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When one by force subdues men, they do not submit to him in heart. They submit, because their strength is not adequate to resist.

Mencius

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Topic

Use of force Submission

Author

Mencius

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Chinese

Time

300 BC 300s BC 4th century BC

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Mencius. Mengzi. c. 300 BC, bk. 2.

Current Citation

Mencius. Mencius, translated by D. C. Lau. Penguin Classics, 2005, bk. 2.

He's more machine now than man. Twisted and evil.

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

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Topic

Man and machine

Speaker

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Actor

Alec Guinness

Source

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

Medium

Film

Genre

Epic (film) Science fiction (film) Epic Science fiction

Language

English

Time

1983 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi. Directed by Richard Marquand, Lucasfilm Ltd., 1983.

I heartily accept the motto,—"That government is best which governs least";... Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which I also believe,—"That government is best which governs not at all."

Henry David Thoreau

The Relation of the Individual to the State

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Topic

Anarchism Limited government Political theory

Author

Henry David Thoreau

Source

The Relation of the Individual to the State

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1848 1840s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Thoreau, Henry. "The Relation of the Individual to the State." 26 Jan. 1848, Concord Lyceum, Concord, MA, USA.

Current Citation

Thoreau, Henry. "Civil Disobedience." Walden and Civil Disobedience. Signet, 2012.

We would all be idle if we could.

Samuel Johnson

Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, by James Boswell

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Topic

Laziness Idleness Human nature

Speaker

Samuel Johnson

Author

James Boswell

Source

The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D

Genre

Biography

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in journal entry, written by James Boswell. 3 Apr. 1776.

Current Citation

Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, written by James Boswell, edited by David Womersley. Penguin Classics, 2008.

Lovers' quarrels are the renewal of love.

Terence

The Girl from Andros

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Topic

Reconciliation Relationship challenges Love

Speaker

Chremes

Author

Terence

Source

The Girl from Andros

Medium

Play

Language

Latin

Time

166 BC 160s BC 2nd century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Terence. Andria [The Woman from Andros]. 166 BC, Rome, Italy.

Current Citation

Terence. Andria, edited by Sander M. Goldberg. Cambridge University Press, 2023.

If you expect nothing from somebody, you are never disappointed.

Sylvia Plath

The Bell Jar

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Topic

Low expectations Expectations

Author

Sylvia Plath

Source

The Bell Jar

Medium

Novel

Language

English

Time

1963 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 0

Citation

Plath, Sylvia [published as Victoria Lucas]. The Bell Jar. William Heinemann, 1963.

A passing grade? Like a C? Why don't I just get pregnant at a bus station?

Community

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Topic

Getting good grades Overachievers

Speaker

Annie Edison

Actor

Alison Brie

Source

Community

Medium

TV program

Genre

Comedy (TV) Comedy

Language

English

Time

2012 2010s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

"Basic Lupine Urology." Community, written by Dan Harmon and Megan Ganz, directed by Rob Schrab, season 3, episode 17, Krasnoff Foster Productions and Harmonius Claptrap, 2012.

Words have a longer life than deeds.

Pindar

Nemean Odes

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Topic

Words vs. actions

Author

Pindar

Source

Nemean Odes

Medium

Poem

Language

Greek

Time

473 BC 470s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Pindar. Nemean Odes. c. 473 BC, Nemean 4.

Current Citation

Pindar. The Complete Odes, translated by Anthony Verity. Oxford University Press, 2008, Nemean IV.

In my humble opinion, non-cooperation with evil is as much a duty as is cooperation with good.

Mahatma Gandhi

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Topic

Civil disobedience Fighting for justice

Speaker

Mahatma Gandhi

Medium

Speech

Language

English

Time

1922 1920s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Gandhi, Mahatma. Speech at his trial. The Great Trial of 1922. 18 Mar. 1922, Ahmedabad, India.

Current Citation

Gandhi, Mahatma. The Power of Nonviolent Resistance: Selected Writings, edited by Tridip Suhrud. Penguin Classics, 2019, pt. 1, ch. 9.

A majority held in restraint by constitutional checks and limitations, and always changing easily with deliberate changes of popular opinions and sentiments, is the only true sovereign of a free people. Whoever rejects it does, of necessity, fly to anarchy or to despotism.

Abraham Lincoln

First Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln

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Topic

Majority rule Checks and balances Minority rights Political theory

Speaker

Abraham Lincoln

Source

First Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1861 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "First Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1861, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "First Inaugral Address, March 4, 1861." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 2018.

Behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

Saul

1st Samuel 26:21

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Topic

Mistakes

Speaker

Saul

Source

1st Samuel The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Hebrew

Time

722 BC 720s BC 8th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (1st Samuel 26: 21).

Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Apostle Paul

Philippians 3:13-14

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Topic

Eyes on the prize Goals Focus

Author

Apostle Paul

Source

Philippians The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Greek

Time

62 60s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Philippians 3:13-14).

There is a loneliness that can be rocked. Arms crossed, knees drawn up, holding, holding on, this motion, unlike a ship's, smooths and contains the rocker. It's an inside kind-wrapped tight like skin. Then there is the loneliness that roams. No rocking can hold it down. It is alive. On its own. A dry and spreading thing that makes the sound of one's own feet going seem to come from a far-off place.

Toni Morrison

Beloved

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Topic

Loneliness

Author

Toni Morrison

Source

Beloved

Medium

Novel

Language

English

Time

1987 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Morrison, Toni. Beloved. Alfred A. Knopf, 1987.

So often in life, things that you regard as an impediment turn out to be great good fortune.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

More information about this quote

Topic

In retrospect Connecting the dots

Speaker

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Source

MAKERS

Medium

Interview

Language

English

Time

2012 2010s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Ginsburg, Ruth Bader. Interview with MAKERS. 12 June 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldFUmU-OZ1U&t=70s

Perform the prayer
at the sinking of the sun to the darkening of the night
and the recital of dawn.

Muhammad

The Quran

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Topic

Prayer

Speaker

Muhammad

Source

The Quran

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Statement Type

Orders and commands

Language

Arabic

Time

632 630s 7th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

The Quran. c. 630, 17:78.

Current Citation

The Quran, translated by M. A. S. Abdel Haleem. Oxford University Press, 2005, ch. 17.

In a short while the generations of living creatures are changed, and like runners relay the torch of life.

Lucretius

On the Nature of Things

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Topic

Circle of life Life and death Change

Author

Lucretius

Source

On the Nature of Things

Medium

Poem

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Latin

Time

50 BC 50s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. De Rerum Natura [On the Nature of Things]. c. 55 BC, bk. 2, l. 75.

Current Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. The Nature of Things, translated by Alicia Stallings. Penguin Classics, 2007, bk. 2, l. 75.

Yeah, Africa's my home. Damn America and what America thinks. Yeah, I live in America; but, Africa's the home of the black man. And I was a slave 400 years ago and I'm going back home to fight among my brothers. Yeah!

Muhammad Ali

When We Were Kings

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Topic

Race relations Black identity Africa

Speaker

Muhammad Ali

Source

When We Were Kings

Medium

Film

Genre

Documentary (film) Sports (film) Sports

Language

English

Time

1996 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

When We Were Kings. Directed by Leon Gast, Polygram/Image Entertainment Inc./Gramercy Pictures, 1996.

If triangles were to make to themselves gods, they would give them three sides.

Montesquieu

Persian Letters

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Topic

Nature of God God and man God

Author

Montesquieu

Source

Persian Letters

Medium

Novel

Genre

Epistolary novel

Language

French

Time

1721 1720s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Montesquieu. Rica to Uzbek. 14th of the moon of Saphar, 1714.

Lesson number one: don't underestimate the other guy's greed!

Scarface

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Topic

Greed

Speaker

Frank Lopez

Actor

Robert Loggia

Source

Scarface

Medium

Film

Genre

Crime (film) Drama (film) Crime Drama

Language

English

Time

1983 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Scarface. Directed by Brian De Palma, Universal Pictures, 1983.

So it’s been three months of no work, no meetings, no memos, no late nights, nothing. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.

Leslie Knope

Parks and Recreation

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Topic

Work-life balance

Speaker

Leslie Knope

Actor

Amy Poehler

Source

Parks and Recreation

Medium

TV program

Genre

Comedy (TV) Comedy

Language

English

Time

2011 2010s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

"Go Big or Go Home." Parks and Recreation, written by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur and Alan Yang, directed by Dean Holland, season 3, episode 1, Deedle-Dee Productions and Fremulon, 2011.