"The prudent sees only the difficulties, the bold only the advantages, of a great enterprise; the hero sees both, diminishes those, makes these preponderate, and conquers."

Johann Kaspar Lavater Literature See all quotes by Johann Kaspar Lavater →

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“The public seldom forgive twice.”

“The more honesty a man has, the less he affects the air of a saint — the affectation of sanctity is a blotch on the face of piety.”

“There are but three classes of men — the retrograde, the stationary, the progressive.”

“Too much gravity argues a shallow mind.”

“He who, when called upon to speak a disagreeable truth, tells it boldly and has done, is both bolder and milder than he who nibbles in a low voice, and never ceases nibbling.”

“Neatness begets order; but from order to taste there is the same difference as from taste to genius, or from love to friendship.”

Resonant Thoughts

"Nietzsche’s arrival in modern philosophy signaled an unprecedented necessity: “probity”, “intellectual conscience”, Enlightenment radicalized by a new bravery that scorns any comforts like God."

— Laurence Lampert

Philosophy1941–2024

#courage

"In this I saw matter of mirth and matter of moaning: matter of mirth: for our Lord, our Maker, is so near to us, and in us, and we in Him, by sureness of keeping through His great goodness; matter of …"

— Julian of Norwich

Literature

#love

"One of these days I'll make a few casual remarks about Winston . Not a speech—no oratory—just a few words in passing. I've got it all ready. I am going to say that when Winston was born lots of fairie…"

— Stanley Baldwin

Politics1867–1947

#justice

"In these most recent 20 years -- the alleged winter of our disrespect of the Islamic world -- America did not just respect Muslims, it bled for them. It engaged in five military campaigns, every one o…"

— Charles Krauthammer

Politics1950–2018

#Human Nature