It is the business of the very few to be independent; it is a privilege of the strong. And whoever attempts it, even with the best right, but without being OBLIGED to do so, proves that he is probably not only strong, but also daring beyond measure. He enters into a labyrinth, he multiplies a thousandfold the dangers which life in itself already brings with it; not the least of which is that no one can see how and where he loses his way, becomes isolated, and is torn piecemeal by some minotaur of conscience. Supposing such a one comes to grief, it is so far from the comprehension of men that they neither feel it, nor sympathize with it. And he cannot any longer go back! He cannot even go back again to the sympathy of men!

Why seek to scale Mount Everest, Queen of the Air,Why strive to crown that cruel crestAnd deathward dare?Said Mallory of dauntless quest'Because it's there.'

Robert William Service, Dauntles

One cat in a house is a sign of loneliness, two of barrenness, and three of sodomy.

Edward Dahlberg

What fates impose, that men must needs abide; It boots not to resist both wind and tide

William Shakespeare

Some of your countrymen were unable to distinguish between their native dislike for war and the stainless patriotism of those who suffered its scars. But there has been a rethinking and now we can say to you, and say as a nation, thank you for your courage.

Ronald Reagan

My painting teacher in high school used to say, 'I can't paint like I want to, but through practice I'll get better.' But I don't think that's true. I think sometimes you just can't paint.

Ellie Kemper

When a man tells you that he got rich through hard work, ask him: 'Whose?'

Don Marquis

The abdomen is the reason why man does not readily take himself to be a god.

Friedrich Nietzsche

I joke around a lot about the manic times because they're funny. We manics do outrageous things and it is part of our colorful nature.

Patty Duke

In the face of technology, everything becomes a little atavistic.

Don DeLillo

Schizofrenia pana la ultima ei limita, refuzul total al oricarei realitati decat cea a visului, al oricarui adevar decat al viziunii.

Gellu Naum

October extinguished itself in a rush of howling winds and driving rain and November arrived, cold as frozen iron, with hard frosts every morning and icy drafts that bit at exposed hands and faces.

J.K. Rowling

The thing with Catholicism, the same as all religions, is that it teaches what should be, which seems rather incorrect. This is what should be. Now, if you're taught to live up to a what should be that never existed -- only an occult superstition, no proof of this should be -- then you can sit on a jury and indict easily, you can cast the first stone, you can burn Adolf Eichmann, like that!

Lenny Bruce