January 17 Quotations

Quotes of the day from previous years:

2005

The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

selected by Kalki

2006

Human felicity is produc'd not so much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen, as by little advantages that occur every day. ~ Benjamin Franklin (born 17 January 1706)

selected by Kalki

2007

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. ~ Benjamin Franklin

proposed by Kalki

2008

All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity, that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut. Whether this be the case with my history or not, I am hardly competent to judge. I sometimes think it might prove useful to some, and entertaining to others; but the world may judge for itself. Shielded by my own obscurity, and by the lapse of years, and a few fictitious names, I do not fear to venture; and will candidly lay before the public what I would not disclose to the most intimate friend. ~ Anne Brontë (born 17 January 1820)

proposed by InvisibleSun

2009

We have this window of opportunity; we have a chance to make something real happen. Something possible happen, to live beyond our fear — think about that, and help us. Help lift us up, help us fight this fight to change, — transform — this country in a fundamental way.
This chance won’t come around again. ~ Michelle Obama

proposed by Kalki

2010

Suggestions

We hear of the conversion of water into wine at the marriage in Cana as of a miracle. But this conversion is, through the goodness of God, made every day before our eyes. Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards; there it enters the roots of the vines, to be changed into wine; a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy. ~ Benjamin Franklin

3 Kalki 14:17, 16 January 2007 (UTC)
3 InvisibleSun 22:51, 16 January 2007 (UTC)
1 Zarbon 18:16, 22 April 2008 (UTC)

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What is this life? A frenzy, an illusion,
A shadow, a delirium, a fiction.
The greatest good's but little, and this life
Is but a dream, and dreams are only dreams.
~ Pedro Calderón de la Barca (born January 17, 1600)

3 InvisibleSun 12:12, 16 January 2008 (UTC)
2 Zarbon 18:16, 22 April 2008 (UTC)

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Liberty is not merely a privilege to be conferred; it is a habit to be acquired. ~ David Lloyd George (born January 17, 1863)

3 InvisibleSun 12:12, 16 January 2008 (UTC)
3 Kalki 01:27, 17 January 2008 (UTC)
1 Zarbon 18:16, 22 April 2008 (UTC)

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The finest eloquence is that which gets things done; the worst is that which delays them. ~ David Lloyd George

3 InvisibleSun 12:12, 16 January 2008 (UTC)
3 Kalki 01:27, 17 January 2008 (UTC)
3 because this is a great quote. If you're going to do something, do not hesitate to do it, for you may not have the chance to do it always. Very enigmatic and charming. Zarbon 18:16, 22 April 2008 (UTC)

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Over the years my religion has changed and my spirituality has evolved. Religion and spirituality are very different, but people often confuse the two. Some things cannot be taught, but they can be awakened in the heart. Spirituality is recognizing the divine light that is within us all. It doesn't belong to any particular religion; it belongs to everyone. ~ Muhammad Ali

3 Kalki 18:29, 13 March 2008 (UTC)
1 Zarbon 18:16, 22 April 2008 (UTC)
3 InvisibleSun 23:30, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

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In a competition of love we'll all share in the victory, no matter who comes first. ~ Muhammad Ali

3 Kalki 18:29, 13 March 2008 (UTC)
1 Zarbon 18:16, 22 April 2008 (UTC)
3 InvisibleSun 23:30, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

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These flowers, which were splendid and sprightly,
Waking in the dawn of the morning,
In the evening will be a pitiful frivolity,
Sleeping in the cold night’s arms.
~ Pedro Calderón de la Barca

3 Zarbon 05:07, 20 December 2008 (UTC)
3 InvisibleSun 23:30, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

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What surprises you, if a dream taught me this wisdom, and if I still fear I may wake up and find myself once more confined in prison? And even if this should not happen, merely to dream it is enough. For this I have come to know, that all human happiness finally ceases, like a dream. ~ Pedro Calderón de la Barca

4 magnificent, beautiful sadness depicted here. I love the verbalization of nothing lasts forever, or the denounciation of anything lasting forever, hence the ceasing of happiness in the end, which is an illusion in itself. Beautiful and majestic. Zarbon 05:07, 20 December 2008 (UTC)
2 Kalki 22:58, 16 January 2009 (UTC)
3 InvisibleSun 23:30, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

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Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises. ~ Pedro Calderón de la Barca

2 eh, green's my favorite color. Zarbon 05:07, 20 December 2008 (UTC)
2 Kalki 22:58, 16 January 2009 (UTC)
2 InvisibleSun 23:30, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

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When I sell liquor, it’s called bootlegging. When my patrons serve it on silver trays on Lake Shore Drive, it’s called hospitality. ~ Al Capone

2 for comedic value. Zarbon 05:07, 20 December 2008 (UTC)

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You can get much farther with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone. ~ Al Capone

3 Zarbon 05:07, 20 December 2008 (UTC)
2 Kalki 22:58, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

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We need to fix our souls. Our souls are broken in this nation. We have lost our way. And it begins with inspiration. It begins with leadership. ~ Michelle Obama

2 Zarbon 05:07, 20 December 2008 (UTC)
3 Kalki 22:58, 16 January 2009 (UTC)
2 InvisibleSun 23:30, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

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I have not brought you freedom, I found it here among you. ~ Skanderbeg (birth unknown, date of death)

2 Zarbon 05:17, 20 December 2008 (UTC)
2 Kalki 22:58, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

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I think people are hungry for change. And I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction and just not feeling so alone in my frustration and disappointment. I've seen people who are hungry to be unified around some basic common issues, and it's made me proud.~ Michelle Obama

3 Kalki 22:58, 16 January 2009 (UTC)
3 InvisibleSun 23:30, 16 January 2009 (UTC)
2 Zarbon 19:26, 17 January 2009 (UTC)

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Change is hard, I should know.
I should know.
~ Zooey Deschanel ~

3 Kalki 23:44, 17 January 2009 (UTC) this quote was one I had actually intended to prefer here with a 4 for this year, until I realized it was also Michelle Obama's birthday as well as Zooey's, so for this year, with her husband's inauguration days away, Michelle clearly had much greater status of social interest.

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For those of us who try to keep remembering,
Try to do our better than our best.
Think of all the children in the drifts of snow.
Winners never quit, but winters never rest.
~ Zooey Deschanel ~

3 Kalki 23:44, 17 January 2009 (UTC)

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Love is just a piece of time
in the world
in the world
And I couldn't help but fall in love again
~ Zooey Deschanel ~

4 Kalki 23:44, 17 January 2009 (UTC) One of my current favorites among Zooey's song lyrics, but I might find something I prefer more eventually. I plan to do more work on her page and other people and movies relating to her within a few weeks.

Quoternity