“Anger is the key to any evil.”
Musa al-Kadhim (745–799) Seventh of the Twelve Imams and regarded by Sunnis as a renowned scholar
Ibn Shu’ba al-Harrani, Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 416.
General
“Anger is the key to any evil.”
Musa al-Kadhim (745–799) Seventh of the Twelve Imams and regarded by Sunnis as a renowned scholar
Ibn Shu’ba al-Harrani, Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 416.
General
L. K. Samuels (1951) American writer
Source: In Defense of Chaos: The Chaology of Politics, Economics and Human Action, (2013), p. 90
John Joseph Griffin (1802–1877) English chemist and publisher
Chemical Recreations (7th Edition, 1834) "The Romance of Chemistry" p232
Herb Goldberg (1937–2019) American psychologist
The Personal Journey of Masculinity: From Externalization to Disconnection to Oblivion, p. 9
What Men Still Don't Know About Women, Relationships, and Love (2007)
David M. Buss (1953) American psychologist
Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind (6th ed., 2019), Chap. 1: The Scientific Movements Leading to Evolutionary Psychology
Evolutionary Psychology, 2005
Marilyn Stokstad (1929–2016) art historian
Source: Medieval castles (2005), Ch. 1 : The Great Tower : Norman and Early Plantagenet Castles
Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–1889) English poet
" The Leaden Echo and the Golden Echo http://www.bartleby.com/122/36.html: The Leaden Echo, lines 1-2 <br class="br">Wessex Poems and Other Verses (1918)
Tawakkol Karman (1979) Yemeni journalist, politician, human rights activist, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient
2000s, Youth Q&A on the U.N. High-Level Panel on the Post-2015 Agenda Report (2009)
Hillary Clinton (1947) American politician, senator, Secretary of State, First Lady
CNN Democratic Presidential Town Hall http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2016/may/10/context-hillary-clintons-comments-about-coal-jobs/ in Columbus, Ohio (13 March 2016) <br class="br">Presidential campaign (April 12, 2015 – 2016)
Bill Gates (1955) American business magnate and philanthropist
Interview from Programmers at Work (1986)
Douglas McGregor (1906–1964) American professor
(2006; 366) Section "Beyond McGregor's Theory Y," by Thomas A. Kochan. Prepared for the Sloan School 50th Anniversary Session on October 11 (2002).
The Human Side of Enterprise (1960)
Paul Mason (journalist) book PostCapitalism: A Guide to our Future
PostCapitalism: A Guide to our Future (2015)
Tom Robbins (1932) American writer
"The Green Man : Tom Robbins" interviewed by Gregory Daurer, in High Times (12 June 2002).
High Times interview (2002)
Christopher Hitchens (1949–2011) British American author and journalist
2000s, 2000, "Hostility Of America to Religion" (2000)
Markiplier (1989) American YouTuber and Internet personality
Video game commentary, Calm Time (November 23, 2013)
Ken McLeod (1948) Canadian lama
Buddha Nature http://www.unfetteredmind.org/buddha-nature. Unfettered Mind http://www.unfetteredmind.org. (Topic: Practice)
Angelique Rockas South African actress and founder of Internationalist Theatre, London
Interview on Helenism .net (September 2011)
Hideo Kojima (1963) Japanese video game designer
Source: "Hideo Kojima: The Kikizo Interview 2008 (Page 3)". https://web.archive.org/web/20111009180041/http://archive.videogamesdaily.com/features/hideo-kojima-interview-2008-p3.asp Kikizo. August 24, 2008. Archived from the original on October 9, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
Frank Dobbin (1956) American sociologist
Frank Dobbin, Claudia Bird Schoonhoven (eds) Stanford's Organization Theory Renaissance, 1970-2000, 2010. p. xvii
Paul Simon (1941) American musician, songwriter and producer
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover
Song lyrics, Still Crazy After All These Years (1975)
Omar Khayyám (1048–1131) Persian poet, philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer
Source: The Rubaiyat (1120)
Stuart A. Umpleby (1944) American scientist
Source: "The origins and purposes of several traditions in systems theory and cybernetics," 1999, p. 80: About General Systems Theory
“The balance you have between drive & patience may be your master key to success.”
David Allen (1945) American productivity consultant and author
26 October 2011 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/129326605360316416 <br class="br"> Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (1953) Argentine politician and ex President of Argentina
Speech A speech published in the web site of the Cervantes Virtual Center http://cvc.cervantes.es/obref/congresos/rosario/clausura/fernandez_c.htm <br class="br">Unsourced, 2007
Báb (1819–1850) Iranian prophet; founder of the religion Bábism; venerated in the Bahá'í Faith
Epistle to Muhammad Sháh
Charles Babbage (1791–1871) mathematician, philosopher, inventor and mechanical engineer who originated the concept of a programmable c…
Source: The Exposition of 1851: Views Of The Industry, The Science, and the Government Of England, 1851, p. 173; As cited in: Samuel Smiles (1864) Industrial biography; iron-workers and tool-makers http://books.google.com/books?id=5trBcaXuazgC&pg=PA245, p. 245
Joseph M. Juran (1904–2008) Quality guru
Joseph M. Juran in: Paul H. Selden (1997), Sales Process Engineering: A Personal Workshop, Milwaukee, WI: ASQ Quality Press, pp. xxi–xxii
Norman G. Finkelstein book The Holocaust Industry
"The Holocaust Industry" p. 55
Other sourced statements
“But the blood always remained, for the key was enchanted.”
Charles Perrault (1628–1703) French author
Tales of Mother Goose, 1727, "Bluebeard"
Daniel Dennett book Consciousness Explained
I asked, and he replied, "No, I already told you — I hate rock music."</p>
Source: Consciousness Explained (1991), p. 58-59
Michael Scheuer (1952) American counterterrorism analyst
As quoted in "Obama and his party offer America's young … death, misery, and slavery" http://non-intervention.com/1143/obama-and-his-party-offer-america%E2%80%99s-young-%E2%80%A6-death-misery-and-slavery/ (2013), by M. Scheuer, Michael Scheuer's Non-Intervention. <br class="br">2010s
Ruhollah Khomeini (1902–1989) Religious leader, politician
As quoted in Holy Terror: Inside the World of Islamic Terrorism (1987) by Amir Taheri, pp. 241-3.
Disputed
Phil Vischer (1966) American puppeter
From Disc Two; Behind the Scenes: Jonah and the Bible (00:00:00-00:00:21)
Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie DVD (2002)
K. R. Narayanan (1920–2005) 9th Vice President and the 10th President of India
Shri K. R. Narayanan President of India in Conversation with N. Ram on Doordarshan and All India Radio
George Ritzer (1940) American sociologist
Source: Globalization - A Basic Text (2010), Chapter 3, Related Processes I: Imperialism, Colonialism, and More, p. 80
Ursula K. Le Guin book Four Ways to Forgiveness
"A Woman's Liberation", p. 208
Four Ways to Forgiveness (1995)
“Engaging in complexity is a key to simplicity. Fear of it will haunt your inner recesses.”
David Allen (1945) American productivity consultant and author
12 November 2011 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/135526192148267009 <br class="br"> Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy
George Holmes Howison (1834–1916) American philosopher
Source: The Limits of Evolution, and Other Essays, Illustrating the Metaphysical Theory of Personal Ideaalism (1905), Appendix E: Reply to Criticisms of Mr. J.M.E. McTaggert, p.430
Charles Rosen (1927–2012) American pianist and writer on music
Source: Piano Notes: The World of the Pianist (2002), Ch. 1 Body and Mind
Maimónides book The Guide for the Perplexed
Source: Guide for the Perplexed (c. 1190), Part III, Ch.7
George W. Bush (1946) 43rd President of the United States
President's Radio Address http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/03/20080308.html, regarding the President's veto of a bill that would have banned waterboarding as an interrogation technique (March 8, 2008) <br class="br">2000s, 2008
Herbert Schiller (1919–2000) American media critic
Source: Living In The Number One Country (2000), Chapter Six, In the Core Of power, p. 171
John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892) American Quaker poet and advocate of the abolition of slavery
Source: Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), P. 513
Adelaide Anne Procter (1825–1864) English poet and songwriter
"A Lost Chord".
Legends and Lyrics: Second Series (1861)
Ernst Mayr (1904–2005) German-American Evolutionary Biologist
Mayr (1981) as cited in: C. Gnoli (2011) "Ontological foundations in knowledge organization: the theory of integrative levels applied in citation order". Scire actas. 17-1
Nigel Cumberland (1967) British author and leadership coach
page 190 <br class="br">Your Job-Hunt Ltd – Advice from an Award-Winning Asian Headhunter (2003), Successful Recruitment in a Week (2012) https://books.google.ae/books?idp24GkAsgjGEC&printsecfrontcover&dqnigel+cumberland&hlen&saX&ved0ahUKEwjF75Xw0IHNAhULLcAKHazACBMQ6AEIGjAA#vonepage&qnigel%20cumberland&ffalse, Managing Teams in a Week (2013) https://books.google.ae/books?idqZjO9_ov74EC&printsecfrontcover&dqnigel+cumberland&hlen&saX&ved0ahUKEwjF75Xw0IHNAhULLcAKHazACBMQ6AEIIDAB#vonepage&qnigel%20cumberland&ffalse, Secrets of Success at Work – 50 techniques to excel (2014) https://books.google.ae/books?id4S7vAgAAQBAJ&printsecfrontcover&dqnigel+cumberland&hlen&saX&ved0ahUKEwjF75Xw0IHNAhULLcAKHazACBMQ6AEIJjAC#vonepage&qnigel%20cumberland&ffalse
Gareth Morgan book Images of Organization
Source: Images of Organization (1986), p. 35 (Morgan, 1998)
Frances Ames (1920–2002) South African physician
Institutional Hearing: The Health Sector, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Volume 4, Chapter 5, p. 135.
Thomas Piketty (1971) French economist
Eduardo Porter, " Q&A: Thomas Piketty on the Wealth Divide http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/11/qa-thomas-piketty-on-the-wealth-divide/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0," economix.blogs.nytimes.com, March 11, 2014. <br class="br">In answer of the question: "Your book fits oddly into the canon of contemporary economics. It focuses not on growth and its determinants, but on how the spoils of growth are divided. In that sense, it reminds us of similar concerns in a book of similar title written 150 years ago: Karl Marx’s “Capital.” What parallels would you draw between the two?"
Rebecca Wirfs-Brock (1953) American software engineer
Rebecca Wirfs-Brock (2003) in " An Interview with Rebecca Wirfs-Brock Author of Object Design http://www.objectsbydesign.com/books/RebeccaWirfs-Brock.html" 2003-2005 Objects by Design, Inc: Answer to the question Can you clarify what you consider to be the essential elements of a "conceptual view".
David Allen (1945) American productivity consultant and author
13 August 2012 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/235132922565369857 <br class="br"> Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy
Jonah Goldberg (1969) American political writer and pundit
2010s, 2018, The Government Can’t Love You (2018)
Viktor Orbán (1963) Hungarian politician, chairman of Fidesz
Speech at the 28th Bálványos Summer Open University and Student Camp https://visegradpost.com/en/2017/07/24/full-speech-of-v-orban-will-europe-belong-to-europeans/, 22 July 2017, Tusnádfürdő
Lucy Mack Smith (1775–1856) American religious leader
The History of Joseph Smith by His Mother (1853), "Rigdon's Depression"
John Henry Schwarz (1941) American theoretical physicist
pp. 4–5
Mahmud Begada (1458–1511) Sultan of Gujarat
Junagadh (Gujarat) Mirat-i-Ahmdi, translated into English by M.F. Lokhandwala, Baroda, 1965,pp 47-52
Kenneth E. Boulding (1910–1993) British-American economist
Preface
1940s, The Economics of Peace, 1945
Edgar Rice Burroughs book Tarzan of the Apes
Source: Tarzan of the Apes (1912), Ch. 7 : The Light of Knowledge
Gerry Spence (1929) American lawyer
Source: How to Argue and Win Every Time (1995), Ch. 12 The Unbeatable Power Argument : Delivering the Knockout p. 196
Trevor Baylis (1937–2018) English inventor
Cited in: Daniel H. Pink (2006), A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future. p. 137
Sofia Samatar book A Stranger in Olondria
Source: A Stranger in Olondria (2013), Chapter 3, “Doorways” (p. 19; the first sentence is echoed on p. 273)
Edward Hopper (1882–1967) prominent American realist painter and printmaker
Interview in the late 1950's, Katherine Kuh and Avis Berman ed., in 'My Love Affair With Modern Art', New York 2006, p.276; as quoted in 'The Artist’s Voice', Katharine Kuh, New York and Evanston 1962, p.135
Hopper qualified his early Paris sketches, by adding that these sketches were direct, about the 'immediate impression', while being very much concerned to represent with representing depth
1941 - 1967
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (1931–2015) 11th President of India, scientist and science administrator
Arvind Gupta, Mukul Chaturvedi, Akshay Joshi (2004) Security and Diplomacy: Essential Documents. p. 144.
“Today knowledge and human capital are becoming an organisation’s key resources”
Nigel Cumberland (1967) British author and leadership coach
Source: Your Job-Hunt Ltd – Advice from an Award-Winning Asian Headhunter (2003), Successful Recruitment in a Week (2012) https://books.google.ae/books?idp24GkAsgjGEC&printsecfrontcover&dqnigel+cumberland&hlen&saX&ved0ahUKEwjF75Xw0IHNAhULLcAKHazACBMQ6AEIGjAA#vonepage&qnigel%20cumberland&ffalse, p.2 <br class="br">Context: Today knowledge and human capital are becoming an organisation’s key resources, and the ability to find, attract and retain talent has become an essential skill that any successful organization must embrace.
Robert G. Ingersoll (1833–1899) Union United States Army officer
Rome, or Reason? A Reply to Cardinal Manning. Part I. The North American Review (1888)
Context: The people became convinced—being ignorant, stupid and credulous—that the church held the keys of heaven and hell. The foundation for the most terrible mental tyranny that has existed among men was in this way laid. The Catholic Church enslaved to the extent of its power. It resorted to every possible form of fraud; it perverted every good instinct of the human heart; it rewarded every vice; it resorted to every artifice that ingenuity could devise, to reach the highest round of power. It tortured the accused to make them confess; it tortured witnesses to compel the commission of perjury; it tortured children for the purpose of making them convict their parents; it compelled men to establish their own innocence; it imprisoned without limit; it had the malicious patience to wait; it left the accused without trial, and left them in dungeons until released by death. There is no crime that the Catholic Church did not commit,—no cruelty that it did not practice,—no form of treachery that it did not reward, and no virtue that it did not persecute. It was the greatest and most powerful enemy of human rights. It did all that organization, cunning, piety, self-denial, heroism, treachery, zeal and brute force could do to enslave the children of men. It was the enemy of intelligence, the assassin of liberty, and the destroyer of progress.
Wernher von Braun (1912–1977) German, later an American, aerospace engineer and space architect
Banquet speech on the eve of the Apollo 11 launch, Royal Oaks Country Club, Titusville (15 July 1969); quoted in "Of a Fire on the Moon", LIFEmagazine (29 August 1969), 67, No. 9, p. 34
Context: If our intention had been merely to bring back a handful of soil and rocks from the lunar gravel pit and then forget the whole thing, we would certainly be history's biggest fools. But that is not our intention now — it never will be. What we are seeking in tomorrow's trip is indeed that key to our future on earth. We are expanding the mind of man. We are extending this God-given brain and these God-given hands to their outermost limits and in so doing all mankind will benefit. All mankind will reap the harvest. … What we will have attained when Neil Armstrong steps down upon the moon is a completely new step in the evolution of man.
Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968) American clergyman, activist, and leader in the American Civil Rights Movement
1960s, Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence (1967)
Context: A genuine revolution of values means in the final analysis that our loyalties must become ecumenical rather than sectional. Every nation must now develop an overriding loyalty to mankind as a whole in order to preserve the best in their individual societies. This call for a worldwide fellowship that lifts neighborly concern beyond one's tribe, race, class, and nation is in reality a call for an all-embracing and unconditional love for all mankind. This oft misunderstood, this oft misinterpreted concept, so readily dismissed by the Nietzsches of the world as a weak and cowardly force, has now become an absolute necessity for the survival of man. When I speak of love I am not speaking of some sentimental and weak response. I am not speaking of that force which is just emotional bosh. I am speaking of that force which all of the great religions have seen as the supreme unifying principle of life. Love is somehow the key that unlocks the door which leads to ultimate reality.
Maimónides book The Guide for the Perplexed
Guide for the Perplexed (c. 1190), Introduction
Context: Having concluded these introductory remarks I proceed to examine those expressions, to the true meaning of which, as apparent from the context, it is necessary to direct your attention. This book will then be a key admitting to places the gates of which would otherwise be closed. When the gates are opened and men enter, their souls will enjoy repose, their eyes will be gratified, and even their bodies, after all toil and labour, will be refreshed.
Robert H. Jackson (1892–1954) American judge
Summation for the Prosecution, July 26, 1946
Quotes from the Nuremberg Trials (1945-1946)
Chris Carter (1956) American television and film producer, director and writer
"The End" [5.20] (17 May 1998) Mulder to Scully
The X-Files (1993-2002)
Context: This kid may be the key not just to all human potential, but to all spiritual unexplained paranormal phenomena. The key to everything in The X-Files.
“The longest journey begins with a single step, not with the turn of an ignition key.”
Edward Abbey (1927–1989) American author and essayist
“Walking” p. 205
The Journey Home (1977)
Context: The longest journey begins with a single step, not with the turn of an ignition key. That’s the best thing about walking, the journey itself. It doesn’t much matter whether you get where you’re going or not. You’ll get there anyway. Every good hike brings you eventually back home. Right where you started.
“Two key rules of Third World travel: 1. Never run out of whiskey. 2. Never run out of whiskey.”
P. J. O'Rourke (1947) American journalist
All the Trouble in the World (1994)
“Of my Base metal may be filed a Key,
That shall unlock the Door he howls without.”
Omar Khayyám (1048–1131) Persian poet, philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer
The Rubaiyat (1120)
Context: The Vine had struck a fibre: which about
If clings my being — let the Dervish flout;
Of my Base metal may be filed a Key,
That shall unlock the Door he howls without.
Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968) American clergyman, activist, and leader in the American Civil Rights Movement
1960s, The American Dream (1965)
Context: Oh yes, love is the way. Love is the only absolute. More and more I see this. I’ve seen too much hate to want to hate myself; hate is too great a burden to bear. I’ve seen it on the faces of too many sheriffs of the South — I’ve seen hate. In the faces and even the walk of too many Klansmen of the South, I’ve seen hate. Hate distorts the personality. Hate does something to the soul that causes one to lose his objectivity. The man who hates can’t think straight; the man who hates can’t reason right; the man who hates can’t see right; the man who hates can’t walk right. And I know now that Jesus is right, that love is the way. And this is why John said, "God is love," so that he who hates does not know God, but he who loves at that moment has the key that opens the door to the meaning of ultimate reality. So this morning there is so much that we have to offer to the world...
So yes, the dream has been shattered, and I have had my nightmarish experiences, but I tell you this morning once more that I haven’t lost the faith. I still have a dream that one day all of God’s children will have food and clothing and material well-being for their bodies, culture and education for their minds, and freedom for their spirits.
I still have a dream this morning: one day all of God’s black children will be respected like his white children.
I still have a dream this morning that one day the lion and the lamb will lie down together, and every man will sit under his own vine and fig tree and none shall be afraid...
I still have a dream this morning that truth will reign supreme and all of God’s children will respect the dignity and worth of human personality...
"We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men (All right) are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."
We open the doors of the church now. If someone needs to accept Christ, this is a marvelous opportunity, a great moment to make a decision. And as we sing together, we bid you come at this time by Christian experience, baptism, watch care. But come at this moment, become a part of this great Christian fellowship and accept Christ as your personal Savior.
Ivan Illich (1926–2002) austrian philosopher and theologist
We the People interview (1996)
Context: This breaking of the limitations of hospitality to a small in-group, of offering it to the broadest possible in-group, and saying, you determine who your guest is, might be taken as the key message of Christianity.
Then in the year 300 and something, finally the Church got recognition. The bishops were made into something like magistrates. The first things those guys do, these new bishops, is create houses of hospitality, institutionalizing what was given to us as a vocation by Jesus, as a personal vocation, institutionalizing it, creating roofs, refuges, for foreigners. Immediately, very interesting, quite a few of the great Christian thinkers of that time, 1600 years ago (John Chrysostom is one), shout: "If you do that, if you institutionalize charity, if you make charity or hospitality into an act of a non-person, a community, Christians will cease to remain famous for what we are now famous for, for having always an extra mattress, a crust of old bread and a candle, for him who might knock at our door." But, for political reasons, the Church became, from the year 400 or 500 on, the main device for roughly a thousand years of proving that the State can be Christian by paying the Church to take care institutionally of small fractions of those who had needs, relieving the ordinary Christian household of the most uncomfortable duty of having a door, having a threshold open for him who might knock and whom I might not choose.
Erich Fromm (1900–1980) German social psychologist and psychoanalyst
Credo (1965)
Context: I believe that love is the main key to open the doors to the "growth" of man. Love and union with someone or something outside of oneself, union that allows one to put oneself into relationship with others, to feel one with others, without limiting the sense of integrity and independence. Love is a productive orientation for which it is essential that there be present at the same time: concern, responsibility, and respect for and knowledge of the object of the union.
I believe that the experience of love is the most human and humanizing act that it is given to man to enjoy and that it, like reason, makes no sense if conceived in a partial way.
Cory Doctorow (1971) Canadian-British blogger, journalist, and science fiction author
"Encryption won't work if it has a back door only the 'good guys' have keys to" in The Guardian (1 May 2015) http://theguardian.com/technology/2015/may/01/encryption-wont-work-if-it-has-a-back-door-only-the-good-guys-have-keys-to- <br class="br">Context: It's impossible to overstate how bonkers the idea of sabotaging cryptography is to people who understand information security.... Use deliberately compromised cryptography, that has a back door that only the "good guys" are supposed to have the keys to, and you have effectively no security. You might as well skywrite it as encrypt it with pre-broken, sabotaged encryption.
J. G. Ballard (1930–2009) British writer
Narration for Crash! (1971), a short film by Harley Cokeliss
Context: I think the key image of the 20th century is the man in the motor car. It sums up everything: the elements of speed, drama, aggression, the junction of advertising and consumer goods with the technological landscape. The sense of violence and desire, power and energy; the shared experience of moving together through an elaborately signalled landscape.
We spend a substantial part of our lives in the motor car, and the experience of driving condenses many of the experiences of being a human being in the 1970s, the marriage of the physical aspects of ourselves with the imaginative and technological aspects of our lives. I think the 20th century reaches its highest expression on the highway. Everything is there: the speed and violence of our age; the strange love affair with the machine, with its own death.
“The key word for me on him is "inspiration." He is a leader by inspiration. He sets an example.”
Christopher Reeve (1952–2004) actor, director, producer, screenwriter
On the role of "Superman" in an interview with Gene Siskel (1978), quoted in the "Biography" at Chris Reeve Homepage http://www.chrisreevehomepage.com/biography.html <br class="br">Context: The key word for me on him is "inspiration." He is a leader by inspiration. He sets an example. It's quite important that people realize that I don't see him as a glad-handing show-off, a one-man vigilante force who rights every wrong. Basically, he's a pacifist, a man who comes along and says, 'What can I do to help?' He stands on the sidelines until there is real trouble. He does not want to get involved unless it's absolutely necessary because he thinks people should learn to make their own decisions.
John F. Kennedy (1917–1963) 35th president of the United States of America
1961, Speech to Special Joint Session of Congress
Context: This decision demands a major national commitment of scientific and technical manpower, materiel and facilities, and the possibility of their diversion from other important activities where they are already thinly spread. It means a degree of dedication, organization and discipline which have not always characterized our research and development efforts. It means we cannot afford undue work stoppages, inflated costs of material or talent, wasteful interagency rivalries, or a high turnover of key personnel. New objectives and new money cannot solve these problems. They could in fact, aggravate them further — unless every scientist, every engineer, every serviceman, every technician, contractor, and civil servant gives his personal pledge that this nation will move forward, with the full speed of freedom, in the exciting adventure of space.
Timothy Leary (1920–1996) American psychologist
The Psychedelic Experience (1995)
Context: A psychedelic experience is a journey to new realms of consciousness. The scope and content of the experience is limitless, but its characteristic features are the transcendence of verbal concepts, of space-time dimensions, and of the ego or identity. Such experiences of enlarged consciousness can occur in a variety of ways: sensory deprivation, yoga exercises, disciplined meditation, religious or aesthetic ecstasies, or spontaneously. Most recently they have become available to anyone through the ingestion of psychedelic drugs such as LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, DMT, etc. Of course, the drug does not produce the transcendent experience. It merely acts as a chemical key — it opens the mind, frees the nervous system of its ordinary patterns and structures.
Charles Lyell (1797–1875) British lawyer and geologist
Source: The Geological Evidences of the Antiquity of Man (1863), Ch.21, p. 414
Context: Variation and natural selection would also afford a key to a multitude of geological facts otherwise wholly unaccounted for, as, for example, why there is generally an intimate connection between the living animals and plants of each great division of the globe and the extinct fauna and flora of the post-tertiary or tertiary formations of the same region...
Felix Adler (1851–1933) German American professor of political and social ethics, rationalist, and lecturer
Section 2 : Religion
Founding Address (1876), Life and Destiny (1913)
Context: The symbols of religion are ciphers of which the key is to be found in moral experience. It is in vain we pore over the ciphers unless we possess the key.
To understand the meaning of a great religious teacher we must find in our own life experiences somewhat akin to his. To selfish, unprincipled persons whose heart is wholly set on worldly ends, what meaning, for instance, can such utterances have as these? "You must become like little children if you would possess the kingdom of heaven;" "You must be willing to lose your life in order to save it;" "If you would be first you must consent to be last." To the worldly-minded such words convey no sense whatever; they are, in fact, rank absurdity.?
“Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.”
P. J. O'Rourke book Parliament of Whores
Source: Parliament of Whores (1991), pp. xviii-xix.
Ken Thompson (1943) American computer scientist, creator of the Unix operating system
"Unix and Beyond: An Interview with Ken Thompson," 1999
Context: In Plan 9 and Inferno, the key ideas are the protocol for communicating between components and the simplification and extension of particular concepts. In Plan 9, the key abstraction is the file system—anything you can read and write and select by names in a hierarchy—and the protocol exports that abstraction to remote channels to enable distribution. Inferno works similarly, but it has a layer of language interaction above it through the Limbo language interface—which is like Java, but cleaner I think.
Wheeler L. Baker (1938) President of Hargrave Military Academy
Source: Crisis Management: A Model For Managers (1993), p. 76
Context: Two a. m. in a dark alley or on a mountainside is not the time to discover your unit is missing a key piece of equipment, or that you are not sure of the radio frequencies of an adjacent unit. The procedural check lists created in training will prevent those critical and unacceptable mistakes. This is the time to benefit from those "lessons learned". But leaders must schedule the time to train, do it right, critique, and move on. It is an investment that will bring the most return.
“Nor attempt the Future’s portal with the Past’s blood-rusted key.”
James Russell Lowell The Present Crisis
St. 18
The Present Crisis (1844)
Context: New occasions teach new duties; Time makes ancient good uncouth;
They must upward still, and onward, who would keep abreast of Truth
Lo, before us gleam her camp-fires! we ourselves must Pilgrims be,
Launch our Mayflower, and steer boldly through the desperate winter sea,
Nor attempt the Future’s portal with the Past’s blood-rusted key.
Martin Fowler (1963) British programmer
Source: Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code, 1999, p. 98.