December 26 Quotations

Quotes of the day from previous years:

2004

There isn't anyone anywhere that isn't Seymour's Fat Lady. Don't you know that? Don't you know that goddam secret yet? And don't you know — listen to me, now — don't you know who that Fat Lady really is? . . . Ah, buddy. Ah, buddy. It's Christ Himself. Christ Himself, buddy. ~ J. D. Salinger

selected by Kalki

2005

It is not the facts which guide the conduct of men, but their opinions about facts; which may be entirely wrong. We can only make them right by discussion. ~ Norman Angell (born 26 December 1872)

proposed by Kalki

2006

Let us face squarely the paradox that the world which goes to war is a world, usually, genuinely desiring peace. War is the outcome, not mainly of evil intentions, but on the whole, of good intentions which miscarry or are frustrated. It is made, not usually by evil men knowing themselves to be wrong, but is the outcome of policies pursued by good men usually passionately convinced that they are right. ~ Norman Angell (date of birth)

proposed by Kalki

2007

The responsibility of the great states is to serve and not to dominate the world. ~ Harry S. Truman (died 26 December 1972)

proposed by Jeff Q

2008

Hear from the grave, great Taliessin, hear;
They breathe a soul to animate thy clay.
Bright Rapture calls, and soaring, as she sings,
Waves in the eye of Heav'n her many-colour'd wings.
~ Thomas Gray ~

proposed by Kalki

2009

Suggestions

It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit. ~ Harry S. Truman (Date of death)

3 ~ UDScott 23:09, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
3 - Mister Six 11:10, 16 December 2005 (UTC)
- This was already used, as the second Wikiquote quote of the day, on 12 July 2003 ~ Kalki 23:53, 25 December 2005 (UTC) -->

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Every nation sincerely desires peace; and all nations pursue courses which if persisted in, must make peace impossible. ~ Norman Angell (date of birth)

2 Kalki 23:32, 25 December 2008 (UTC) * 3 Kalki 23:53, 25 December 2005 (UTC)
3 InvisibleSun 16:14, 25 December 2007 (UTC)
2 Zarbon 20:33, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

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Let not Ambition mock their useful toil,
Their homely joys, and destiny obscure;
Nor Grandeur hear with a disdainful smile,

The short and simple annals of the poor.
~ Thomas Gray (born December 26, 1716)

4 InvisibleSun 16:14, 25 December 2007 (UTC)
2 Kalki 23:32, 25 December 2008 (UTC) * 3 Kalki 18:01, 25 December 2007 (UTC)
1 Zarbon 20:33, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

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Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. ~ Mao Zedong (born December 26)

4 and this was brought up on many other dates but it's nice to keep it on his birthday. The other dates were December 16 and September 9. I gave it a 4 in the other occasions as well. Zarbon 06:47, 22 April 2008 (UTC)
- I would also like to mention that MosheZadka gave this one a 3 on the date of September 9. UDScott, InivisibleSun, and Kalki all gave it a 2 on the date of December 16. Zarbon 16:35, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
2 Kalki 14:09, 25 December 2008 (UTC)

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Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed. ~ Mao Zedong (born December 26)

3 because this is highly true, both are intertwined and a part of each other. Zarbon 06:47, 22 April 2008 (UTC)
- SOURCE: The Logic of Violence in Civil War - Page 38 by Stathis N. Kalyvas - History - 2006
2 Kalki 14:09, 25 December 2008 (UTC)

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Without an army for the people, there is nothing for the people. ~ Mao Zedong (born December 26)

3 because the army is what maintains and sustains. It is the epitome of power. Zarbon 05:25, 16 May 2008 (UTC)
1 Kalki 14:09, 25 December 2008 (UTC)

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War has no longer the justification that it makes for the survival of the fittest; it involves the survival of the less fit. The idea that the struggle between nations is a part of the evolutionary law of man's advance involves a profound misreading of the biological analogy.
The warlike nations do not inherit the earth; they represent the decaying human element....
~ Norman Angell ~

3 Kalki 14:09, 25 December 2008 (UTC)
1 Zarbon 15:47, 25 December 2008 (UTC)

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The fight for ideals can no longer take the form of fight between nations, because the lines of division on moral questions are within the nations themselves and intersect the political frontiers. ~ Norman Angell

3 Kalki 14:09, 25 December 2008 (UTC)
1 Zarbon 15:47, 25 December 2008 (UTC)

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The force which makes for war does not derive its strength from the interested motives of evil men; it derives its strength from the disinterested motives of good men ~ Norman Angell

3 Kalki 14:09, 25 December 2008 (UTC)
3 Zarbon 15:47, 25 December 2008 (UTC)

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The obstacles to peace are in the minds and hearts of men.  In the study of matter we can be honest, impartial, true. That is why we succeed in dealing with it. But about the things we care for — which are ourselves, our desires and lusts, our patriotisms and hates — we find a harder test of thinking straight and truly. Yet there is the greater need. Only by intellectual rectitude and in that field shall we be saved. There is no refuge but in truth, in human intelligence, in the unconquerable mind of man. ~ Norman Angell

3 Kalki 14:09, 25 December 2008 (UTC)
2 Zarbon 15:47, 25 December 2008 (UTC)

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Behind the steps that Misery treads
Approaching Comfort view:
The hues of bliss more brightly glow
Chastised by sabler tints of woe,
And blended form, with artful strife,
The strength and harmony of life.
~ Thomas Gray ~

3 Kalki 17:21, 25 December 2008 (UTC)
2 Zarbon 23:17, 25 December 2008 (UTC)

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To each his suff'rings: all are men,
Condemn'd alike to groan,
The tender for another's pain;
Th' unfeeling for his own.
Yet ah! why should they know their fate?
Since sorrow never comes too late,
And happiness too swiftly flies.
Thought would destroy their paradise.
No more; where ignorance is bliss,
'Tis folly to be wise.
~ Thomas Gray ~

3 Kalki 17:21, 25 December 2008 (UTC)
3 Zarbon 23:17, 25 December 2008 (UTC)

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Sweet is the breath of vernal shower,
The bee's collected treasures sweet,
Sweet music's melting fall, but sweeter yet
The still small voice of gratitude.
~ Thomas Gray ~

3 Kalki 17:21, 25 December 2008 (UTC)
2 Zarbon 23:17, 25 December 2008 (UTC)

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