Notable quotes, excerpts, and profound lines.

[WT Sharpe]

The most certain test by which we judge whether a country is really free is the amount of security enjoyed by minorities.

— Lord Acton (1834–1902), English historian. The History of Freedom in Antiquity (1877).

And from a letter he wrote to Abbot Francis Aidan Gasquet in 1861 comes this gem:

There are two things which cannot be attacked in front: ignorance and narrow-mindedness. They can only be shaken by the simple development of the contrary qualities. They will not bear discussion.

[covingtoncat73]

“Dreams are shores where the ocean of spirit meets the land of matter. Dreams are beaches where the yet-to-be, the once-were, the will-never-be may walk awhile with the still are.”
― David Mitchell, number9dream

[WT Sharpe]

When I first read this play for the first time last year, I was struck by how old the sentiment was. I thought it was something some 20th century comedian had come up with. And—full disclaimer here—"the poet" doesn't speak for all men everywhere, and he doesn't speak for me. Don't shoot the messenger!



These impossible women! How they do get around us! The poet was right: can't live with them, or without them!
— Aristophanes (ca. 450 B.C.E.—ca. 388 C.E.), Greek playwright. Lysistrata (411 B.C.) (translation by Dudley Fitts).

[kennyc]

"Stories may well be lies, but they are good lies that say true things, and which can sometimes pay the rent."
- Neil Gaiman Happy Birthday Neil (born 11/10/1960)

[covingtoncat73]

“I've been making a list of the things they don't teach you at school. They don't teach you how to love somebody. They don't teach you how to be famous. They don't teach you how to be rich or how to be poor. They don't teach you how to walk away from someone you don't love any longer. They don't teach you how to know what's going on in someone else's mind. They don't teach you what to say to someone who's dying. They don't teach you anything worth knowing.”
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by covingtoncat73

“I've been making a list of the things they don't teach you at school. They don't teach you how to love somebody. They don't teach you how to be famous. They don't teach you how to be rich or how to be poor. They don't teach you how to walk away from someone you don't love any longer. They don't teach you how to know what's going on in someone else's mind. They don't teach you what to say to someone who's dying. They don't teach you anything worth knowing.”
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by covingtoncat73

“I've been making a list of the things they don't teach you at school. They don't teach you how to love somebody. They don't teach you how to be famous. They don't teach you how to be rich or how to be poor. They don't teach you how to walk away from someone you don't love any longer. They don't teach you how to know what's going on in someone else's mind. They don't teach you what to say to someone who's dying. They don't teach you anything worth knowing.”
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones

Oh, I like that! I don't agree that they teach nothing worth knowing, and students ignore the advantages good schools make available at their peril, but it's obvious from that quote that schools don't teach the most important lessons.

[gmw]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Oh, I like that! I don't agree that they teach nothing worth knowing, and students ignore the advantages good schools make available at their peril, but it's obvious from that quote that schools don't teach the most important lessons.

Ah yes, but can you imagine the arguments that would ensue if they decided to start teaching these subjects? No one would ever agree on the curriculum.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by gmw

Ah yes, but can you imagine the arguments that would ensue if they decided to start teaching these subjects? No one would ever agree on the curriculum.

Yep, that's a big part of why we've had numerous school board recall elections here in Colorado that last few years.

[Rizla]

"What is honour? It is a word. It is air."

- Jack Falstaff

[WT Sharpe]

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.
— Henry (Brooks) Adams (1838–1918), U.S. historian. The Education of Henry Adams (1907).

[BenG]

"The suspense is terrible, I hope it will last"
— Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest (Not to mention Gene Wilder in Willy Wonka)

[kennyc]

"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen."

― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

[bfisher]

Originally Posted by BenG

"The suspense is terrible, I hope it will last"
— Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest (Not to mention Gene Wilder in Willy Wonka)

Thanks, I didn't know the Willy Wonka line was originally from Wilde.

[BenG]

The influence of Willy Wonka is far-reaching, I noticed the other day on Goodreads that the quotes for the Merchant of Venice has Wonka's misquote of the "so shines a good deed in a weary world" line.