books?id=vaQsAAAAMAAJ&q=A, Doubleday, Doran & company, 1944, p. 395.
Blaise Pascal (1623–1662) French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer, and Christian philosopher
Discourses on the Condition of the Great
Context: It is not your strength and your natural power that subjects all these people to you. Do not pretend then to rule them by force or to treat them with harshness. Satisfy their reasonable desires; alleviate their necessities; let your pleasure consist in being beneficent; advance them as much as you can, and you will act like the true king of desire.
“In my doctrine, I dislike preconceived, narrow spirit. You must study this well.”
Miyamoto Musashi (1584–1645) Japanese martial artist, writer, artist
Go Rin No Sho (1645), The Wind Book
Context: Your strategy is of no account if when called on to fight in a confined space your heart is inclined to the long sword, or if you are in a house armed only with your companion sword. Besides, some men have not the strength of others.
In my doctrine, I dislike preconceived, narrow spirit. You must study this well.
Jesse Ventura (1951) American politician and former professional wrestler
Interview in Playboy (November 1999)
Context: Organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers. It tells people to go out and stick their noses in other people's business. I live by the golden rule: Treat others as you'd want them to treat you. The religious right wants to tell people how to live.
“Evil is never truly strong, for it is born of fear.”
David Gemmell book The King Beyond the Gate
Source: Drenai series, The King Beyond the Gate, Ch. 8
Context: Evil is never truly strong, for it is born of fear. Why did he fall so easily? Because he tested your strength and saw the possibility of death [... ] had he possessed true courage, he would have fought back. Instead he froze — and died.
Thomas Jackson (1824–1863) Confederate general
To Col. Sam Fulkerson, who reported on the weariness of their troops and suggested that they should be given an hour or so to rest from a forced march in the night. (24 May 1862); as quoted in Mighty Stonewall (1957) by Frank E. Vandiver, p. 250
Q him, never let up in the pursuit so long as your men have strength to follow…]]
Rick Dyer (video game designer) American video game designer and writer
But when you take 3-D animation and put it into a first-person perspective and create a fly-through environment-well, that is where it shines. So what we're doing is using both mediums for their respective strengths. <br class="br"> Technician of Suspended Disbelief: Rick Dyer, Shadoan and the Frontier of Animated CD Entertainment https://www.awn.com/mag/issue1.1/articles/dyer.html (1996)
Harriet Tubman (1820–1913) African-American abolitionist and humanitarian
Modernized rendition: I had reasoned this out in my mind; there was one of two things I had a right to, liberty, or death; if I could not have one, I would have the other; for no man should take me alive; I should fight for my liberty as long as my strength lasted, and when the time came for me to go, the Lord would let them take me.
The phrase "" is a slogan made famous during the independence struggle of several countries.
1880s, Harriet, The Moses of Her People (1886)
Variant: There was one of two things I had a right to: liberty or death. If I could not have one, I would take the other, for no man should take me alive. I should fight for liberty as long as my strength lasted.
Context: I had reasoned dis out in my mind; there was one of two things I had a right to, liberty, or death; if I could not have one, I would have de oder; for no man should take me alive; I should fight for my liberty as long as my strength lasted, and when de time came for me to go, de Lord would let dem take me.
James Allen (1864–1912) British philosophical writer
As A Man Thinketh (1902), Visions and Ideals
Context: In all human affairs there are efforts, and there are results, and the strength of the effort is the measure of the result. Chance is not. Gifts, powers, material, intellectual, and spiritual possessions are the fruits of effort; they are thoughts completed, objects accomplished, visions realized.
The Vision that you glorify in your mind, the Ideal that you enthrone in your heart — this you will build your life by, this you will become.
“Let me listen to me and not to them”
Gertrude Stein (1874–1946) American art collector and experimental writer of novels, poetry and plays
Stanzas in Meditation (1932) Stanza VII
Context: Let me listen to me and not to them
May I be very well and happy
May I be whichever they can thrive
Or just may they not.
They do not think not only only
But always with prefer
And therefore I like what is mine
For which not only willing but willingly
Because which it matters. They find it one in union.
In union there is strength.
“The specter of single-issue religious groups is growing over our land.”
Barry Goldwater (1909–1998) American politician
Address on religious factions (1981)
Context: The specter of single-issue religious groups is growing over our land. … One of the great strengths of our political system always has been our tendency to keep religious issues in the background. By maintaining the separation of church and state, the United States has avoided the intolerance which has so divided the rest of the world with religious wars.
Norman Mailer (1923–2007) American novelist, journalist, essayist, playwright, film maker, actor and political candidate
Superman Comes to the Supermarket (1960)
Context: A hero can capture the secret imagination of a people, and so be good for the vitality of his nation; a hero embodies the fantasy and so allows each private mind the liberty to consider its fantasy and find a way to grow. Each mind can become more conscious of its desire and waste less strength in hiding from itself.
“This is a time for action — not for war, but for mobilization of every bit of peace machinery.”
My Day (1935–1962)
Context: This is a time for action — not for war, but for mobilization of every bit of peace machinery. It is also a time for facing the fact that you cannot use a weapon, even though it is the weapon that gives you greater strength than other nations, if it is so destructive that it practically wipes out large areas of land and great numbers of innocent people. (16 April 1954 )
Sun Tzu (-543–-495 BC) ancient Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher from the Zhou Dynasty
人皆知我所以勝之形，而莫知吾所以制勝之形。
Source: The Art of War, Chapter VI · Weaknesses and Strengths
“We are already about the 7th. of the Christian nations in population”
Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) 3rd President of the United States of America
Letter to Gouverneur Morris (Washington, 1 Nov. 1801) http://books.google.com/books?ei=QCErUJm8Isa40QGxpYGQDw&id=g40TAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22moderation+in+the+use+of+their+strength%22+%22prc%22&q=+%22gouverneur+morris+1+november%22#search_anchor.In The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 35: 1 August to 30 November 1801, Barbara B. Oberg, ed., Princeton, 2008, , p. 545. http://books.google.com/books?id=g40TAQAAMAAJ&q=%22we+are+already+about+the+7th.+of+the+Christian+nations+in+population%22&dq=%22we+are+already+about+the+7th.+of+the+Christian+nations+in+population%22&source=bl&ots=l-3X05AYj4&sig=5A2f5Vb2jWfHIp_u-GWCr57V3Wk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=xBorUKeTD4Sa8gTI14Eo&ved=0CDcQ6AEwAQ<br>Editor's notes at bottom of letter: PrC (DLC); at foot of text: "Gouverneur Morris esq." 1 Word underlined. [PrC=press copy; DLC= Library of Congress. See "EDITORIAL METHOD AND APPARATUS", sec. 3, "Descriptive Symbols," xvi-xvii http://books.google.com/books?ei=QCErUJm8Isa40QGxpYGQDw&id=g40TAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22moderation+in+the+use+of+their+strength%22+%22prc%22&q=%22editorial+method+and+apparatus%22#search_anchor Editor notes that "All manuscripts of the above types are assumed to be in the hand of the author of the document to which the descriptive symbol pertains."). In manuscript to G. Morris, Jefferson underlined the word own.] http://books.google.com/books?id=g40TAQAAMAAJ&q=%22moderation+in+the+use+of+their+strength%22+%22prc%22&dq=%22moderation+in+the+use+of+their+strength%22+%22prc%22&source=bl&ots=l-3X05B3f4&sig=zI61eSTLmF8oS_39uH_czY69CEo&hl=en&sa=X&ei=QCErUJm8Isa40QGxpYGQDw&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA <br class="br">1800s, First Presidential Administration (1801&ndash;1805) <br class="br">Context: The new Census shews our increase to be in the geometrical ratio of 3 1/6 pr. cent annually which gives a duplication in 22 y— 3 m equal to the most sanguine of our calculations. We are already about the 7th. of the Christian nations in population, but holding a higher place in substantial abilities. If we can keep at peace for our time the next generation will have nothing to fear but from their own want of moderation in the use of their strength.
Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American politician, 40th president of the United States (in office from 1981 to 1989)
Speech to the House of Commons (8 June 1982) http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1982/60882a.htm <br class="br">1980s, First term of office (1981–1985) <br class="br">Context: From Stettin on the Baltic to Varna on the Black Sea, the regimes planted by totalitarianism have had more than thirty years to establish their legitimacy. But none — not one regime — has yet been able to risk free elections. Regimes planted by bayonets do not take root.... If history teaches anything, it teaches self-delusion in the face of unpleasant facts is folly.... Our military strength is a prerequisite to peace, but let it be clear we maintain this strength in the hope it will never be used, for the ultimate determinant in the struggle that's now going on in the world will not be bombs and rockets but a test of wills and ideas, a trial of spiritual resolve, the values we hold, the beliefs we cherish, the ideals to which we are dedicated.
“A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) American general and politician, 34th president of the United States (in office from 1953 to 1961)
1950s, First Inaugural Address (1953)
Context: We must be ready to dare all for our country. For history does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid. We must acquire proficiency in defense and display stamina in purpose. We must be willing, individually and as a Nation, to accept whatever sacrifices may be required of us. A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both. These basic precepts are not lofty abstractions, far removed from matters of daily living. They are laws of spiritual strength that generate and define our material strength. Patriotism means equipped forces and a prepared citizenry. Moral stamina means more energy and more productivity, on the farm and in the factory. Love of liberty means the guarding of every resource that makes freedom possible--from the sanctity of our families and the wealth of our soil to the genius of our scientists.
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) American general and politician, 34th president of the United States (in office from 1953 to 1961)
1950s, First Inaugural Address (1953)
Context: We must be ready to dare all for our country. For history does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid. We must acquire proficiency in defense and display stamina in purpose. We must be willing, individually and as a Nation, to accept whatever sacrifices may be required of us. A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both. These basic precepts are not lofty abstractions, far removed from matters of daily living. They are laws of spiritual strength that generate and define our material strength. Patriotism means equipped forces and a prepared citizenry. Moral stamina means more energy and more productivity, on the farm and in the factory. Love of liberty means the guarding of every resource that makes freedom possible--from the sanctity of our families and the wealth of our soil to the genius of our scientists.
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) American general and politician, 34th president of the United States (in office from 1953 to 1961)
1950s, First Inaugural Address (1953)
Context: We must be ready to dare all for our country. For history does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid. We must acquire proficiency in defense and display stamina in purpose. We must be willing, individually and as a Nation, to accept whatever sacrifices may be required of us. A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both. These basic precepts are not lofty abstractions, far removed from matters of daily living. They are laws of spiritual strength that generate and define our material strength. Patriotism means equipped forces and a prepared citizenry. Moral stamina means more energy and more productivity, on the farm and in the factory. Love of liberty means the guarding of every resource that makes freedom possible--from the sanctity of our families and the wealth of our soil to the genius of our scientists.
Starhawk (1951) American author, activist and Neopagan
Source: Dreaming the Dark: Magic, Sex and Politics (1982), Ch. 6 : Building Community : Processes for Groups, p. 92
Context: We are all longing to go home to some place we have never been — a place half-remembered and half-envisioned we can only catch glimpses of from time to time. Community. Somewhere, there are people to whom we can speak with passion without having the words catch in our throats. Somewhere a circle of hands will open to receive us, eyes will light up as we enter, voices will celebrate with us whenever we come into our own power. Community means strength that joins our strength to do the work that needs to be done. Arms to hold us when we falter. A circle of healing. A circle of friends. Someplace where we can be free.
