February 28
2004
- Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much. ~ Oscar Wilde
- selected by Kalki
2005
- Of all our infirmities, the most savage is to despise our being. ~ Michel de Montaigne (born 28 February 1533)
- selected by Kalki
2006
- If you want to have good ideas you must have many ideas. Most of them will be wrong, and what you have to learn is which ones to throw away. ~ Linus Pauling (born 28 February 1901)
- selected by Kalki
2007
- Near the snow, near the sun, in the highest fields,
See how these names are feted in the waving grass
And by the streamers of the white cloud
And whispers of the wind in the listening sky.
The names of those who in their lives fought for life,
Who wore at their hearts the fire's centre.
Born of the sun, they travelled a short while toward the sun
And left the vivid air signed with their honour.
~ Stephen Spender ~
(born 28 February 1909)- proposed by Kalki
2008
- The best defense against usurpatory government is an assertive citizenry. ~ William F. Buckley, Jr. (recent death)
- selected by Kalki
2009
Suggestions
Man will gather knowledge no matter what the consequences – and we cannot predict what they will be. ~ Linus Pauling- 2 because man always tries to understand and obtain knowledge. Zarbon 05:27, 1 May 2008 (UTC)
- 3 Kalki 06:46, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
- 3. The last suggestion below includes this sentence. - InvisibleSun 23:24, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
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The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself. ~ Michel de Montaigne
- 3 because it is easy to be controlled by others. Zarbon 05:36, 1 May 2008 (UTC)
- 2 Kalki 06:46, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
- 3 InvisibleSun 23:24, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
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The easy, gentle, and sloping path...is not the path of true virtue. It demands a rough and thorny road. ~ Michel de Montaigne
- 4 because what is easy isn't always remarkable...or as Montaigne puts it...virtuous. Zarbon 05:36, 1 May 2008 (UTC)
- 2 Kalki 06:46, 27 February 2009 (UTC) I can generally agree with the sentiment indicated, but the language is a bit too extreme — virtue does not demand a rough thorny road, but can bear one, and can be proven by such.
- 3 InvisibleSun 23:24, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
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When I play with my cat, who knows if I am not a pastime to her more than she is to me? ~ Michel de Montaigne
- 3 because power is in the eye of the beholder. And to the cat, the master might be under its control. This is actually a rather interesting view. Zarbon 05:36, 1 May 2008 (UTC)
- 2 Kalki 06:46, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
- 3 InvisibleSun 23:24, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
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A man must be a little mad if he does not want to be even more stupid. ~ Michel de Montaigne
- 3 because madness is preferable to stupidity. At least to me it is. Zarbon 05:36, 1 May 2008 (UTC)
- 2 Kalki 06:46, 27 February 2009 (UTC) a good statement, but the interpretation is easily skewed in several different ways, not all of them profound.
- 2 InvisibleSun 23:24, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
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Let us give Nature a chance; she knows her business better than we do. ~ Michel de Montaigne
- 3 because the personification of Nature is in essence a good idea. And to say that nature finds a way...the course of nature, so to speak, makes this quote worthwhile. Zarbon 05:36, 1 May 2008 (UTC)
- 2 Kalki 06:46, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
- 3 InvisibleSun 23:24, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
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The way of the world is to make laws, but follow customs. ~ Michel de Montaigne
- 3 Kalki 06:46, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
- 3 InvisibleSun 23:24, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
- 2 Zarbon 05:51, 28 February 2009 (UTC)
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I speak the truth, not my fill of it, but as much as I dare speak; and I dare to do so a little more as I grow old. ~ Michel de Montaigne
- 3 Kalki 06:46, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
- 4 InvisibleSun 23:24, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
- 1 Zarbon 05:51, 28 February 2009 (UTC)
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The most manifest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness; her state is like that in the regions above the moon, always clear and serene. ~ Michel de Montaigne
- 3 Kalki 06:46, 27 February 2009 (UTC) with a strong lean toward 4.
- 3 InvisibleSun 23:24, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
- 1 Zarbon 05:51, 28 February 2009 (UTC)
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What is precious is never to forget
The delight of the blood drawn from ancient springs
Breaking through rocks in worlds before our earth;
Never to deny its pleasure in the simple morning light,
Nor its grave evening demand for love;
Never to allow gradually the traffic to smother
With noise and fog the flowering of the spirit.
~ Stephen Spender ~
- 3 Kalki 07:05, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
- 3 InvisibleSun 23:24, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
- 1 Zarbon 05:51, 28 February 2009 (UTC)
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Great poetry is always written by somebody straining to go beyond what he can do. ~ Stephen Spender
- 3 Kalki 07:05, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
- 2 InvisibleSun 23:24, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
- 2 Zarbon 05:51, 28 February 2009 (UTC)
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My single pair of eyes
Contain the universe they see;
Their mirrored multiplicity
Is packed into a hollow body
Where I reflect the many, in my one.
~ Stephen Spender ~
- 3 Kalki 07:05, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
- 3 InvisibleSun 23:24, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
- 3 Zarbon 05:51, 28 February 2009 (UTC)
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The world progresses, year by year, century by century, as the members of the younger generation find out what was wrong among the things that their elders said. So you must always be skeptical — always think for yourself. ~ Linus Pauling
- 3 Kalki 07:05, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
- 2 InvisibleSun 23:24, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
- 2 Zarbon 05:51, 28 February 2009 (UTC)
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Science cannot be stopped. Man will gather knowledge no matter what the consequences — and we cannot predict what they will be. Science will go on — whether we are pessimistic, or are optimistic, as I am. I know that great, interesting, and valuable discoveries can be made and will be made… But I know also that still more interesting discoveries will be made that I have not the imagination to describe — and I am awaiting them, full of curiosity and enthusiasm. ~ Linus Pauling
- 4 Kalki 07:05, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
- 3 InvisibleSun 23:24, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
- 1 I already suggested a segment of this and the highest I gave it is a 2. In its entirety, it accomplishes even less. Zarbon 05:51, 28 February 2009 (UTC)
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And now you know — the rest of the story. ~ Paul Harvey (born 4 September 1918)
- 2 Kalki 23:43, 1 March 2009 (UTC) but might rank this a 3 or even a 4 eventually.