"Generally among intelligent people are found nothing but paralytics and among men of action nothing but fools."

André Gide Literature See all quotes by André Gide →

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“We call “happiness” a certain set of circumstances that makes joy possible. But we call joy that state of mind and emotions that needs nothing to feel happy.”

“The sole art that suits me is that which, rising from unrest, tends toward serenity.”

“When intelligent people pride themselves on not understanding, it is quite natural they should succeed better than fools.”

“True kindness presupposes the faculty of imagining as one’s own the suffering and joys of others.”

“The great artists are the ones who dare to entitle to beauty things so natural that when they’re seen afterward, people say: Why did I never realize before that this too was beautiful?”

“Often the best in us springs from the worst in us.”

Resonant Thoughts

"That night I made copies of all the documents with shaking hands and gave them to a friend with contacts in the British secret services. I had a bitter taste in my mouth."

— Jani Allan

Journalism1952–2023

#friendship

"Men first feel necessity, then look for utility, next attend to comfort, still later amuse themselves with pleasure, thence grow dissolute in luxury, and finally go mad and waste their substance."

— Giambattista Vico

Philosophy1668–1744

#friendship

"Thank you all very much for your hospitality. We've just had a wide-ranging discussions on the matter at hand. Like the good folks standing with me, the American people were appalled and outraged at l…"

— George W. Bush

Politics1824–1900

#faith

"And I think that that’s one of the best things you can give somebody – the chance to show them what it feels like to make other people get excited and happy."

— Randy Pausch

Education1960–2008

#happiness