July 17

From Wikiquote

Quotes of the day from previous years:

2003

All animals are equal — but some animals are more equal than others. ~ Animal Farm by George Orwell

selected by Nanobug

2004

Of all the creatures that creep, swim or fly,
Peopling the earth, waters and the sky,
From Rome to Iceland, Paris to Japan,
I really think, the greatest fool is man.
~ Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux ~

selected by Kalki

2005

Most of the books, music and movies ever released are not available for sale, anywhere in the world. In the brief time that P2P nets have flourished, the ad-hoc masses of the Internet have managed to put just about everything online. What's more, they've done it far cheaper than any other archiving/revival effort ever. ~ Cory Doctorow (born 17 July 1971)

author proposed by MosheZadka; quote proposed by Kalki

2006

Were I so tall to reach the pole,
Or grasp the ocean with my span,
I must be measured by my soul;
The mind's the standard of the man.
~ Isaac Watts ~ (born 17 July 1674)

proposed by Kalki

2007

Maintain a constant watch at all times against a dogmatical spirit: fix not your assent to any proposition in a firm and unalterable manner, till you have some firm and unalterable ground for it, and till you have arrived at some clear and sure evidence. ~ Isaac Watts

proposed by Kalki

2008

[edit] Suggestions

The Bitchun Society has had much experience with restores from backup — in the era of the cure for death, people live pretty recklessly. Some people get refreshed a couple dozen times a year. ~ Cory Doctorow, Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom. Cory was born that day.

3 ~ MosheZadka (Talk) 09:17, 25 Jun 2005 (UTC)
2 121a0012 June 27, 2005 03:52 (UTC) (OK; markup needs work)
1 Kalki 22:20, 16 July 2005 (UTC) this uses obscure terms without much context to go on; I have added a few Cory Doctorow quotes below, that I think would be better.
1 Zarbon 06:24, 24 April 2008 (UTC)

First-time novelists have a tough row to hoe. Our publishers don't have a lot of promotional budget to throw at unknown factors like us. Mostly, we rise and fall based on word-of-mouth. ~ Cory Doctorow

2 Kalki 21:47, 16 July 2007 (UTC) ~~3 Kalki 22:20, 16 July 2005 (UTC)~~
2 Zarbon 06:24, 24 April 2008 (UTC)

I'd seen how Imagineering worked when they were on their own, building prototypes and conceptual mockups — I knew that the real bottleneck was the constant review and revisions, the ever-fluctuating groupmind consensus of the ad-hoc that commissioned their work. ~ Cory Doctorow

2 Kalki 21:45, 16 July 2007 (UTC) ~~3 Kalki 22:20, 16 July 2005 (UTC)~~
1 Zarbon 06:24, 24 April 2008 (UTC)

The Bitchun Society had all but done away with any sort of dull, repetitious labor, and what remained—tending bar, mopping toilets —commanded Whuffie aplenty and a life of leisure in your off-hours.

2 Kalki 22:20, 16 July 2005 (UTC) this also uses obscure terms, as the first suggestion for Doctorow did, but fuller context is implied a bit more clearly.
1 Zarbon 06:24, 24 April 2008 (UTC)

Of all the people who failed to buy one of my books today, the vast majority did so because they never heard of them, not because they got a free digital copy from the Internet. ~ Cory Doctorow

3 Kalki 21:45, 16 July 2007 (UTC)
1 Zarbon 06:24, 24 April 2008 (UTC)

How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day
From every opening flower!
~ Isaac Watts ~ (born 17 July 1674)