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May 27

date

Quotes of the day from previous years:

2004
All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident. ~ Arthur Schopenhauer
2005
The strokes of the pen need deliberation as much as the sword needs swiftness. ~ Julia Ward Howe (born 27 May 1819)
2006
Don't start an argument with somebody who has a microphone when you don't. They'll make you look like chopped liver. ~ Harlan Ellison (born 27 May 27 1934)
2007
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.
~ Julia Ward Howe ~
2008
Like the wind crying endlessly through the universe, Time carries away the names and the deeds of conquerors and commoners alike. And all that we are, all that remains, is in the memories of those who cared we came this way for a brief moment. ~ Harlan Ellison
2009
The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us the less taste we shall have for the destruction of our race. Wonder and humility are wholesome emotions, and they do not exist side by side with a lust for destruction. ~ Rachel Carson
2010
I am confirmed in my division of human energies. Ambitious people climb, but faithful people build. ~ Julia Ward Howe
2011
This is a test. Take notes. This will count as 3/4 of your final grade. Hints: remember, in chess, kings cancel each other out and cannot occupy adjacent squares, are therefore all-powerful and totally powerless, cannot affect each other, produce stalemate. Hinduism is a polytheistic religion; the sect of Atman worships the divine spark of life within Man; in effect saying, "Thou art God." Provisos of equal time are not served by one viewpoint having media access to two hundred million people in prime time while opposing viewpoints are provided with a soapbox on the corner. Not everyone tells the truth. ~ Harlan Ellison ~
2012
My philosophy of life is that the meek shall inherit nothing but debasement, frustration and ignoble deaths; that there is security in personal strength; that you can fight City Hall and win; that any action is better than no action, even if it's the wrong action; that you never reach glory or self-fulfillment unless you're willing to risk everything, dare anything, put yourself dead on the line every time; and that once one becomes strong or rich or potent or powerful it is the responsibility of the strong to help the weak become strong.
~ Harlan Ellison ~
2013
Blessed are the people whose leaders can look destiny in the eye without flinching but also without attempting to play God.
~ Henry Kissinger ~
2014
I am anti-entropy. My work is foursquare for chaos. I spend my life personally, and my work professionally, keeping the soup boiling. Gadfly is what they call you when you are no longer dangerous; I much prefer troublemaker, malcontent, desperado. I see myself as a combination of Zorro and Jiminy Cricket. My stories go out from here and raise hell. From time to time some denigrator or critic with umbrage will say of my work, "He only wrote that to shock." I smile and nod. Precisely.
~ Harlan Ellison ~
2015
The closer I get to the burning core of my being, the things which are most painful to me, the better is my work. … It is a love/hate relationship I have with the human race. I am an elitist, and I feel that my responsibility is to drag the human race along with me — that I will never pander to, or speak down to, or play the safe game. Because my immortal soul will be lost.
~ Harlan Ellison ~
2016
Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation.
~ Henry Kissinger ~
2017
Heaven is what you mix all the days of your life, but you call it dreams. You have one chance to buy your Heaven with all the intents and ethics of your life. That is why everyone considers Heaven such a lovely place. Because it is dreams, special dreams, in which you exist. What you have to do is live up to them.
~ Harlan Ellison ~
2018
Everyone is trying to reach for their own stars, and all of those stars aren’t light-years away. They are as close as our job, our family, our children, our next-door neighbors and our good friends.
~ Alan Bean ~
  • proposed by Kalki, in regard to his recent death.
2019
It doesn't take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle.
~ Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. ~
  • proposed by Kalki, in regard of the US Memorial Day, 2019.
2020
There are certain injustices in this life you’ve got to do something about. You can’t just say that you can’t fight it, or it’s too much trouble, or that you don’t have the time or the effort, or that you can’t win. Forget all that. Fight them all!
~ Harlan Ellison ~
2021
We are entitled to our informed opinions. Without research, without background, without understanding, it’s nothing. It’s just bibble-babble. It’s like a fart in a wind tunnel, folks.
~ Harlan Ellison ~
2022
In light of the recent events in Texas, I have decided it would be disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform for the NRA at their convention in Houston this week. I’m sure all the folks planning to attend this event are shocked and sickened by these events as well. After all, we are all Americans. I share the sorrow for this terrible, cruel loss with the rest of the nation.
~ Don McLean ~
  • proposed by Kalki; recent remarks on recent tragedies.
2023
The artist discards all theories, both his own and those of others. He forgets everything when he is in front of his canvas.
~ Georges Rouault ~
2024
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Suggestions

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Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac. ~ Henry Kissinger (born May 27)

There cannot be a crisis next week. My schedule is already full. ~ Henry Kissinger

  • 3 as if the crisis would wait for people's comfort. Nice, comedic in a way. Zarbon 06:00, 17 May 2008 (UTC)
  • 2 Kalki 16:40, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Behind all music we ought to try and catch that noiseless tone thats made for us, the melody of death. ~ Louis-Ferdinand Céline (born May 27)

  • 2 Zarbon 06:11, 17 May 2008 (UTC)
  • 1 Kalki 16:40, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Fate towers so high above us, the squall carries us off like fleas in the water. ~ Louis-Ferdinand Céline (born May 27)

  • 3 because I love all sayings dealing with the inescapability of fate, also the inevitable fate, that which is portrayed in Greek tragedy, one of my favorite ideological perspectives. Zarbon 06:11, 17 May 2008 (UTC)
  • 1 Kalki 16:40, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

The conscience of an artist worthy of the name is like an incurable disease which causes him endless torment but occasionally fills him with silent joy... ~ Georges Rouault

The old masters are perfect and admirable examples, on condition that we remember that the spirit gives life and the letter kills, and that even the best pastiche is inferior to the harmonious stammering or incoherence of a child trying to speak. ~ Georges Rouault

The richness of the world, all artificial pleasures, have the taste of sickness and give off a smell of death in the face of certain spiritual possessions. ~ Georges Rouault

All is repose and peace,
Untrampled lies the sod;
The shouts of battle cease,
It is the Truce of God!

Rest, comrades, rest and sleep!
The thoughts of men shall be
As sentinels to keep
Your rest from danger free.

Your silent tents of green
We deck with fragrant flowers;
Yours has the suffering been,
The memory shall be ours.
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ~


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