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Explore 7518 quotes originally in English

Fortune brings in some boats that are not steered.

William Shakespeare

Cymbeline

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Topic

Randomness Fortune

Speaker

Pisanio

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Cymbeline

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

1611 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Cymbeline. 1611, Blackfriars Theatre, London, England, UK, act 4, sc. 3.

Current Citation

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

DOUBLETHINK means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them.

George Orwell

Nineteen Eighty-Four

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Topic

Totalitarianism Beliefs

Author

George Orwell

Source

Nineteen Eighty-Four

Medium

Novel

Genre

Dystopian fiction

Language

English

Time

1949 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Orwell, George. Nineteen Eighty-Four. Secker & Warburg, 1949, pt. 2, ch. 9.

Jogging is the worst, Chris! I mean, I know it keeps you healthy but, god, at what cost?

Parks and Recreation

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Topic

Exercise and working out

Speaker

Ann Perkins

Actor

Rashida Jones

Source

Parks and Recreation

Medium

TV program

Genre

Comedy (TV) Comedy

Language

English

Time

2011 2010s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

"The Treaty." Parks and Recreation, written by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur and Harris Wittels, directed by Jorma Taccone, season 4, episode 7, Deedle-Dee Productions and Fremulon, 2011.

Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

More information about this quote

Topic

Women's equality Women

Author

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Source

USA Today

Medium

Interview Newspaper

Language

English

Time

2009 2000s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Ginsburg, Ruth Bader. "Ginsburg: Court Needs Another Woman." Interviewed by Joan Biskupic. USA Today, 5 May 2009, usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/judicial/2009-05-05-ruthginsburg_N.htm.

However we do praise ourselves,
Our fancies are more giddy and unfirm,
More longing, wavering, sooner lost and worn,
Than women’s are.

William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night

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Topic

Flaws of men Men and women

Speaker

Duke Orsino

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Twelfth Night

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play) Romantic comedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1602 1600s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Twelfth Night, Or What You Will. 1602, Middle Temple Hall, London, England, UK, act 2, sc. 4.

Current Citation

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

Yeah, it's only fun if you get a scar out of it.

How to Train Your Dragon

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Topic

Scars Taking risks

Speaker

Astrid

Actor

America Ferrera

Source

How to Train Your Dragon

Medium

Film

Genre

Animation (film) Fantasy (film) Animation Fantasy

Language

English

Time

2010 2010s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

How to Train Your Dragon. Directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois. DreamWorks Animation, 2010.

Some rise by sin and some by virtue fall.

William Shakespeare

Measure for Measure

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Topic

Getting away with it Injustice Success Failure

Speaker

Escalus

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Measure for Measure

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Statement Type

Irony

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Measure for Measure." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 2, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Measure for Measure." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 2, sc. 1.

All I have in this world is my balls and my word and I don't break 'em for no one. Do you understand?

Tony Montana

Scarface

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Topic

Keeping one's word Balls

Speaker

Tony Montana

Actor

Al Pacino

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.

A man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest.

Simon & Garfunkel

The Boxer

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Topic

Confirmation bias Cognitive biases

Speaker

Simon & Garfunkel

Source

The Boxer Bridge over Troubled Water (album)

Medium

Song

Genre

Folk rock

Language

English

Time

1970 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Simon, Paul. "Bridge Over Troubled Water." Performed by Simon & Garfunkel. Bridge Over Troubled Water, Columbia Records, 1970.

The world is made for people who aren't cursed with self-awareness.

Bull Durham

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Topic

Self-awareness

Speaker

Annie Savoy

Actor

Susan Sarandon

Source

Bull Durham

Medium

Film

Genre

Sports (film) Romantic comedy (film) Sports Romantic comedy

Language

English

Time

1988 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Bull Durham. Directed by Ron Shelton, The Mount Company, 1988.

Hear no ill of a Friend, nor speak any of an Enemy.

Poor Richard (Benjamin Franklin)

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Read this proverb at the National Archives website

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Topic

Friends and enemies Friends Enemies Gossip

Author

Poor Richard (Benjamin Franklin)

Source

Poor Richard's Almanack

Medium

Almanac

Statement Type

Proverbs, aphorisms and adages Advice

Language

English

Time

1739 1730s 18th century

Era

Colonial America

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Franklin, Benjamin [published as Richard Saunders]. Poor Richard's Almanack. Philadelphia, 1739.

Current Citation

Franklin, Benjamin. "Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1739." Benjamin Franklin: Autobiography, Poor Richard, and Later Writings, edited by J. A. Leo Lemay. Library of America, 2005.

I will not be judged by you or society. I will wear whatever and blow whomever I want as long as I can breathe-and kneel.

Samantha

Sex and the City

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Topic

Eff the haters Criticism from others

Speaker

Samantha

Actor

Kim Cattrall

Source

Sex and the City

Medium

TV program

Genre

Romantic comedy (TV) Comedy (TV) Romantic comedy Comedy

Language

English

Time

2002 2000s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

"Cover Girl." Sex and the City, written by Darren Star and Judy Toll and Michael Patrick King, directed by John David Coles, season 5, episode 4, Darren Star Productions, 2002.

Beware of little Expences: a small leak will sink a great Ship.

Poor Richard (Benjamin Franklin)

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Read this proverb at the National Archives website

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Topic

Butterfly effect Little things make a big difference Actions have consequences

Author

Poor Richard (Benjamin Franklin)

Source

Poor Richard's Almanack

Medium

Almanac

Statement Type

Proverbs, aphorisms and adages Advice

Language

English

Time

1745 1740s 18th century

Era

Colonial America

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Franklin, Benjamin [published as Richard Saunders]. Poor Richard's Almanack. Philadelphia, 1745.

Current Citation

Franklin, Benjamin. "Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1745." Benjamin Franklin: Autobiography, Poor Richard, and Later Writings, edited by J. A. Leo Lemay. Library of America, 2005.

Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts.

Charles Dickens

Great Expectations

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Topic

Tears Crying

Speaker

Pip

Author

Charles Dickens

Source

Great Expectations

Medium

Novel

Genre

Coming of age story

Language

English

Time

1861 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Dickens, Charles. "Great Expectations." All the Year Round. London: Chapman and Hall, 16 Feb. 1861, issue 12, ch. 19.

Current Citation

Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations. Penguin Classics, 2002, ch. 19.

I don't like the idea that I'm not in control of my life.

Neo

The Matrix

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Topic

Control of one's life Control

Speaker

Neo

Actor

Keanu Reeves

Source

The Matrix

Medium

Film

Genre

Science fiction (film) Action (film) Science fiction Action

Language

English

Time

1999 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Matrix. Directed by The Wachowskis. Warner Bros./Village Roadshow Pictures/Groucho II Film Partnership/Silver Pictures, 1999.

I don't want realism. I want magic!

A Streetcar Named Desire

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More information about this quote

Topic

Magic

Speaker

Blanche DuBois

Actor

Vivien Leigh

Source

A Streetcar Named Desire

Medium

Film

Genre

Drama (film) Drama

Language

English

Time

1951 1950s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

A Streetcar Named Desire. Directed by Elia Kazan. Warner Bros., 1951.

Once I moved about like the wind. Now I surrender to you and that is all.

Geronimo

Quoted in Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, by Dee Brown

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Topic

US and Native American relations Native American life American West

Speaker

Geronimo

Author

Dee Brown

Source

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

Medium

Speech

Language

English

Time

1886 1880s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Geronimo. Surrending to General Crook. 27 Mar. 1886, Canon de los Embudos (Canyon of the Funnels), Mexico.

Current Citation

Geronimo. Quoted in Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, written by Dee Brown. Picador, 2007, ch. 17.

He wanted to stop and chat with me and I don't know him well enough for a stop and chat.

Larry David

Curb Your Enthusiasm

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More information about this quote

Topic

Conversation

Speaker

Larry David

Actor

Larry David

Source

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Medium

TV program

Genre

Comedy (TV)

Language

English

Time

2001 2000s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

"The Massage." Curb Your Enthusiasm, written by Larry David, directed by Robert B. Weide, season 2, episode 10, Home Box Office, 2001.

The papacy is no other than the ghost of the deceased Roman Empire, sitting crowned upon the grave thereof.

Thomas Hobbes

Leviathan

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Topic

Catholic church Roman empire

Author

Thomas Hobbes

Source

Leviathan

Genre

Political literature Philosophical literature

Language

English

Time

1651 1650s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Commonwealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil. London: Andrew Crooke, 1651, pt. 4, ch. 47.

Current Citation

Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan, edited by Christopher Brooke. Penguin Classics, 2017, pt. 4, ch. 47.

I’m much more comfortable criticizing people behind their backs.

George Costanza

Seinfeld

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Topic

Criticizing others Gossip

Speaker

George Costanza

Actor

Jason Alexander

Source

Seinfeld

Medium

TV program

Genre

Sitcom Comedy (TV) Comedy

Language

English

Time

1995 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

"The Engagement." Seinfeld, written by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld and Alec Berg, directed by Andy Ackerman, season 7, episode 1, Shapiro/West Productions and Castle Rock Entertainment, 1995.