Another selection of recently encountered bon mots.
The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign.
[John Stuart Mill, On Liberty]
We cannot expect to be protected against things which offend us but do us no actual harm.
[John Stuart Mill]
I CHOOSE
To live by choice, not by chance,
To be motivated, not manipulated,
To be useful, not used,
To make changes, not excuses,
To excel, not compete.
I choose self-esteem, not self-pity,
I choose to listen to my inner voice,
not to the random opinions of others.
[American Indian]
I have been really rather horrified by the fact … that people have begun to think that perhaps succeeding in politics is a matter of putting your hand into the taxpayers’ pockets and redistributing wealth. It is not. Succeeding in polities is, as I said when I started, enlarging-up liberty, enlarging-up the people, giving the incentives to success, giving the framework for that success and the task of Government strictly limited.
[Margaret Thatcher]
Mr Ives’ style is sadly familiar here … at any rate in households where the baby or the cat has access to the piano.
[Percy Goetschius, on the music of Charles Ives, in the journal Music & Letters]
Why waste time learning when ignorance is instantaneous.
[Calvin & Hobbes at www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/2014/11/20/
Without deviation progress is not possible.
[Frank Zappa]
I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road.
[Stephen Hawking]
We live in capitalism, its power seems inescapable — but then, so did the divine right of kings.
[Ursula Le Guin]
Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way round or through it.
[Bruce Lee]
I have always been of the opinion that hard work is simply the refuge of people who have nothing to do.
[Oscar Wilde]
I’m not lost for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.
[AA Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh]
Lu-Tze had long considered that everything happens for a reason, except possibly football.
[Terry Pratchett, Thief of Time]