Art creates an incomparable and unique effect, and, having done so, passes on to other things. Nature, upon the other hand, forgetting that that imitation can be made the sincerest form of insult, keeps on repeating this effect until we all become absolutely wearied of it.

Growing up is losing some illusions, in order to acquire others.

Virginia Woolf

Is there any purpose to translating poetry? A poem does not contain information of importance, like a signpost or a warning notice.

James Buchan

Cowardice and courage are never without a measure of affectation. Nor is love. Feelings are never true. They play with their mirrors.

Jean Baudrillard

Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain.

Niccolo Machiavelli

If you think of this world as a place intended simply for our happiness, you find it quite intolerable:think of it as a place for correction and it's not so bad. Imagine a set of people all living in the samebuilding. Half of them think it is a hotel, the other half think it is a prison. Those who think it a hotel might regard it as quite intolerable, and those who thought it was a prison might decide that it wasreally surprisingly comfortable. So that what seems the ugly doctrine is one that comforts and strengthens you in the end. The people who try to hold an optimistic view of this world would becomepessimists: the people who hold a pretty stern view of it become optimistic

C.S. Lewis

In the world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.

Oscar Wilde

I prefer credulity to skepticism and cynicism for there is more promise in almost anything than in nothing at all.

Ralph B. Perry

The institution of a public library, containing books on education, would be well adapted for the information of teachers, many of whom are not able to purchase expensive publications on those subjects.

Joseph Lancaster

The wisdom of others remains dull till it is writ over with our own blood. We are essentially apart from the world; it bursts into our consciousness only when it sinks its teeth and nails into us.

Eric Hoffer

I'm really interested in modern history, but to fulfill a History degree at Brown you have to do modern and pre-modern.

Emma Watson

The people who work in intelligence work are more conscious, more apt to be attentive.

William Hedgcock Webster

Rudeness is a weak imitation of strength.

Eric Hoffer