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October 19

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Quotes of the day from previous years:

2003
I really believe that if there's any kind of God, he wouldn't be in any one of us — not you, not me, but just this space in between. If there's some magic in this world, it must be in the attempt of understanding someone else, sharing something. ~ Before Sunrise
2004
Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows. ~ George Orwell in Nineteen Eighty-Four
2005
Traditionalists are pessimists about the future and optimists about the past. ~ Lewis Mumford (born 19 October 1895)
2006
There is surely a piece of divinity within us, something that was before the elements, and owes no homage unto the sun. ~ Thomas Browne (born 19 October 1605)
2007
Nothing is unthinkable, nothing impossible to the balanced person, provided it comes out of the needs of life and is dedicated to life's further development. ~ Lewis Mumford
2008
To be nameless in worthy deeds exceeds an infamous history. ~ Thomas Browne
2009
He gave it for his opinion, that whoever could make two ears of corn, or two blades of grass, to grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before, would deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to his country, than the whole race of politicians put together. ~ Jonathan Swift
2010
The cycle of the machine is now coming to an end. Man has learned much in the hard discipline and the shrewd, unflinching grasp of practical possibilities that the machine has provided in the last three centuries: but we can no more continue to live in the world of the machine than we could live successfully on the barren surface of the moon. ~ Lewis Mumford (date of birth)
2011
Every writer wants to be believed. But every writer knows he is spurious; every fiction writer would rather be credible than authentic. ~ John le Carré
2012
Man is a Noble Animal, splendid in ashes and pompous in the Grave. Solemnizing Nativities and Deaths with equal lustre. Nor ommiting Ceremonies of Bravery in the infamy of his nature. Life is a pure flame and we live by an invisible Sun within us.
~ Thomas Browne ~
2013
I intend no Monopoly but a Community in Learning: I study not for my own sake only, but for theirs that study not for themselves.
~ Thomas Browne ~
2014
The severe Schools shall never laugh me out of the Philosophy of Hermes, that this visible world is but a picture of the invisible.
~ Thomas Browne ~
2015
I could never divide myself from any man upon the difference of an opinion, or be angry with his judgement for not agreeing with me in that, from which perhaps within a few days I should dissent myself.
~ Thomas Browne ~
2016
Be substantially great in thyself, and more than thou appearest unto others.
~ Thomas Browne ~
2017
The same people who can deny others everything are famous for refusing themselves nothing.
~ Leigh Hunt ~
2018
In my experience, each failure contains the seeds of your next success — if you are willing to learn from it.
~ Paul Allen ~
  • proposed by Kalki, in regard to his recent death.
2019
In every war zone that I've been in, there has been a reality and then there has been the public perception of why the war was being fought. In every crisis, in every confrontation that has come my way, the issues have been far more complex than the public has been allowed to know.
~ John le Carré ~
2020
There is no man alone, because every man is a Microcosm, and carries the whole world about him.
~ Thomas Browne ~
2021
Success ultimately rests on small things, lots of small things. Leaders have to have a feel for small things — a feel for what is going in in the depths of an organization where small things reside. The more senior you become, the more you are isolated by pomp and staff, and the harder and more necessary it becomes to know what is going on six floors down. One way is to leave the top floor and its grand accoutrements and get down into the bowels for real. Don't tell anyone you are coming.
~ Colin Powell ~
  • proposed by Kalki, in regard of his recent death.
2022
There are two worlds: the world that we can measure with line and rule, and the world we feel with our hearts and imagination.
~ Leigh Hunt ~
2023
I would die happy if I knew that on my tombstone could be written these words, "This man was an absolute fool. None of the disastrous things that he reluctantly predicted ever came to pass!".
~ Lewis Mumford ~
2024

Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
An Angel writing in a book of gold:

Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the Presence in the room he said,
"What writest thou?" The Vision raised its head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord
Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord."

"And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so,"
Replied the Angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerily still; and said, "I pray thee, then,
Write me as one who loves his fellow men."

The Angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again with a great wakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blessed,
And, lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest!

~ Leigh Hunt ~
2025
Rank or add further suggestions…

Quotes by people born this day, already used as QOTD:

Quotes by people who died this day, already used as QOTD:

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3 : Very Good – strong desire to see it used.
2 : Good – some desire to see it used.
1 : Acceptable – but with no particular desire to see it used.
0 : Not acceptable – not appropriate for use as a quote of the day.
An averaging of the rankings provided to each suggestion produces it’s general ranking in considerations for selection of Quote of the Day. The selections made are usually chosen from the top ranked options existing on the page, but the provision of highly ranked late additions, especially in regard to special events (most commonly in regard to the deaths of famous people, or other major social or physical occurrences), always remain an option for final selections.
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Suggestions

[edit]

A young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled. ~ Jonathan Swift, died that day

  • 3 ~ MosheZadka (Talk) 07:32, 9 October 2005 (UTC)
  • 1 ~ Kalki 22:45, 18 October 2005 (UTC) Great quote in context... but with this alone too many people might not recognize that it comes from his famous satire "A Modest Proposal"
  • 1 Zarbon 05:14, 25 April 2008 (UTC)
  • 1 I love it … but I think that is because I could guess rightly where it was taken from. Out of context, it may not make a sense, I'm afraid. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Aphaia (talk • contribs) on October 16 at 00:36 (UTC)
  • 1 per above. - InvisibleSun 21:50, 18 October 2008 (UTC)
  • 1 //Gbern3 (talk) 03:44, 16 August 2013 (UTC) Definitely needs context. I thought this guy was actually promoting cannibalism until I read everyone else's comments.

I am at a stage in my life — now quite late — where I am completely reconciled to what I am as a writer. I know what I can and can't do. I love writing. I feel it is my best time. But I still feel, as I think most creative people do, absolutely isolated.~ John le Carré (date of birth)

  • 3 Kalki 22:45, 18 October 2005 (UTC) with a lean toward 4.
  • 3 InvisibleSun 19:08, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
  • 1 Zarbon 05:14, 25 April 2008 (UTC)
  • 3 Aphaia 00:36, 16 October 2008 (UTC)
  • 2.5 //Gbern3 (talk) 03:44, 16 August 2013 (UTC)

We lie to one another every day, in the sweetest way, often unconsciously. We dress ourselves and compose ourselves in order to present ourselves to one another. ~ John le Carré (date of birth)

  • 3 Kalki 22:45, 18 October 2005 (UTC)
  • 2 InvisibleSun 19:08, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
  • 1 Zarbon 05:14, 25 April 2008 (UTC)
  • 3 Aphaia 00:36, 16 October 2008 (UTC)
  • 2.5 //Gbern3 (talk) 03:44, 16 August 2013 (UTC)

The night of time far surpasseth the day, and who knows when was the Æquinox? ~ Thomas Browne

God does not work for you. He works with you. ~ Pandurang Shastri Athavale (date of birth)

  • 2 Zarbon 05:08, 4 July 2008 (UTC)
  • 3 Aphaia 00:36, 16 October 2008 (UTC) Sadly unsourced ...
  • 2 Kalki 19:02, 16 October 2008 (UTC) I would rank this at 3 if it was sourced.
  • 0 because unsourced. - InvisibleSun 21:50, 18 October 2008 (UTC)
  • 0 The quote itself seems good, but it is unsourced. DutchOff (talk) 02:22, 11 October 2022 (UTC)

I think what gives my works whatever universality they have is that they use the metaphysical secret world to describe some realities of the overt world. ~ John le Carré

Luck's just another word for destiny … either you make your own or you're screwed. ~ John le Carré

Fishes do not roar; they cannot express any sound of suffering; and therefore the angler chooses to think they do not suffer, more than it is convenient for him to fancy. Now it is a poor sport that depends for its existence on the want of a voice in the sufferer, and of imagination in the sportsman.
~ Leigh Hunt ~
She dropped her glove, to prove his love, then looked at him and smiled;
He bowed, and in a moment leaped among the lions wild:
The leap was quick, return was quick, he has regained his place,
Then threw the glove, but not with love, right in the lady's face.
"By God!" said Francis, "rightly done!" and he rose from where he sat:
"No love," quoth he, "but vanity, sets love a task like that."
~ Leigh Hunt ~
Jenny kissed me when we met,
Jumping from the chair she sat in;
Time, you thief, who love to get
Sweets into your list, put that in.
Say I'm weary, say I'm sad,
Say that health and wealth have missed me;
Say I'm growing old, but add
Jenny kissed me.
~ Leigh Hunt ~
The world that I regard is my selfe, it is the Microcosme of mine owne frame, that I cast mine eye on; for the other, I use it but like my Globe, and turne it round sometimes for my recreation. Men that look upon my outside, perusing onely my condition, and fortunes, do erre in my altitude; for I am above Atlas his shoulders.
~ Thomas Browne ~
Burden not the back of Aries, Leo, or Taurus, with thy faults, nor make Saturn, Mars, or Venus, guilty of thy Follies.
~ Thomas Browne ~
I have often admired the mystical way of Pythagoras, and the secret Magic of numbers.
~ Thomas Browne ~
Whosoever enjoys not this life, I count him but an apparition, though he wear about him the sensible affections of flesh. In these moral acceptions, the way to be immortal is to die daily.
~ Thomas Browne ~
Many from the ignorance of these Maxims, and an inconsiderate zeal unto Truth, have too rashly charged the troops of error, and remain as Trophies unto the enemies of Truth: A man may be in as just possession of Truth as of a City, and yet be forced to surrender.
~ Thomas Browne ~
We carry with us the wonders, we seek without us: There is all Africa, and her prodigies in us; we are that bold and adventurous piece of nature, which he that studies, wisely learns in a compendium, what others labour at in a divided piece and endless volume.
~ Thomas Browne ~
They that endeavour to abolish vice destroy also virtue, for contraries, though they destroy one another, are yet the life of one another.
~ Thomas Browne ~
No man can justly censure or condemn another, because indeed no man truly knows another.
~ Thomas Browne ~
Nobody has to read this book. Nobody has to pick it up. Nobody has to open it. And if you open it and read it, you don't have to like it. And if you read it and you dislike it, you don't have to remain silent about it. You can write to me, you can complain about it, you can write to the publisher, you can write to the papers, you can write your own book. You can do all those things, but there your rights stop. No one has the right to stop me writing this book. No one has the right to stop it being published, or bought, or sold or read.
~ Philip Pullman (date of birth) ~
One of the marks of maturity is the need for solitude: a city should not merely draw men together in many varied activities, but should permit each person to find, near at hand, moments of seclusion and peace.
~ Lewis Mumford ~


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