Wikiquote

October 18

date

Quotes of the day from previous years:

2003
He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you. ~ Friedrich Nietzsche
2004
These children that you spit on as they try to change their worlds are immune to your consultations. They're quite aware of what they're going through... ~ David Bowie
2005
We take the position that there is no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation. ~ Pierre Trudeau (born 18 October 1919)
  • proposed by IP 65.110.28.95 (originally for September 28)
2006
Give me my freedom for as long as I be
All I ask of livin' is to have no chains on me
All I ask of livin' is to have no chains on me
And all I ask of dyin' is to go naturally...
And when I die, and when I'm gone
There'll be one child born, in our world
To carry on, to carry on...
~ Laura Nyro ~
2007
There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. ~ Logan Pearsall Smith
2008
The essential ingredient of politics is timing. ~ Pierre Trudeau
2009
Don't laugh at a youth for his affectations; he is only trying on one face after another to find his own. ~ Logan Pearsall Smith
2010
To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme. No great and enduring volume can ever be written on the flea, though many there be who have tried it. ~ Herman Melville, in Moby-Dick (first published 18 October 1851)
2011
I have no objection to any person’s religion, be it what it may, so long as that person does not kill or insult any other person, because that other person don’t believe it also. But when a man’s religion becomes really frantic; when it is a positive torment to him; and, in fine, makes this earth of ours an uncomfortable inn to lodge in; then I think it high time to take that individual aside and argue the point with him. ~ Herman Melville, in Moby-Dick (first published 18 October 1851)
2012
Not one man in five cycles, who is wise, will expect appreciative recognition from his fellows, or any one of them. Appreciation! Recognition! Is Jove appreciated? Why, ever since Adam, who has got to the meaning of his great allegory — the world? Then we pigmies must be content to have our paper allegories but ill comprehended.
~ Herman Melville ~
in
~ Moby-Dick ~
2013
Where lies the final harbor, whence we unmoor no more? In what rapt ether sails the world, of which the weariest will never weary? Where is the foundling’s father hidden? Our souls are like those orphans whose unwedded mothers die in bearing them: the secret of our paternity lies in their grave, and we must there to learn it.
~ Herman Melville ~
in
~ Moby-Dick ~
2014
Is Ahab, Ahab? Is it I, God, or who, that lifts this arm? But if the great sun move not of himself; but is as an errand-boy in heaven; nor one single star can revolve, but by some invisible power; how then can this one small heart beat; this one small brain think thoughts; unless God does that beating, does that thinking, does that living, and not I.
~ Herman Melville ~
in
~ Moby-Dick ~
2015
Of all tools used in the shadow of the moon, men are most apt to get out of order.
~ Herman Melville ~
in
~ Moby-Dick ~
2016
The past is to be respected and acknowledged, but not to be worshipped. It is our future in which we will find our greatness.
~ Pierre Trudeau ~
2017
A country, after all, is not something you build as the pharaohs built the pyramids, and then leave standing there to defy eternity. A country is something that is built every day out of certain basic shared values.
~ Pierre Trudeau ~
2018
The attainment of a just society is the cherished hope of civilized men.
~ Pierre Trudeau ~
2019
When the history books are written about this tumultuous era, I want them to show that I was among those in the House of Representatives who stood up to lawlessness and tyranny.
~ Elijah Cummings ~
2020
As against the "invisible hand" of Adam Smith, there has to be a visible hand of politicians whose objective is to have the kind of society that is caring and humane.
I worked to put this view of social justice into effect throughout my years in office.
~ Pierre Trudeau ~
2021
I must say that "Give Peace a Chance" has always seemed to me to be sensible advice.
~ Pierre Trudeau ~
2022
"I will have no man in my boat," said Starbuck, "who is not afraid of a whale." By this, he seemed to mean, not only that the most reliable and useful courage was that which arises from the fair estimation of the encountered peril, but that an utterly fearless man is a far more dangerous comrade than a coward.
~ Herman Melville ~
in
~ Moby-Dick ~
2023
Even in his lowest swoop the mountain eagle is still higher than other birds upon the plain, even though they soar.
~ Herman Melville ~
in
~ Moby-Dick ~
2024
War is pain, and hate is woe. Come in thy lowest form of love, and I will kneel and kiss thee; but at thy highest, come as mere supernal power; and though thou launchest navies of full-freighted worlds, there's that in here that still remains indifferent. Oh, thou clear spirit, of thy fire thou madest me, and like a true child of fire, I breathe it back to thee.
~ Herman Melville ~
in
~ Moby-Dick ~
2025
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Nevertheless, we arose next morning in newness of life. Never before had rocks and ice and trees seemed so beautiful and wonderful, even the cold, biting rainstorm that was blowing seemed full of loving-kindness, wonderful compensation for all that we had endured, and we sailed down the bay through the gray, driving rain rejoicing. ~ John Muir, Stickeen (1915), describing Alaska. October 18 is Alaska Day, commemorating the completion of the US purchase in 1867.

  • 3. Fys. “Ta fys aym”. 14:38, 15 October 2006 (UTC)
  • 3 InvisibleSun 20:42, 17 October 2007 (UTC)
  • 1 Zarbon 05:05, 25 April 2008 (UTC)
  • 3 Aphaia 00:30, 16 October 2008 (UTC)

One should judge a man mainly from his depravities. Virtues can be faked. Depravities are real. ~ Klaus Kinski

  • 2 Zarbon 04:47, 4 July 2008 (UTC)
  • 2 Kalki 18:46, 16 October 2008 (UTC)
  • 0 because it is unsourced. InvisibleSun 22:08, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

I am like a wild animal born in captivity, in a zoo. But where a beast would have claws, I was born with talent. ~ Klaus Kinski

  • 2 Zarbon 04:47, 4 July 2008 (UTC)
  • 1 Kalki 18:46, 16 October 2008 (UTC)
  • 0 because it is unsourced. InvisibleSun 22:08, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

I don't wish to be everything to everyone, but I would like to be something to someone. ~ Katherine Kurtz

I'm not scared of dying
And I, don't really care
If it' s peace you find in dying
Well then, let the time be near. ~ Laura Nyro

The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved. ~ Matthew Henry

None is so deaf as those that will not hear. ~ Matthew Henry

As an egg, when broken, never
Can be mended, but must ever
Be the same crushed egg for ever—
So shall this dark heart of mine! ~ Thomas Holley Chivers

Effort without talent is a depressing situation … but talent without effort is a tragedy. ~ Mike Ditka

  • 3 Zarbon 04:47, 4 July 2008 (UTC)
  • 2 Kalki 18:46, 16 October 2008 (UTC)
  • 0 because it is unsourced. InvisibleSun 22:08, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

If you're not in the parade, you watch the parade. That's life. ~ Mike Ditka

  • 2 Zarbon 04:47, 4 July 2008 (UTC)
  • 1 Kalki 18:46, 16 October 2008 (UTC)
  • 0 because it is unsourced. InvisibleSun 22:08, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

Success isn't permanent and failure isn't fatal; its the courage to continue that counts. ~ Mike Ditka

  • 2 Zarbon 04:47, 4 July 2008 (UTC)
  • 3 Kalki 18:46, 16 October 2008 (UTC)
  • 0 because it is unsourced. InvisibleSun 22:08, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

I don't believe in living in the past. Living in the past is for cowards. If you live in the past, you die in the past. ~ Mike Ditka

  • 2 Zarbon 04:47, 4 July 2008 (UTC)
  • 2 Kalki 18:46, 16 October 2008 (UTC)
  • 0 because it is unsourced. InvisibleSun 22:08, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

Most people sell their souls, and live with a good conscience on the proceeds. ~ Logan Pearsall Smith

The indefatigable pursuit of an unattainable perfection, even though it consist in nothing more than the pounding of an old piano, is what alone gives a meaning to our life on this unavailing star. ~ Logan Pearsall Smith

  • 2 Kalki 18:46, 16 October 2008 (UTC)
  • 2 Zarbon 22:29, 16 October 2008 (UTC)
  • 3 InvisibleSun 22:08, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

How many of our daydreams would darken into nightmares if there seemed any danger of their coming true! ~ Logan Pearsall Smith

The truth is that the phenomena of artistic production are still so obscure, so baffling, we are still so far from an accurate scientific and psychological knowledge of their genesis or meaning, that we are forced to accept them as empirical facts; and empirical and non-explanatory names are the names that suit them best. ~ Logan Pearsall Smith

Consider all this; and then turn to this green, gentle, and most docile earth; consider them both, the sea and the land; and do you not find a strange analogy to something in yourself? ~ Herman Melville, in Moby-Dick (first published 18 October 1851)

We ourselves see in all rivers and oceans. It is the image of the ungraspable phantom of life; and this is the key to it all. ~ Herman Melville, in Moby-Dick (first published 18 October 1851)

All that most maddens and torments; all that stirs up the lees of things; all truth with malice in it; all that cracks the sinews and cakes the brain; all the subtle demonisms of life and thought; all evil, to crazy Ahab, were visibly personified, and made practically assailable in Moby-Dick. He piled upon the whale's white hump the sum of all the general rage and hate felt by his whole race from Adam down; and then, as if his chest had been a mortar, he burst his hot heart's shell upon it. ~ Herman Melville, in Moby-Dick (first published 18 October 1851)

No fearless fool now fronts thee. I own thy speechless, placeless power; but to the last gasp of my earthquake life will dispute its unconditional, unintegral mastery in me. In the midst of the personified impersonal, a personality stands here. ~ Herman Melville, in Moby-Dick (first published 18 October 1851)

The drama's done. Why then here does any one step forth? — Because one did survive the wreck. ~ Herman Melville, in Moby-Dick (first published 18 October 1851)

The richness of life lies in memories we have forgotten. ~ Cesare Pavese

  • 3, Pavese is also the Italian translator/editor of Moby Dick and helped Melville's fame a lot. Nemo 14:17, 18 January 2012 (UTC)
  • 2 ♞☤☮♌︎Kalki ⚚⚓︎⊙☳☶⚡ 14:44, 13 October 2012 (UTC)
Liberalism is the philosophy for our time, because it does not try to conserve every tradition of the past, because it does not apply to new problems the old doctrinaire solutions, because it is prepared to experiment and innovate and because it knows that the past is less important than the future.
~ Pierre Trudeau ~


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