December 7 Quotations

Quotes of the day from previous years:

2004

Oh, if a man tried to take his time on earth and prove before he died what one man's life could be worth, I wonder what would happen to this world? ~ Harry Chapin

selected by Kalki

2005

That is happiness; to be dissolved into something complete and great. ~ Willa Cather (born (7 December 1873)

proposed by UDScott

2006

I know that every good and excellent thing in the world stands moment by moment on the razor-edge of danger and must be fought for. ~ Thornton Wilder (died 7 December 1975)

proposed by UDScott

2007

It's an alethiometer. It's one of only six that were ever made. Lyra, I urge you again: keep it private. ... It tells you the truth. As for how to read it, you'll have to learn by yourself. Now go — it's getting lighter... ~ Philip Pullman (Quote from The Golden Compass (1995) the movie adaptation opening on 7 December 2007)

proposed by Kalki

2008

Artistic growth is, more than it is anything else, a refining of the sense of truthfulness. The stupid believe that to be truthful is easy; only the artist, the great artist, knows how difficult it is. ~ Willa Cather

proposed by Kalki

2009
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Quotes by people born this day, already used as QOTD:

Where there is great love there are always miracles. ~ Willa Cather
- used 4 April 2004, selected by Kalki

Suggestions

My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it's on your plate — that's my philosophy. ~ Thornton Wilder in The Skin of Our Teeth (date of death)

3 ~ UDScott 23:09, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
3 InvisibleSun 07:26, 5 December 2006 (UTC)
3 Kalki 23:51, 6 December 2006 (UTC)
2 Zarbon 15:49, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
1 Nice quote, but in general, and mostly for consistency, I'd rather see quotes on the writer's date of birth (April 17 in this case, which already has used two of his quotes and has several more suggested) than death. Matchups 18:55, 7 December 2008 (UTC)

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Providence has nothing good or high in store for one who does not resolutely aim at something high or good. A purpose is the eternal condition of success. ~ Thornton Wilder (date of death)

3 ~ UDScott 23:09, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
~~2 InvisibleSun 07:26, 5 December 2006 (UTC)~~
3 Kalki 23:51, 6 December 2006 (UTC)
1 Zarbon 15:49, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
1, as above Matchups 18:55, 7 December 2008 (UTC)

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Seek the lofty by reading, hearing and seeing great work at some moment every day. ~ Thornton Wilder (date of death)

3 ~ UDScott 23:09, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
~~3 InvisibleSun 07:26, 5 December 2006 (UTC)~~
3 Kalki 23:51, 6 December 2006 (UTC)
1 Zarbon 15:49, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
1, as above Matchups 18:55, 7 December 2008 (UTC)

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In a three-minute stretch between commercials, or in seven hundred words, it is impossible to present unfamiliar thoughts or surprising conclusions with the argument and evidence required to afford them credibility. Regurgitation of welcome pieties faces no such problem. ~ Noam Chomsky (born December 7, 1928}

3 InvisibleSun 07:26, 5 December 2006 (UTC)
3 Kalki 23:51, 6 December 2006 (UTC)
1 Zarbon 15:49, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

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Being able to do as one pleases is the natural goal of the libertarian, but having nothing to do is not. While it may be correct to say that the human species is badly prepared for having nothing to do, it is quite a different matter to say that it is badly prepared for the freedom to do as one pleases. People who are able to do as they please may work very hard, given the opportunity to do interesting work. ~ Noam Chomsky

3 InvisibleSun 07:26, 5 December 2006 (UTC)
3 Kalki 23:51, 6 December 2006 (UTC)
1 Zarbon 15:49, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
3 Matchups 18:55, 7 December 2008 (UTC)

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The most effective way to restrict democracy is to transfer decision-making from the public arena to unaccountable institutions: kings and princes, priestly castes, military juntas, party dictatorships, or modern corporations. ~ Noam Chomsky

3 InvisibleSun 07:26, 5 December 2006 (UTC)
3 Kalki 23:51, 6 December 2006 (UTC)
1 Zarbon 15:49, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
2 Matchups 18:55, 7 December 2008 (UTC)

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Jingoism, fear, racism, religious fundamentalism: these are the ways of appealing to people if you’re trying to organize a mass base of support for policies that are really intended to crush them. ~ Noam Chomsky

3 InvisibleSun 07:26, 5 December 2006 (UTC)
2 Zarbon 15:49, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
2 Matchups 18:55, 7 December 2008 (UTC)

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A reporter can write equally well about everything that is presented to his view, but a creative writer can do his best only with what lies within the range and character of his deepest sympathies. ~ Willa Cather

3 Kalki 23:51, 6 December 2006 (UTC)
3 InvisibleSun 06:02, 6 December 2007 (UTC)
2 Zarbon 15:49, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
3 Matchups 18:55, 7 December 2008 (UTC)

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There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm. ~ Willa Cather

3 Kalki 23:51, 6 December 2006 (UTC)
~~3 InvisibleSun 06:02, 6 December 2007 (UTC)~~
3 Zarbon 15:49, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
3 Matchups 18:55, 7 December 2008 (UTC)

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Ever hear the old saying that beauty is only skin deep? Well, right now, all you can see is the beauty. ~ DragonBall Z's Zarbon Paul Dobson (born December 7)

4 because the quote defines me. And furthermore, the dynamic parallel of beauty outside and beast inside is drawn here. Zarbon 06:11, 24 April 2008 (UTC)
1 Kalki 01:58, 29 November 2008 (UTC)
1 InvisibleSun 23:13, 6 December 2008 (UTC)

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You only saw the beauty side of me before, now with great pleasure, I introduce you to the beast! ~ DragonBall Z's Zarbon Paul Dobson (born December 7)

3 because anger compensates where beauty cannot and in all fury, takes a life of its own. Zarbon 06:11, 24 April 2008 (UTC)
1 Kalki 01:58, 29 November 2008 (UTC)
1 InvisibleSun 23:13, 6 December 2008 (UTC)

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God made the integers, all the rest is the work of man. ~ Leopold Kronecker

2 Zarbon 03:45, 29 October 2008 (UTC)
2 Kalki 01:58, 29 November 2008 (UTC)
2 InvisibleSun 23:13, 6 December 2008 (UTC)
3 This is an important statement in the history of mathematics. Matchups 18:55, 7 December 2008 (UTC)

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No one conquers who doesn't fight. ~ Gabriel Biel (date of death)

2 Zarbon 03:45, 29 October 2008 (UTC)
1 Kalki 01:58, 29 November 2008 (UTC) Omnia Vincit Amor
- I think the concept of "love conquers all" is being abused ruthlessly by you. But to make things clear, this quote means that you cannot conquer someone who does not fight...meaning a peaceful person is protected against the most powerful attack. I don't think you understood the idea behind the quote. Zarbon 06:23, 7 December 2008 (UTC)
  - Nay, "who" refers to the subject "no one", it is not the object of "conquers." (Cf. "They also serve who only stand and wait." _{—John Milton, On His Blindness, 1652} ) Contemporary vernacular, seemingly wary of the relative clause, favors a conditional particular construction, "If you don't fight then you can't conquer," to express the qualified universal intended here. ~ Ningauble 14:11, 9 December 2008 (UTC)
2 InvisibleSun 23:13, 6 December 2008 (UTC)

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Yesterday, December 7, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy — the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. - Franklin D. Roosevelt

4 This seems to me a defining quote for this day. Matchups 18:55, 7 December 2008 (UTC)
2 Kalki 20:08, 7 December 2008 (UTC) Might eventually rank it higher, but might also wish it extended more.
1 this can be moved to Roosevelt's birthday. Otherwise, I don't see the point of detailing the Pearl Harbor attack or we'd have to take note of all the other historic events that occurred. Zarbon 04:48, 8 December 2008 (UTC)

If there is a well-known quote associated with a historic event, by all means make note of it. See July 4 and July 20 for examples of what has already been done. Matchups 04:33, 9 December 2008 (UTC)

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