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A God all mercy, is a God unjust.

Edward Young

Night Thoughts

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Topic

Justice Mercy

Author

Edward Young

Source

Night Thoughts

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1743 1740s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Young, Edward. The Complaint: or, Night-Thoughts on Life, Death, & Immortality. London: R. Dodsley, 1742-1745, Night 4, I. 233.

Current Citation

Young, Edward. Edward Young: Night Thoughts, edited by Stephen Cornford. Cambridge University Press, 2008, Night 4, I. 233.

Any government is free to the people under it where the laws rule and the people are a party to those laws.

William Penn

Frame of Government

More information about this quote

Topic

Political theory

Author

William Penn

Source

Frame of Government

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1682 1680s 17th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Penn, William. Frame of Government. 1682, preface.

Two little mice fell in a bucket of cream. The first mouse quickly gave up and drowned. The second mouse, wouldn't quit. He struggled so hard that eventually he churned that cream into butter and crawled out. Gentlemen, as of this moment, I am that second mouse.

Catch Me if You Can

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Topic

Persistence Never giving up Perseverance

Speaker

Frank Abagnale

Actor

Christopher Walken

Source

Catch Me if You Can

Medium

Film

Genre

Comedy drama (film) Crime (film) Comedy drama Crime

Language

English

Time

2002 2000s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Catch Me If You Can. Directed by Steven Spielberg, Amblin Entertainment/DreamWorks Pictures/Parkes/MacDonald Productions/Kemp Company/Splendid Pictures, 2002.

As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.

John Green

The Fault In Our Stars

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Topic

Falling in love

Author

John Green

Source

The Fault In Our Stars

Medium

Novel

Genre

Young adult fiction

Language

English

Time

2012 2010s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Green, John. The Fault In Our Stars. Penguin Books, 2012, ch. 8.

As long as the love of power is a dominant passion of the human bosom, and as long as the understandings of men can be warped and their affections changed by operations upon their passions and prejudices, so long will the liberties of a people depend on their own constant attention to its preservation.

William Henry Harrison

Inaugural Address of William Henry Harrison

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Topic

Safeguards of freedom Political theory

Speaker

William Henry Harrison

Source

Inaugural Address of William Henry Harrison Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1841 1840s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Harrison, William Henry. "Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1841, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

We plunged into the cornucopia quivering with desire and the ecstasy of unbridled avarice.

Ralphie Parker

A Christmas Story

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Topic

Christmas presents Christmas

Speaker

Ralphie Parker

Actor

Peter Billingsley

Source

A Christmas Story

Medium

Film

Genre

Christmas movie Comedy (film) Christmas Comedy

Language

English

Time

1983 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

A Christmas Story. Directed by Bob Clark, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1983.

Jealousy is all the fun you think they had.

Erica Jong

More information about this quote

Topic

FOMO Jealousy

Author

Erica Jong

Source

How to Save Your Own Life

Medium

Novel

Statement Type

Proverbs, aphorisms and adages Definition

Language

English

Time

1977 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Jong, Erica. How to Save Your Own Life. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1977.

Be a good animal, true to your animal instinct.

D.H. Lawrence

More information about this quote

Topic

Instincts

Speaker

George Temple

Author

D.H. Lawrence

Source

The White Peacock

Medium

Novel

Statement Type

Advice

Language

English

Time

1911 1910s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Lawrence, D.H. The White Peacock. Heinemann/Duffield & Co., 1911, pt. 2, ch. 2.

Nothing travels faster than the speed of light with the possible exception of bad news, which obeys its own special laws.

Douglas Adams

Mostly Harmless

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Topic

Bad news

Author

Douglas Adams

Source

Mostly Harmless

Medium

Novel

Genre

Science fiction

Language

English

Time

1992 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Adams, Douglas. Mostly Harmless. William Heinemann/Harmony Books, 1992, ch. 1.

I've never done a single thing I've wanted to in my whole life! I don't know 's I've accomplished anything except just get along.

Sinclair Lewis

Babbitt

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Topic

Conformity Regrets Wasted life

Author

Sinclair Lewis

Source

Babbitt

Medium

Novel

Genre

Satire

Statement Type

Lament

Language

English

Time

1922 1920s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Lewis, Sinclair. Babbitt. Harcourt, Brace & Co., 1922, ch. 34.

Current Citation

Lewis, Sinclair. Babbitt, edited by Gordon Hutner. Oxford University Press, 2010, ch. 34.

There is no such thing as "natural law": this expression is nothing but old nonsense…Prior to laws, what is natural is only the strength of the lion, or the need of the creature suffering from hunger or cold, in short, need.

Stendhal

The Red and the Black

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Topic

Natural law Might makes right

Author

Stendhal

Source

The Red and the Black

Medium

Novel

Language

French

Time

1819 1810s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Stendhal. Le Rouge et le Noir: Chronique du XIXe siècle [The Red and the Black: A Chronicle of the 19th Century]. Vol. 2, Paris: A. Levasseur, c. 1830, ch. 44.

Current Citation

Stendhal. The Red and the Black, translated by Catherine Slater. Oxford University Press, 2009, bk. 2, ch. 44.

The relative freedom which we enjoy depends of public opinion. The law is no protection. Governments make laws, but whether they are carried out, and how the police behave, depends on the general temper in the country. If large numbers of people are interested in freedom of speech, there will be freedom of speech, even if the law forbids it; if public opinion is sluggish, inconvenient minorities will be persecuted, even if laws exist to protect them.

George Orwell

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Topic

Public opinion Legal theory Political theory

Author

George Orwell

Source

Freedom of the Park Tribune

Medium

Essay Newspaper

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1945 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Orwell, George. “Freedom of the Park.” Tribune, 7 Dec. 1945.

Current Citation

Orwell, George. "Freedom of the Park." The Collected Essays, Journalism and Letters of George Orwell, vol. 4: In Front of Your Nose 1945-1950, edited by Sonia Orwell and Ian Angus. David R. Godine, 1999, no. 11.

In a way, all of us has an El Guapo to face someday. For some, shyness might be their El Guapo. For others, a lack of education might be their El Guapo. For us, El Guapo is a big, dangerous guy who wants to kill us. But as sure as my name is Lucky Day, the people of Santa Poco can conquer their own personal El Guapo, who also happens to be the actual El Guapo!

Three Amigos!

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Topic

Facing one's fears Personal growth

Speaker

Lucky Day

Actor

Steve Martin

Source

Three Amigos!

Medium

Film

Genre

Comedy (film) Western (film) Comedy Western

Language

English

Time

1986 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Three Amigos. Directed by John Landis, Orion Pictures, 1986.

It's like people only do these things because they can get paid. And that's just really sad.

Garth Algar

Wayne's World

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More information about this quote

Topic

Selling out

Speaker

Garth Algar

Actor

Dana Carvey

Source

Wayne's World

Medium

Film

Genre

Comedy (film) Comedy

Language

English

Time

1992 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Wayne's World. Directed by Penelope Spheeris, Paramount Pictures, 1992.

Where there is much desire to learn, there of necessity will be much arguing, much writing, many opinions; for opinion in good men is but knowledge in the making.

John Milton

Areopagitica

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Topic

Diversity of opinion Curiosity

Author

John Milton

Source

Areopagitica

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1644 1640s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Milton, John. Areopagitca; a speech of Mr. John Milton for the Liberty of Unlicenc'd Printing, to the Parlament of England. London, 1644.

Current Citation

Milton, John. "Areopagitica." John Milton: Major Works, edited by Stephen Orgel and Jonathan Goldberg. Oxford University Press, 2008.

We accept the reality of the world with which we're presented. It's as simple as that.

The Truman Show

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More information about this quote

Topic

Appearance vs. reality Nature of reality

Speaker

Christof

Actor

Ed Harris

Source

The Truman Show

Medium

Film

Genre

Psychological drama (film) Comedy drama (film) Psychological drama Comedy drama

Language

English

Time

1998 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Truman Show. Directed by Peter Weir, Scott Rudin Productions, 1998.

What is our aim?... Victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror; victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.

Winston Churchill

More information about this quote

Topic

World War II Victory

Speaker

Winston Churchill

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1940 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Churchill, Winston. "Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat." House of Commons meeting. 13 May 1940, The Palace of Westminster, London, England, UK. Address.

Current Citation

Churchill, Winston. "Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat." Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat: The Great Speeches, edited by David Cannadine. Penguin Classics, 2007.

The hard part about playing chicken is knowing when to flinch.

The Hunt for Red October

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More information about this quote

Topic

International politics Bluster

Speaker

Capt. Bart Mancuso

Actor

Scott Glenn

Source

The Hunt for Red October

Medium

Film

Genre

Spy (film) Thriller (film) Spy Thriller

Language

English

Time

1990 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Hunt for Red October. Directed by John McTiernan, Mac Neufeld Productions/Nina Saxon Film Design, 1990.

How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds
Makes deeds ill done!

William Shakespeare

The Life and Death of King John

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More information about this quote

Topic

Incentives Temptation

Speaker

King John

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

The Life and Death of King John

Medium

Play

Genre

History (play)

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Life and Death of King John." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 4, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "King John." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 4, sc. 2.

They give birth astride of a grave, the light gleams an instant, then it's night once more.

Samuel Beckett

Waiting for Godot

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More information about this quote

Topic

Shortness of life Ephemeral nature of life Life The human condition

Speaker

Pozzo

Author

Samuel Beckett

Source

Waiting for Godot

Medium

Play

Genre

Modernist literature

Language

French

Time

1953 1950s 20th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Beckett, Samuel. En attendant Godot. Directed by Roger Blin. 5 Jan. 1953, Théâtre de Babylone, Paris, France.