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What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility—a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

Barack Obama

First Inaugural Address of Barack Obama

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Topic

Citizen and state

Speaker

Barack Obama

Source

First Inaugural Address of Barack Obama Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

2009 2000s 21st century

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Citation

Obama, Barack. "First Inaugural Address." 20 Jan. 2009, West Front, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

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A work that aspires, however humbly, to the condition of art should carry its justification in every line.

Joseph Conrad

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Topic

Art

Author

Joseph Conrad

Source

The Nigger of the Narcissus

Language

English

Time

1897 1890s 19th century

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Original Citation

Conrad, Joseph. The Nigger of the "Narcissus": A Tale of the Forecastle. London: Heinemann, 1897, preface.

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Current Citation

Conrad, Joseph. "The Nigger of the '"Narcissus.'" The Secret Sharer and Other Stories. W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, preface.

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People ask you for criticism, but they only want praise.

W. Somerset Maugham

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Topic

Openness to criticism Criticism from others

Speaker

Glutton

Author

W. Somerset Maugham

Source

Of Human Bondage

Medium

Novel

Language

English

Time

1915 1910s 20th century

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Original Citation

Maugham, William Somerset. Of Human Bondage. George H. Doran Company, 1915, ch. 50.

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Current Citation

Maugham, William Somerset. Of Human Bondage. Signet, 2007, ch. 50.

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O Death! the poor man's dearest friend,
The kindest and the best!

Robert Burns

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Topic

Death as a blessing Death The poor

Author

Robert Burns

Source

Man Was Made to Mourn

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1784 1780s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

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Original Citation

Burns, Robert. Man was made to Mourn: A Dirge. 1784, st. 11.

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Current Citation

Burns, Robert. "Man Was Made to Mourn. A Dirge." Robert Burns: Selected Poems, edited Carol Mcguirk. Penguin Classics, 1994, I. 11.

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Success is a result; it must not be a goal.

Gustave Flaubert

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Topic

Success

Author

Gustave Flaubert

Source

Letters of Gustave Flaubert

Medium

Letter

Language

French

Time

1876 1870s 19th century

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Original Citation

Flaubert, Gustave. Letter to George Sand. 6 Feb. 1876.

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Current Citation

Flaubert, Gustave. The Letters of Gustave Flaubert, edited and translated by Francis Steegmuller. Vol. 2, Harvard University Press, 1980.

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If A is a success in life, then A equals X plus Y plus Z. Work is X; Y is play; and Z is keeping your mouth shut.

Albert Einstein

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Topic

Success

Speaker

Albert Einstein

Source

The Observer

Medium

Newspaper

Statement Type

Advice

Language

English

Time

1950 1950s 20th century

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Citation

Einstein, Albert. The Observer. 15 Jan. 1950.

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Painting is self-discovery. Every good artist paints what he is.

Jackson Pollock

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Topic

Self-discovery Self-expression Artistic expression Painting Art

Speaker

Jackson Pollock

Source

Conversations with Artists: 35 American Painters, Sculptors and Architects Discuss Their Work and One Another with Selden Rodman

Medium

Interview

Language

English

Time

20th century

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Citation

Pollock, Jackson. Interviewed by Selden Rodman. c. 1956.

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The pursuit of scientific truth, detached from the practical interests of everyday life, ought to be treated as sacred by every government.

Albert Einstein

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Topic

Science and politics Science Politics

Author

Albert Einstein

Source

Fascism and Science The World As I See It

Medium

Essay

Language

German

Time

1934 1930s 20th century

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Original Citation

Einstein, Albert. "Faschismus und Wissenschaft: Brief an Minister Rocco in Rom [Fascism and Science: Letter to Signor Rocco in Rome]." Mein Weltbild [My World View]. Querido Verlag, 1934.

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Current Citation

Einstein, Albert. "Fascism and Science." The World as I See It, translated by Allen Harris. BN Publishing, 2007.

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You can flinch, you have fighting spirit!

Bloodsport

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Willingness to fight Courage

Speaker

Tanaka

Actor

Roy Chiao

Source

Bloodsport

Medium

Film

Genre

Martial arts (film) Action (film) Martial arts Action

Language

English

Time

1988 1980s 20th century

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Citation

Bloodsport. Directed by Newt Arnold, Cannon Films, 1988.

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Chance favors only the prepared mind.

Louis Pasteur

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Preparation Fortune

Author

Louis Pasteur

Medium

Lecture

Language

French

Time

1854 1850s 19th century

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Citation

Pasteur, Louis. Speech in Douai. On the occasion of the solemn installation of the Faculty of Arts of Douai and the Faculty of Sciences of Lille. 7 Dec. 1854, Douai, France.

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As long as our Government is administered for the good of the people, and is regulated by their will; as long as it secures to us the rights of person and of property, liberty of conscience and of the press, it will be worth defending.

Andrew Jackson

First Inaugural Address of Andrew Jackson

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Topic

American experiment American politics

Speaker

Andrew Jackson

Source

First Inaugural Address of Andrew Jackson Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1833 1830s 19th century

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Citation

Jackson, Andrew. "First Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1833, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

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The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

Apostle Paul

Acts 17:24-26

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Topic

Nature of God God and man

Speaker

Apostle Paul

Source

Acts The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Greek

Time

62 60s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

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Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Acts 17:24-26).

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I regard you with an indifference closely bordering on aversion.

Robert Louis Stevenson

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Topic

Indifference

Author

Robert Louis Stevenson

Medium

Short story

Language

English

Time

1882 1880s 19th century

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Original Citation

Stevenson, Robert Louis. "The Rajah's Diamond: Story of the House with the Green Blinds." New Arabian Nights. London: Chatto & Windus, 1882.

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A man ought to read just as inclination leads him; for what he reads as a task will do him little good.

Samuel Johnson

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

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Topic

Reading Books

Speaker

Samuel Johnson

Author

James Boswell

Source

The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D

Genre

Biography

Language

English

Time

1763 1760s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

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Original Citation

Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in journal entry, written by James Boswell. 9 July 1763.

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Current Citation

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

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I would respect the rights of all nations, demanding equal respect for our own. If others depart from this rule in their dealings with us, we may be compelled to follow their precedent.

Ulysses S. Grant

First Inaugural Address of Ulysses S. Grant

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Non-intervention Reciprocity in politics

Speaker

Ulysses S. Grant

Source

First Inaugural Address of Ulysses S. Grant Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1869 1860s 19th century

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Citation

Grant, Ulysses S. "First Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1869, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

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Praising what is lost
Makes the remembrance dear.

William Shakespeare

All’s Well that Ends Well

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Topic

Looking back

Speaker

King of France

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

All’s Well that Ends Well

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

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Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "All's Well that Ends Well." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 5, sc. 3.

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Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "All's Well That Ends Well." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 5, sc. 3.

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Waiting gives the devil time.

As Good As It Gets

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The devil Waiting

Speaker

Simon Biship

Actor

Greg Kinnear

Source

As Good As It Gets

Medium

Film

Genre

Romantic comedy (film) Comedy drama (film) Romantic comedy Comedy drama

Language

English

Time

1997 1990s 20th century

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Citation

As Good As It Gets. Directed by James L. Brooks, TriStar Pictures/Gracie Films, 1997.

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The beginning of hardship is like the first taste of bitter food—it seems for a moment unbearable; yet, if there is nothing else to satisfy our hunger, we take another bite and find it possible to go on.

George Eliot

Adam Bede

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Topic

Adversity

Author

George Eliot

Source

Adam Bede

Medium

Novel

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

1859 1850s 19th century

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Original Citation

Eliot, George. Adam Bede. Edinburgh/London: William Blackwood & Sons, 1859, ch. 36.

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Current Citation

Eliot, George. Adam Bede, edited by Carol A. Martin. Oxford University Press, 2008, ch. 36.

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We may not have chosen the time, but the time has chosen us.

John Lewis

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Fate Political progress Progress Politics

Author

John Lewis

Medium

Tweet

Language

English

Time

2006 2000s 21st century

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Citation

Lewis, John [@repjohnlewis]. "We may not have chose the time, but the time has chosen us." Twitter, 11 July 2016, 4:21 p.m., twitter.com/repjohnlewis/status/752505298326319104

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Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.

J.R.R. Tolkien

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Judging others Justice

Author

J.R.R. Tolkien

Source

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Medium

Novel

Genre

Fantasy

Language

English

Time

1954 1950s 20th century

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Citation

Tolkien, J. R. R. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. George Allen & Unwin, 1954, ch. 2.

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