October 26

Quotes of the day from previous years:

2004

I'm not against God. I'm against the misuse of God. ~ Marilyn Manson

selected by Kalki

2005

I know that it will hurt, I know that it will break your heart, the way things are, and the way they've been. Don't spread the discontent, don't spread the lies, don't make the same mistakes with your own life. ~ "Break Your Heart" by Natalie Merchant (born 26 October 1963)

proposed by Kalki

2006

The youth are not always right, but the society which ignores them and beats, is always wrong. ~ François Mitterrand (born 26 October 1916) on les événements of May 1968.

proposed by Fys

2007

Contempt loves the silence
it thrives in the dark
with fine winding tendrils
that strangle the heart.
~ Natalie Merchant ~

proposed by Kalki

2008

After bread, education is the first need of the people. ~ Georges Danton (born 26 October 1759)

proposed by Zarbon

2009

Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements. ~ Napoleon Hill

proposed by Zarbon

2010

Strategy is a system of expedients; it is more than a mere scholarly discipline. It is the translation of knowledge to practical life, the improvement of the original leading thought in accordance with continually changing situations. ~ Helmuth von Moltke the Elder

proposed by Kalki

2011

Do not wait; the time will never be "just right." Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along. ~ Napoleon Hill

proposed by Kalki

2012

Have I been blind, have I been lost,
inside myself and my own mind;
hypnotized, mesmerized,
by what my eyes have seen?

~ Natalie Merchant ~

proposed by Kalki

2013

The greatest achievements of men, were at first, nothing but dreams of the minds of men who knew that dreams are the seedlings of all achievements. A burning desire, to be and to do, is the starting point, from which the dreamer must take off.

~ Napoleon Hill ~

proposed by bystander

2014

these days you might feel a shaft of light
make its way across your face
and when you do
you'll know how it was meant to be
see the signs and know their meaning

~ Natalie Merchant ~

proposed by Kalki

2015

There is one tradition in America I am proud to inherit. It is our first freedom and the truest expression of our Americanism: the ability to dissent without fear. It is our right to utter the words, "I disagree."

~ Natalie Merchant ~

proposed by Kalki

2016

O, I believe
fate smiled and destiny
laughed as she came to my cradle
know this child will be able
laughed as she came to my mother
know this child will not suffer
laughed as my body she lifted
know this child will be gifted
with love, with patience and with faith
she'll make her way

~ Natalie Merchant ~

proposed by Kalki

2017

Ophelia was a cyclone, tempest
a god damned hurricane
your common sense
your best defense
lay wasted and in vain.

~ Natalie Merchant ~

proposed by Kalki

2018

America needs every one of us to lend our energy, our talents, our ambition to making our nation better and stronger. I believe that with all my heart. That's why “Stronger Together” is not just a lesson from our history. It's not just a slogan for our campaign. It's a guiding principle for the country we've always been and the future we're going to build. A country where the economy works for everyone, not just those at the top. Where you can get a good job and send your kids to a good school, no matter what zip code you live in. A country where all our children can dream, and those dreams are within reach. Where families are strong… communities are safe… And yes, love trumps hate. That's the country we're fighting for. That's the future we're working toward.

~ Hillary Clinton ~

proposed by Kalki

2019

As the history majors among you here today know all too well, when people in power invent their own facts and attack those who question them, it can mark the beginning of the end of a free society. That is not hyperbole. It is what authoritarian regimes throughout history have done. They attempt to control reality. Not just our laws and our rights and our budgets, but our thoughts and beliefs.

~ Hillary Clinton ~

proposed by Kalki

2020

Simply caring is not enough. To drive real progress, you have to change both hearts and laws. You need both understanding and action.

~ Hillary Clinton ~

proposed by Kalki

2021

Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve. Thoughts are things! And powerful things at that, when mixed with definiteness of purpose, and burning desire, can be translated into riches.

~ Napoleon Hill ~

proposed by bystander

2022

I fully realize that no wealth or position can long endure, unless built upon truth and justice, therefore, I will engage in no transaction which does not benefit all whom it affects.

~ Napoleon Hill ~

proposed by Kalki

2023

The anger, the hurt, the — the sense of outrage that the Israeli people are feeling after the brutally inflicted devastation by Hamas is completely understandable.
Israel has the right and, I would add, responsibility to respond to the slaughter of their people. And we will ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself against these terrorists. That’s a guarantee.
We also have to remember that Hamas does not represent the vast majority of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip or anywhere else.
Hamas is hiding behind Palestinian civilians, and it’s despicable and, not surprisingly, cowardly as well.
This also puts an added burden on Israel while they go after Hamas.
But that does not lessen the need for — to operate and align with the laws of war for Israeli — it has to do everything in its power — Israel has to do everything in its power, as difficult as it is, to protect innocent civilians.

~ Joe Biden ~

proposed by Kalki

2024

No one gets through life alone. We have to look out for each other and lift each other up.

~ Hillary Clinton ~

proposed by Kalki

2025: Rank or add further suggestions…

The Quote of the Day (QOTD) is a prominent feature of the Wikiquote Main Page. Thank you for submitting, reviewing, and ranking suggestions!

Ranking system

4 : Excellent – should definitely be used. (This is the utmost ranking and should be used by any editor for only one quote at a time for each date.)

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.

Thank you for participating!

Suggestions

Andrew Wiles gently smiles,
Does his thing, and voila!
Q.E.D., we agree,
And we all shout hurrah!
As he confirms what Fermat
Jotted down in that margin,
Which could've used some enlargin'.
~ Tom Lehrer in That's Mathematics (Fermat's Last Theorem proof published that day)

3 ~ MosheZadka (Talk) 09:43, 8 October 2005 (UTC)
1 Zarbon 05:39, 25 April 2008 (UTC)
0 Wikisaver62 14:31, 25 October 2008 (UTC)
2 InvisibleSun 23:07, 25 October 2008 (UTC)
1 Kalki 08:48, 18 October 2009 (UTC)

Who will draw the calvary in
risk his very own precious skin
to make our Angelinia a free and peaceful land again?
~ Natalie Merchant ~ (date of birth)

3 Kalki 20:51, 25 October 2005 (UTC)
1 Zarbon 05:39, 25 April 2008 (UTC)
1 Wikisaver62 14:31, 25 October 2008 (UTC)
2 InvisibleSun 23:07, 25 October 2008 (UTC)

Labels are for cans, not people. ~ Anthony Rapp

2 Zarbon 04:42, 5 July 2008 (UTC)
0 Kalki 08:48, 18 October 2009 (UTC) I would rank this highly, but can find no source that would indicate this originates with Rapp.* 3 Kalki 22:33, 16 October 2008 (UTC)
4 Wikisaver62 14:31, 25 October 2008 (UTC)
0 because it is unsourced. - InvisibleSun 23:07, 25 October 2008 (UTC)
4 ~~Lollipop~~ 12:08, 6 May 2012 (UTC) this is amazing —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 125.237.67.46 (talk) 00:09, 6 May 2012 ("Lollipop" is not a registered account name)

No battle plan ever survives contact with the enemy. ~ Helmuth von Moltke the Elder

2 Zarbon 04:42, 5 July 2008 (UTC)
3 Kalki 22:33, 16 October 2008 (UTC) with a very strong lean toward 4, but would correct this from the paraphrase to:

No plan of operations extends with any certainty beyond the first contact with the main hostile force.

OR extend it further to:

The tactical result of an engagement forms the base for new strategic decisions because victory or defeat in a battle changes the situation to such a degree that no human acumen is able to see beyond the first battle. In this sense one should understand Napoleon's saying: "I have never had a plan of operations."
Therefore no plan of operations extends with any certainty beyond the first contact with the main hostile force.

1 Wikisaver62 14:31, 25 October 2008 (UTC)
0 because it is unsourced. InvisibleSun 23:07, 25 October 2008 (UTC)

Though the original suggestion was originally unsourced, and seems to be a long used and common paraphrase, the original statement has now been sourced, and is included as part of my rankings, above. ~ Kalki 14:58, 18 October 2009 (UTC)

A competent staff officer should work diligently, accomplish much, remain in the background, and be more than he seems. ~ Helmuth von Moltke the Elder

2 Zarbon 04:42, 5 July 2008 (UTC)
0 Kalki 08:48, 18 October 2009 (UTC) I can locate no published source for this.* 3 Kalki 22:33, 16 October 2008 (UTC)
1 Wikisaver62 14:31, 25 October 2008 (UTC)
0 because it is unsourced. InvisibleSun 23:07, 25 October 2008 (UTC)

To talk to others who are unseen and far away is an experience which, before the telephone, occurred only in mythology. Gods, devils, and angels talked from the sky across the world, but not mere mortals. ~ Ithiel de Sola Pool

2 Zarbon 04:42, 5 July 2008 (UTC)
2 Kalki 22:33, 16 October 2008 (UTC)
0 Wikisaver62 14:31, 25 October 2008 (UTC)
0 because it is unsourced. - InvisibleSun 23:07, 25 October 2008 (UTC)

What has begun in this evening will not stay for a long time, and because you represent the forces of the world of labour, you, forces of the youth, your victory is inevitable. ~ François Mitterrand

2 Zarbon 04:42, 5 July 2008 (UTC)
2 Kalki 22:33, 16 October 2008 (UTC)
2 Wikisaver62 14:31, 25 October 2008 (UTC)
0 because it is inadequately sourced. InvisibleSun 23:07, 25 October 2008 (UTC)

speak to me
don't mislead me, the calm I feel means a storm is swelling
there's no telling where it starts or how it ends

~ Natalie Merchant ~

3 ♞☤☮♌︎Kalki ⚚⚓︎⊙☳☶⚡ 22:28, 24 October 2014 (UTC) with a very strong lean toward 4.

Every adversity has the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit.

~ Napoleon Hill ~

3 ♞☤☮♌︎Kalki ⚚⚓︎⊙☳☶⚡ 21:53, 27 October 2014 (UTC) with a very strong lean toward 4.

Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.

~ Napoleon Hill ~

3 ♞☤☮♌︎Kalki ⚚⚓︎⊙☳☶⚡ 21:53, 27 October 2014 (UTC)

Truly, thoughts are things, and their scope of operation is the world, itself.

~ Napoleon Hill ~

3 ♞☤☮♌︎Kalki ⚚⚓︎⊙☳☶⚡ 21:53, 27 October 2014 (UTC)

The greatest achievements of men, were at first, nothing but dreams of the minds of men who knew that dreams are the seedlings of all achievements. A burning desire, to be and to do, is the starting point, from which the dreamer must take off.

~ Napoleon Hill ~

3 ♞☤☮♌︎Kalki ⚚⚓︎⊙☳☶⚡ 21:53, 27 October 2014 (UTC) with a strong lean toward 4.

Ophelia was a bride of god
a novice Carmelite
in sister cells the cloister bells
tolled on her wedding night

~ Natalie Merchant ~

3 ♞☤☮♌︎Kalki ⚚⚓︎⊙☳☶⚡ 21:53, 27 October 2014 (UTC)

Ophelia was a circus queen
the female cannonball
projected through five flaming hoops
to wild and shocked applause...

~ Natalie Merchant ~

3 ♞☤☮♌︎Kalki ⚚⚓︎⊙☳☶⚡ 21:53, 27 October 2014 (UTC) with a lean toward 4.

Ophelia's mind went wandering
you'd wonder where she'd gone
through secret doors
down corridors
she'd wander them alone

~ Natalie Merchant ~

3 ♞☤☮♌︎Kalki ⚚⚓︎⊙☳☶⚡ 21:53, 27 October 2014 (UTC)

where is the halo
that should glow 'round your face
and where are the wings that
should grow from your shoulder blades?

~ Natalie Merchant ~

3 ♞☤☮♌︎Kalki ⚚⚓︎⊙☳☶⚡ 21:53, 27 October 2014 (UTC)

these sobering sights I've seen
in the City of Angels
have all been one rude awakening
that was due to me
in this city of fallen angels

~ Natalie Merchant ~

3 ♞☤☮♌︎Kalki ⚚⚓︎⊙☳☶⚡ 21:53, 27 October 2014 (UTC)

doctors have come from distant cities
just to see me
stand over my bed
disbelieving what they're seeing
they say I must be one of the wonders
of god's own creation
and as far as they can see they can offer
no explanation

~ Natalie Merchant ~