Best quotes from literary or historical figures...

[MoeFOH]

When I was in the States recently, I visited the History Of Chicago Museum (fantastic place!), and in the process of acquiring gifts for the folks at home I picked-up a little book called The Wit & Wisdom Of Abraham Lincoln. I've always been fascinated by the character Lincoln seemed to be, so it was a terrific little book to flick through while I travelled, and before I passed it on to its eventual owner. 

Anyhow, something I've always intuitively felt is wonderfully summed up here by Lincoln:

"It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues."

I love that. The succinctness of it. And maybe because it gives me some sort of unofficial licence to carry-on nonchalantly with all my own vices, but still... 

What are your favourite quotes from literary figures, historical figures, and so on...? 

[ayepatz]

“He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.”

Churchill on Labour politician Stafford Cripps.

[Islandboy]

“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge"

Stephen Hawking

[zappaFREAK]

It’s only rock and roll but I like it!

Mick Jagger/Keith Richards

[cfc1016]

“Me, whee!”

The Champ

[chris12381]

I find this one to be important these days...

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[cfc1016]

43 minutes ago, chris12381 said:

I find this one to be important these days...

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
 

 

[Wilzc]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SigmundChurchill]

“Two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity.  And I'm not sure about the universe.”  

-Albert Einstein

[cigcars]

  *In the movie, "Julius Ceasar", 1953 based on Shakespeare's play, after Brutus and the conspirators assassinated Ceasar, they said, "Well, we'll all be dead now!" And the quote I like was made by Cassius, played by John Gielgud: "He who cuts off 20 or 30 years of life only cuts off that many more years of fearing death".

[scap99]

Here's one of my favorites:

Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.

H.L. Mencken, Prejudices: First Series

[SMQQKIN]

Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.

Ronald Reagan

[grizzlee]

"Quite people have the loudest minds."

S. Hawking

[Chompers79]

[joeypots]

For the 4th of July one from Mr Jefferson. Not bad for post #1000

[drjammer]

“Government is not reason and it is not eloquence. It is force! Like fire it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.”

George Washington

[cigcars]

"He who is an ass and takes himself to be a stag finds his mistake when he comes to leap the ditch" - Japanese proverb

"If men swear to do you harm, spend your nights asleep: if women swear to do you harm - spend your nights awake!" - African proverb

"The greatest king must at last be put to bed with a shovel" - unknown

"The empty vessel makes the greatest noise" - ?

[Islandboy]

"The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty."
--James Madison

[Colt45]

"do unto others - then split"

Anne Öenimus

[Jimmy_jack]

“Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet”

-General James Mattis USMC retired, Current Secretary of Defense, USA

[gweilgi]

"The trouble with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money."

- Margaret Thatcher

"The best argument against democracy is  five-minute conversation with the average voter."

- Winston Churchill

“If you end up with a boring miserable life because you listened to your mom, your dad, your teacher, your priest, or some guy on television telling you how to do your shit, then you deserve it.” 
― Frank Zappa

[jtvrtas]

"Politicians and diapers must be changed often and for the same reason."

- Mark Twain