Europe

Explore 4622 quotes by people from Europe

No man is an Island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

John Donne

Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions, and severall steps in my Sicknes

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Topic

Interconnectedness of all people Man as social animal

Author

John Donne

Source

Meditation XVII Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions, and severall steps in my Sicknes

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

1624 1620s 17th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Donne, John. "Meditation XVII." Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions, and severall steps in my Sicknes. London, 1624.

Current Citation

Donne, John. "Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions." Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions and Death's Duel. Vintage, 1999, meditation 17.

He saw clearly how plain and simple—how narrow, even—it all was; but clearly, too, how much it all meant to him, and the special value of some such anchorage in one's existence. He did not at all want to abandon the new life and its splendid spaces, to turn his back on sun and air and all they offered him and creep home and stay there; the upper world was all too strong, it called to him still, even down there, and he knew he must return to the larger stage. But it was good to think he had this to come back to, this place which was all his own, these things which were so glad to see him again and could always be counted upon for the same simple welcome.

Kenneth Grahame

The Wind in the Willows

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Read The Wind in the Willows at Project Gutenberg

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Topic

Home

Author

Kenneth Grahame

Source

The Wind in the Willows

Medium

Novel

Genre

Children's literature

Language

English

Time

1908 1900s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Grahame, Kenneth. The Wind in the Willows. Methuen, 1908, ch. 5.

Current Citation

Grahame, Kenneth. The Wind in the Willows. Barnes & Noble, 2013, ch. 5.

There is nothing in the world which does not have its decisive moment, and the masterpiece of good management is to recognize and grasp this moment.

Jean-Francois Paul de Gondi, Cardinal de Retz

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Topic

Leadership Management Timing

Author

Jean-Francois Paul de Gondi, Cardinal de Retz

Genre

Autobiography and memoir

Language

French

Time

1717 1710s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

De Gondi, Jean-Francois Paul. Memoires. 1717, bk. 2.

For who can be secure of private right,
If sovereign sway may be dissolved by might?
Nor is the people's judgement always true:
The most may err as grossly as the few.

John Dryden

Absalom and Achitophel

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Read Absalom and Achitophel at Poetry Foundation

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Topic

The masses Rule of law Democracy

Author

John Dryden

Source

Absalom and Achitophel

Medium

Poem

Genre

Satire

Language

English

Time

1681 1680s 17th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Dryden, John. Absalom and Achitophel. London: Jacob Tonson, 1681, pt. 1, I. 779.

Current Citation

Dryden, John. "Absalom and Achitophel." John Dryden Selected Poems. Penguin Classics, 2002, pt. 1, I. 779.

The fairest thing in nature, a flower, still has its roots in earth and manure.

D.H. Lawrence

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Topic

Flowers

Author

D.H. Lawrence

Source

Pansies

Medium

Poem

Statement Type

Paradox

Language

English

Time

1929 1920s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Lawrence, D.H. Pansies. Martin Secker, 1929, introduction.

Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom: it is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.

William Pitt, Earl of Chatham

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Topic

Threats to freedom Freedom

Speaker

William Pitt, Earl of Chatham

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1783 1780s 18th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Pitt, William. Speech in the House of Lords. House of Lords meeting. 18 Nov. 1783, Palace of Westminster, Westminster, London, England, UK.

The man of talent is like the marksman who hits a mark the others cannot hit; the man of genius is like the marksman who hits a mark they cannot even see.

Arthur Schopenhauer

The World as Will and Idea

Read The World as Will and Representation at Project Gutenberg

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Topic

Talent Genius

Author

Arthur Schopenhauer

Source

The World as Will and Idea

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

German

Time

1819 1810s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Schopenhauer, Arthur. Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung [The World as Will and Imagination]. Leipzig: F. A. Brockhaus, 1819.

Current Citation

Schopenhauer, Arthur. The World as Will and Representation, edited by Christopher Janaway, translated by Judith Norman and Alistair Welchman. Cambridge University Press, 2014.

The more things change, the more they are the same.

Alphonse Karr

More information about this quote

Topic

Change

Author

Alphonse Karr

Source

Les Guepes

Medium

Magazine

Statement Type

Paradox

Language

French

Time

1849 1840s 19th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Karr, Alphonse. Les Guepes. Au Bureau du Figaro, c. 1849.

We must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are on us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword through the world.

John Winthrop

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Topic

America as example America

Author

John Winthrop

Source

A Model of Christian Charity

Medium

Sermon

Language

English

Time

1630 1630s 17th century

Era

Colonial America

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Winthrop, John. "A Model of Christian Charity." 8 Apr. 1630, on board Arbella. Sermon.

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?

W.H. Davies

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Topic

Taking one's time Slowing down Busyness Purpose of life Life

Author

W.H. Davies

Source

Leisure Songs of Joy and Others

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1911 1910s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Davies, W. H. "Leisure." Songs of Joy and Others. A. C. Fifield, 1911.

Love you will find only where you may show yourself weak without provoking strength.

Theodor Adorno

Minima Moralia

More information about this quote

Topic

Vulnerability Love

Author

Theodor Adorno

Source

Minima Moralia

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

German

Time

1951 1950s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Adorno, Theodor. Minima Moralia: Reflexionen aus dem beschädigten Leben [Minima Moralia: Reflections from Damaged Life]. Suhrkamp Verlag, 1951.

Current Citation

Adorno, Theodor. Minima Moralia: Reflections from Damaged Life, translated by E. F. N. Jephcott. Verso, 2020.

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying:
And this same flower that smiles to-day,
To-morrow will be dying.

Robert Herrick

More information about this quote

Topic

Living in the moment Youth Passage of time Time

Author

Robert Herrick

Source

To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time

Medium

Poem

Statement Type

Advice

Language

English

Time

1648 1640s 17th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Herrick, Robert. "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time." Hesperides; or the Works both Human and Divine of Robert Herrick Esq. London: John Williams, 1648.

Current Citation

Herrick, Robert. "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time." The Cavalier Poets: An Anthology, edited by Thomas Crofts. Dover Publications, 1995.

As always, victory will have a hundred fathers, but defeat will never be acknowledged by anyone at all.

Galeazzo Ciano

More information about this quote

Topic

Taking credit Winning and losing Winning Losing

Author

Galeazzo Ciano

Medium

Personal journal

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

Italian

Time

1942 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Ciano, Galeazzo. Diary entry. 9 Sept. 1942.

Beauty can pierce one like a pain.

Thomas Mann

Buddenbrooks

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Topic

Power of beauty Beauty

Author

Thomas Mann

Source

Buddenbrooks

Medium

Novel

Statement Type

Paradox

Language

German

Time

1901 1900s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Mann, Thomas. Buddenbrooks. Berlin: S. Fischer Verlag, 1901, pt. 11, ch. 2.

Current Citation

Mann, Thomas. Buddenbrooks. Dover Publications, 2020, pt. 11, ch. 2.

I often feel, and ever more deeply I realize, that Fate and character are the same conception.

Novalis

More information about this quote

Topic

Character Fate

Speaker

Heinrich von Ofterdingen

Author

Novalis

Source

Heinrich von Ofterdingen

Language

German

Time

1802 1800s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Novalis. Heinrich von Ofterdingen. Berlin, 1802, pt. 2.

Current Citation

Novalis. Henry von Ofterdingen. Dover Publications, 2015, pt. 2.

Experience shows us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking together in the same direction.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

More information about this quote

Topic

Nature of love Love Relationships

Author

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Source

Wind, Sand and Stars

Genre

Autobiography and memoir

Language

French

Time

1939 1930s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

De Saint-Exupery, Antoine. Terre des hommes [Wind, Sand and Stars]. Gallimard, 1939.

If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.

Anne Bradstreet

To my Dear and Loving Husband

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Topic

True love

Author

Anne Bradstreet

Source

To my Dear and Loving Husband

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1672 1670s 17th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Bradstreet, Anne. "To my Dear and Loving Husband." Several Poems Compiled with Great Variety of Wit and Learning, Full of Delight. Boston: John Foster, 1678, I. 1.

Current Citation

Bradstreet, Anne. "To my Dear and Loving Husband." To My Husband and Other Poems, edited by Robert Hutchinson. Dover Publications, 2011.

What was once thought can never be unthought.

Friedrich Durrenmatt

The Physicists

More information about this quote

Topic

Intellectual progress

Speaker

Mobius

Author

Friedrich Durrenmatt

Source

The Physicists

Medium

Play

Language

German

Time

1962 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Durrenmatt, Friedrich. Die Physiker [The Physicists]. 1962, Zurich, Switzerland, act 2.

Current Citation

Durrenmatt, Friedrich. The Physicists, translated by Joel Agee. Grove Press, 2010, act 2.

The greatness of art, like poetry or music, is that it is totally unnecessary.

Christo

More information about this quote

Topic

Art for art's sake Art

Author

Christo

Source

D Magazine

Medium

Interview

Language

English

Time

2011 2010s 21st century

Authentication Score 0

Citation

Christo. "Interview: Christo On the Freedom of Unnecessary Art." Interviewed by Peter Simek. D Magazine, 24 Feb. 2011.

Like two skeletons copulating on a corrugated tin roof.

Thomas Beecham

More information about this quote

Topic

Harpsichord Musical instruments

Speaker

Thomas Beecham

Source

Beecham Stories

Language

English

Time

1978 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Beecham, Thomas. Beecham Stories, complied by Harold Atkins and Archie Newman. Robson Books, 1978.