Man is an idiot. He doesn't know how to do anything without copying, without imitating, without plagiarizing, without aping. It might even have been that man invented generation by coitus after seeing the grasshopper copulate.

It is a commonplace that the history of civilisation is largely the history of weapons. In particular, the connection between the discovery of gunpowder and the overthrow of feudalism by the bourgeoisie has been pointed out over and over again. And though I have no doubt exceptions can be brought forward, I think the following rule would be found to be generally true that ages in which the dominant weapon is expensive or difficult to make will be ages of despotism, whereas when the dominant weapon is cheap and simple, the common people have a chance. Thus, for example, tanks, battleships and bombing planes are inherently tyrannical weapons, while rifles, muskets, longbows and handgrenades are inherently democratic weapons. A complex weapon makes the strong stronger, while a simple weapon so long as there is no answer to it gives claws to the weak.

George Orwell

On what rests the hope of the republic? One country, one language, one flag!

Alexander Henry

The world isn't interested in the storms you encountered, but whether or not you brought in the ship.

Raul Armesto

If you say you're a unifier, you expect and usually get applause. I'm a divider. Politics is division by definition, if there was no disagreement there would be no politics. The illusion of unity isn't worth having, and is anyways unattainable.

Christopher Hitchens

I find no sweeter fat than sticks to my own bones.

Walt Whitman

Facts or opinions which are to pass through the hands of so many, to be misconceived by folly in one, and ignorance in another, can hardly have much truth left.

Jane Austen

I am talking to you, but the moment I am talking to you, the universe is being created and destroyed.

Paulo Coelho

All pro sports, as well as the NCAA, should thank God every day we have sports betting here... We have the only agency in the world that regulates the honesty of games.

Meyer Lansky

History shows that where ethics and economics come in conflict, victory is always with economics. Vested interests have never been known to have willingly divested themselves unless there was sufficient force to compel them.

B. R. Ambedkar

Sex: the thing that takes up the least amount of time and causes the most amount of trouble.

John Barrymore

The perception of the comic is a tie of sympathy with other men.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

I wouldn't be where I am today without the amazing public arts education that I had.

Matthew Morrison