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Killing them, therefore, cannot be equated with killing normal human beings, or any other self-conscious beings...No infant-disabled or not-has as strong a claim to life as beings capable of seeing themselves as distinct entities, existing over time.

Peter Singer

Practical Ethics

On killing infants.

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Topic

Human rights

Author

Peter Singer

Source

Practical Ethics

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

English

Time

1979 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Singer, Peter. Practical Ethics. Cambridge University Press, 1979, ch. 7.

Whoever has really seen Russia will find himself content to live anywhere else. It is always good to know that a society exists where no happiness is possible because, by a law of nature, man cannot be happy unless he is free.

Astolphe de Custine

La Russie en 1839

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Topic

Russia

Author

Astolphe de Custine

Source

La Russie en 1839

Genre

Travel writing

Language

French

Time

1843 1840s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Marquis de Custine. La Russie en 1839 [Russia in 1839]. Vol. 4, Bruxelles: Societe Belge de Librarie, 1843.

Omit needless words. Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subject only in outline, but that every word tell.

William Strunk, Jr. and E. B. White.

More information about this quote

Topic

Good writing

Author

William Strunk, Jr. and E. B. White.

Source

The Elements of Style

Statement Type

Writing advice

Language

English

Time

1919 1910s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Strunk, William, Jr. The Elements of Style. Harcourt, Brace & Company, 1920, ch. 2, sec. 13.

Current Citation

Strunk, William, Jr. and E. B. White. The Elements of Style. Penguin Books, 2007, ch. 2, sec. 13.

All genuine political theories presuppose man to be evil, i. E., by no means an unproblematic but a dangerous and dynamic being.

Carl Schmitt

The Concept of the Political

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Topic

Political theory

Author

Carl Schmitt

Source

The Concept of the Political

Genre

Political literature Philosophical literature

Language

German

Time

1932 1930s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Schmitt, Carl. Der Begriff des Politischen [The Concept of the Political]. Duncker & Humblot, 1932, sect. 7.

Current Citation

Schmitt, Carl. The Concept of the Political, translated by George Schwab. University of Chicago Press, 2007, sect. 7.

It is not the attainment of the goal that matters, it is the things that are met with by the way.

Havelock Ellis

More information about this quote

Topic

Philosophy Journey vs. destination

Author

Havelock Ellis

Source

The Dance of Life

Genre

Autobiography and memoir

Language

English

Time

1923 1920s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Ellis, Havelock. The Dance of Life. Houghton, Mifflin Company, 1923, ch. 3.

The words "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," which I saw on an Italian movie poster, are perhaps the briefest statement imaginable of the basic appeal of movies.

Pauline Kael

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Topic

Movies

Author

Pauline Kael

Language

English

Time

1968 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Kael, Pauline. Quoted in "Pauline Kael Is Still At The Movies." Written by Jacob Siskind. The Montreal Gazette, 29 May 1968.

The true teacher defends his pupils against his own personal influence. He inspires self-trust. He guides their eyes from himself to the spirit that quickens him. He will have no disciple.

Amos Bronson Alcott

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Topic

Teachers Teaching

Author

Amos Bronson Alcott

Language

English

Time

1840 1840s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Alcott, Bronson. "Orphic Sayings." The Dial, July 1840, no. 80.

At thirty, Man suspects himself a fool;
Knows it at forty, and reforms his plan;
At fifty chides his infamous delay,
Pushes his prudent purpose to resolve;
In all the magnanimity of thought
Resolves; and re-resolves; then dies the same.

Edward Young

Night Thoughts

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Topic

Changing oneself Stages of life

Author

Edward Young

Source

Night Thoughts

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1742 1740s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Young, Edward. The Complaint: or, Night-Thoughts on Life, Death, & Immortality. London: R. Dodsley, 1742, Night 1, I. 417.

Current Citation

Young, Edward. Edward Young: Night Thoughts, edited by Stephen Cornford. Cambridge University Press, 2008, Night 1, I. 417.

People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them.

George Bernard Shaw

Read Mrs. Warren's Profession at Project Gutenberg

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Topic

Locus of control Turning dreams into reality

Speaker

Vivie

Author

George Bernard Shaw

Source

The Philanderer Plays Unpleasant

Medium

Play

Genre

Drama (play) Satire

Language

English

Time

1898 1890s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Shaw, George Bernard. "The Philanderer." Plays Unpleasant. London: Grant Richards, 1898, act 2.

Current Citation

Shaw, George Bernard. "Mrs. Warren's Profession." Plays Unpleasant. Penguin Classics, 2001, act 2.

The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.

Henri Bergson

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Topic

Past and present Effects of the past The past

Author

Henri Bergson

Source

Évolution créatrice

Language

French

Time

1907 1900s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Bergson, Henri. L'Évolution créatrice [Creative Evolution]. 1907.

Current Citation

Bergson, Henri. Creative Evolution. Dover Publications, 1998.

Technology is the knack of so arranging the world that we don't have to experience it.

Max Frisch

Homo Faber

More information about this quote

Topic

Downsides of technology Technology

Author

Max Frisch

Source

Homo Faber

Medium

Novel

Language

German

Time

1957 1950s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Frisch, Max. Homo faber. Ein Bericht. [Homo faber. A Report.] Abelard-Schuman, 1957.

Nobody talks so constantly about God as those who insist that there is no God.

Heywood Broun

More information about this quote

Topic

Atheism

Author

Heywood Broun

Source

A New Preface to an Old Story

Statement Type

Paradox

Language

English

Time

1939 1930s 20th century

Authentication Score 0

Citation

Broun, Heywood. "A New Preface to an Old Story." Broun's Nutmeg, 19 Aug. 1939.

I will not pretend I wasn't petrified. I was. But mixed in with the awful fear was a glorious feeling of excitement. Most of the really exciting things we do in our lives scare us to death. They wouldn't be exciting if they didn't.

Roald Dahl

Danny, the Champion of the World

More information about this quote

Topic

Fear Excitement Taking risks

Author

Roald Dahl

Source

Danny, the Champion of the World

Medium

Novel

Genre

Children's literature

Language

English

Time

1975 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Dahl, Roald. Danny, the Champion of the World. Alfred A. Knopf, 1975.

Too much consistency is as bad for the mind as it is for the body. Consistency is contrary to nature, contrary to life. The only completely consistent people are the dead.

Aldous Huxley

More information about this quote

Topic

Consistency Variety Nature

Author

Aldous Huxley

Source

Wordsworth in the Tropics Do What You Will

Medium

Essay

Language

English

Time

1929 1920s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Huxley, Aldous. "Wordsworth in the Tropics." Do What You Will. Chatto & Windus, 1929.

In a consumer society there are inevitably two kinds of slaves: the prisoners of addiction and the prisoners of envy.

Ivan Illich

More information about this quote

Topic

Consumerism

Author

Ivan Illich

Source

Tools for Conviviality

Language

English

Time

1973 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Illich, Ivan. Tools for Conviviality. Harper & Row, 1973, ch. 3.

A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.

George Moore

More information about this quote

Topic

Searching for something Seeking Travel

Author

George Moore

Source

The Brook Kerith

Statement Type

Paradox Irony

Language

English

Time

1916 1910s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Moore, George. The Brook Kerith: A Syrian Story. The Macmillan Company, 1916, ch. 11.

Among the Very Rich you will never find a really generous man, even by accident. They may give their money away, but they will never give themselves away; they are egoistic, secretive, dry as old bones. To be smart enough to get all that money you must be dull enough to want it.

G.K. Chesterton

Read A Miscellany of Men at Project Gutenberg

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Topic

Corrosive effects of wealth Downsides of wealth Wealth The rich

Author

G.K. Chesterton

Source

The Miser and His Friends A Miscellany of Men

Medium

Essay

Language

English

Time

1912 1910s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Chesterton, G.K. "A Miscellany of Men." The Wit, Whimsy and Wisdom of G.K. Chesterton. Vol. 6, Coachwhip Publications, 2009. Originally published by Methuen, 1912 .

Anyone who hasn't experienced the ecstasy of betrayal knows nothing about ecstasy at all.

Jean Genet

More information about this quote

Topic

Betrayal Ecstasy

Author

Jean Genet

Source

Prisoner of Love

Genre

Autobiography and memoir

Language

French

Time

1986 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Genet, Jean. Un Captif Amoureux [Prisoner of Love]. Paris: Gallimard, 1986.

Perhaps it is no wonder that the women were first at the Cradle and last at the Cross. They had never known a man like this Man-there has never been such another... Who never made arch jokes about them, never treated them either as "The women, God help us", or "The ladies, God bless them!"

Dorothy L. Sayers

More information about this quote

Topic

Patriarchy Gender relations Women

Author

Dorothy L. Sayers

Medium

Essay

Language

English

Time

1946 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Sayers, Dorothy. "The Human-Not-Quite-Human." Unpopular Opinions. Victor Gollancz, 1946.

All dwellers in cities must live with the stubborn fact of annihilation... Of all targets, New York has a certain clear priority. In the mind of whatever perverted dreamer might loose the lightning, New York must hold a steady, irresistible charm.

E.B. White

Here is New York

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Topic

New York City Nuclear holocaust

Author

E.B. White

Source

Here is New York

Medium

Essay

Language

English

Time

1949 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

White, E. B and Roger Angell. Here is New York. Harper & Brothers, 1949.