quotes

The Best Quotations

best-quotations.com
 
 

My "other" sites:



contents

Classic Quotations

gnome

Well known quotations with some historic value


HippocratesArt is long, life is short.

Ars longa, vita brevis.

—  Hippocrates, 460-370 BC, Ancient Greek physician, the “Father of Medicine”

83 likes
Latin phraseGod wills.

Deus vult.

—  Latin phrase

     (the motto of the Christian warriors in the Crusades)

70 likes
HoraceSeize the day.

Carpe diem.

—  Horace, 65-8 BC, Roman poet

69 likes
SenecaReligion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful.

—  Seneca, 5 AD-65 AD, Roman philosopher

52 likes
NapoleonHistory is written by the winners.

—  Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor

46 likes
Benjamin FranklinThose who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

—  Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790, American politician & writer

44 likes
René DescartesI think therefore I exist.

Cogito ergo sum.

—  René Descartes, 1596-1650, French philosopher

39 likes
Edmund BurkeThe only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

—  Edmund Burke, 1729-1797, British statesman & philosopher

39 likes
VoltaireI disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.

—  Voltaire, 1694-1778, French philosopher & writer

37 likes
Charles DarwinIt is not the strongest of the species that survives, not the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.

—  Charles Darwin, 1809-1882, British scientist

36 likes
Latin phraseHannibal at the gates.

Hannibal ad portas.

—  Latin phrase

     (Roman alert when Hannibal was approaching to Rome, around 217 BC)

34 likes
Latin phraseDivide and conquer.

Divide ut regnes.

—  Latin phrase

25 likes
VespasianMoney does not stink.

Pecunia non olet.

—  Vespasian, 9-79 AD, Roman Emperor

25 likes
Benjamin DisraeliThere are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics.

—  Benjamin Disraeli, 1804-1881, British Prime Minister

23 likes
Galeazzo CianoVictory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan.

—  Galeazzo Ciano, 1903-1944, Italian politician

23 likes
Winston ChurchillDemocracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.

—  Winston Churchill, 1874-1965, British Prime Minister, Nobel 1953

22 likes
Otto von BismarckPeople never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war, or before an election.

—  Otto von Bismarck, 1815-1898, German chancellor

19 likes
Charles DickensAsk no questions, and you'll be told no lies.

—  Charles Dickens, 1812-1870, British writer

18 likes
Khalil GibranIf you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. If they don't, they never were.

—  Khalil Gibran, 1883-1931, Lebanese-American poet & philosopher

16 likes
George SantayanaThose who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

—  George Santayana, 1863-1952, Spanish-American philosopher

15 likes
Lord ActonPower tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

—  Lord Acton, 1834-1902, English historian

14 likes
Simone De BeauvoirTo “catch” a husband is an art; to “hold” him is a job.

—  Simone De Beauvoir, 1908-1986, French writer

14 likes
Mahatma GandhiFirst they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, and then you win.

—  Mahatma Gandhi, 1869-1948, Indian leader of independence

13 likes
Francis BaconHope is a good breakfast, but it is a bad supper.

—  Francis Bacon, 1561-1626, English philosopher

13 likes
VoltaireIf God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him.

—  Voltaire, 1694-1778, French philosopher & writer

13 likes
Gabriel Garcia MarquezI don't believe in God, but I'm afraid of Him.

—  Gabriel Garcia Marquez, 1927-2014, Colombian writer

13 likes
Pierre de CoubertinThe most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part.

—  Pierre de Coubertin, 1863-1937, French, father of the Olympic Games

12 likes
Harry TrumanWork Hard. Do your best. Keep your word. Never get too big for your britches. Trust in God. Have no fear; and Never forget a friend.

—  Harry Truman, 1884-1972, American President [1945-1953]

12 likes
George OrwellAll animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.

—  George Orwell, 1903-1950, British writer

11 likes
Charles BaudelaireThe finest trick of the devil is to persuade you that does not exist.

—  Charles Baudelaire, 1821-1867, French poet

11 likes
Robert FrostTwo roads diverged in a wood, and I —
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

—  Robert Frost, 1874-1963, American poet

11 likes
Vince LombardiWinners never quit and quitters never win.

—  Vince Lombardi, 1913-1970, American football coach

11 likes
EpicurusTo make a man happy, add not unto his riches but take away from his desires.

—  Epicurus, 341-270 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

11 likes
Friedrich NietzscheWhat does not kill me, makes me stronger.

—  Friedrich Nietzsche, 1844-1900, German philosopher

10 likes
Joseph De MaistreEvery nation gets the government it deserves.

—  Joseph De Maistre, 1753-1821, Savoyard diplomat & philosopher

10 likes
St Bernard de ClairvauxThe road to hell is paved with good intentions.

—  St Bernard de Clairvaux, 1091-1153, French saint & abbot of the Cistercian order

9 likes
Karl MarxReligion is the opium of the people.

—  Karl Marx, 1818-1883, German philosopher

9 likes
Francis BaconKnowledge is power.

—  Francis Bacon, 1561-1626, English philosopher

9 likes
Charles DarwinI have called this principle, by which each slight variation, if useful, is preserved, by the term of Natural Selection.

—  Charles Darwin, 1809-1882, British scientist

9 likes
George EliotIt is never too late to be what you might have been.

—  George Eliot, 1819-1880, English writer

9 likes
Jean RostandKill one man, and you are a murderer. Kill millions of men, and you are a conqueror. Kill them all, and you are a god.

—  Jean Rostand, 1894-1977, French scientist & philosopher

9 likes
Friedrich NietzscheVivere pericolosamente.

To live dangerously.

—  Friedrich Nietzsche, 1844-1900, German philosopher

     (the phrase in its Italian version was popularized by Mussolini)

8 likes
Otto von BismarckLaws are like sausages. It is better not to see them being made.

—  Otto von Bismarck, 1815-1898, German chancellor

8 likes
Georges ClemenceauWar is much too serious a thing to be left to military men.

—  Georges Clemenceau, 1841-1929, French Prime Minister

8 likes
Charles de GaulleNations have no friends, only interests.

—  Charles de Gaulle, 1890-1970, French President

8 likes
T. S. EliotThis is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.

—  T. S. Eliot, 1888-1965, British poet, Nobel 1948

8 likes
Harry TrumanIt’s a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it’s a depression when you lose your own.

—  Harry Truman, 1884-1972, American President [1945-1953]

8 likes
Marshall McLuhanThe medium is the message.

—  Marshall McLuhan, 1911-1980, Canadian academic & media theorist

8 likes
Gabriel Garcia MarquezIf you love something, let it go. If it is yours, it will come back.

—  Gabriel Garcia Marquez, 1927-2014, Colombian writer

8 likes
Henry KissingerPower is the ultimate aphrodisiac.

—  Henry Kissinger, 1923-2023, American politician

7 likes
St. AmbroseWhen in Rome, do as the Romans do.

—  St. Ambrose, 340-397, Bishop of Milan, Church Father

7 likes
Winston ChurchillI have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.

—  Winston Churchill, 1874-1965, British Prime Minister, Nobel 1953

7 likes
William ShakespeareTo be, or not to be: that is the question.

—  William Shakespeare, 1564-1616, English poet & playwright

7 likes
Thomas EdisonGenius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.

—  Thomas Edison, 1847-1934, American inventor

7 likes
Martin Luther KingI have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

—  Martin Luther King, 1929-1968, American leader in the Civil Rights Movement

7 likes
Robert FrostPoetry is what gets lost in translation.

—  Robert Frost, 1874-1963, American poet

7 likes
David Lloyd GeorgeA young man who isn't a socialist hasn't got a heart; an old man who is a socialist hasn't got a head.

—  David Lloyd George, 1863-1945, British Prime Minister [1916-1922]

7 likes
Simone De BeauvoirOne is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.

—  Simone De Beauvoir, 1908-1986, French writer

7 likes
Théophile GautierArt for art’s sake!

—  Théophile Gautier, 1811-1872, French poet & writer

     ( l'art pour l'art – used in the preface to his 1835 book, Mademoiselle de Maupin.)

7 likes
Antonio MachadoTravelers, there is no path,
paths are made by walking.

—  Antonio Machado, 1875-1939, Spanish poet & playwright

7 likes
Louis XIV of FranceL' etat c'est moi.

I myself am the state.

—  Louis XIV of France, 1638-1715, King of France (le Roi Soleil)

6 likes
Alexandre DumasNothing succeeds like success.

—  Alexandre Dumas, 1802-1870, French writer

6 likes
Bernard BaruchIf all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

—  Bernard Baruch, 1870-1965, American businessman & statesman

6 likes
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939)Elementary, my dear Watson. Purely elementary.

—  from the film The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939)

5 likes
Blaise PascalIf you gain, you gain all. If you lose, you lose nothing. Wager then, without hesitation, that He exists.

—  Blaise Pascal, 1623-1662, French thinker

5 likes
Benjamin FranklinTime is money.

—  Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790, American politician & writer

5 likes
Albert EinsteinGod doesn't play dice with the world.

—  Albert Einstein, 1879-1955, German-Jewish physicist

5 likes
VauvenarguesThose who can bear all can dare all.

—  Vauvenargues, 1715-1747, French author of maxims

5 likes
Sudden Impact (1983)Go ahead, make my day.

—  from the film Sudden Impact (1983)

5 likes
William PrescottDon't one of you fire until you see the whites of their eyes.

—  William Prescott, 1726-1795, American colonel

5 likes
Dwight EisenhowerPlans are nothing; planning is everything.

—  Dwight Eisenhower, 1890-1969, American general & President

5 likes
Bernard BaruchLet us not be deceived — we are today in the midst of a cold war.

—  Bernard Baruch, 1870-1965, American businessman & statesman

     (he was the first to use the term “cold war”)

5 likes
John KennedyAsk not what your country can do for you… ask what you can do for your country.

—  John Kennedy, 1917-1963, American President [1961-1963]

4 likes
Ludwig WittgensteinThe limits of my language mean the limits of my world.

—  Ludwig Wittgenstein, 1889-1951, Austrian philosopher

4 likes
James BarrieAll children, except one, grow up.

—  James Barrie, 1860-1937, English writer

4 likes
Rutherford B. HayesHe serves his party best who serves the country best.

—  Rutherford B. Hayes, 1822-1893, American President [1877-1881]

3 likes
Walt DisneyIf you can dream it, you can do it.

—  Walt Disney, 1901-1966, American businessman & cartoonist

3 likes
Pierre-Joseph ProudhonProperty is theft!

—  Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, 1809-1865, French anarchist

3 likes
Carl von ClausewitzWar is the continuation of politics by other means.

—  Carl von Clausewitz, 1780-1831, Prussian military theorist

3 likes
George EliotDon't judge a book by its cover.

—  George Eliot, 1819-1880, English writer

Kin HubbardWe'd all like to vote for the best man but he's never a candidate.

—  Kin Hubbard, 1868-1930, American cartoonist

BouddhaYou can not walk the path unless you become the path.

—  Bouddha, 563-483 BC, Indian founder of Buddhism

Nicolas ChamfortRevolutions are not made with rose water.

—  Nicolas Chamfort, 1740-1794, French writer






wisdom

 
relevant quote
A classic is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say.
Italo Calvino






Most popular
 Popular Topics
1 Friendship
2 Victory & Defeat
3 Solitude
4 Seduction
5 Self-reliance
6 Ego
7 Drinking
8 Cunning
9 Eroticism
10 Nudity
11 Vanity
12 Self-deprecation
13 Incompetence
14 Sex
15 Religion
16 Meaning of Life
17 Life
18 Death
19 Corruption
20 Democracy

 Popular Sources
1 Seneca
2 Epicurus
3 Shakespeare
4 Lenin
5 Nietzsche
6 Cicero
7 Horace
8 Talleyrand
9 Einstein
10 Jean-Paul Sartre
11 Julius Caesar
12 G. Bernard Shaw
13 Otto von Bismarck
14 Napoleon
15 Blaise Pascal
16 Lao-Tzu
17 Oscar Wilde
18 Aristotle
19 Plato
20 Socrates
21 Wolfgang Goethe
22 Homer
23 William Blake
24 Ghandi
25 Benjamin Franklin
26 Karl Marx
27 Hippocrates
28 Schopenhauer
29 Voltaire
30 John Kennedy
31 Diogenes
32 Abraham Lincoln
33 Jean Cocteau
34 Kavafy
35 Churchill
36 Eugene Ionesco
37 Heraclitus
38 Fernando Pessoa
39 Disraeli
40 Victor Hugo
 

2024: Manolis Papathanassiou