Famous quotes

Quotes by famous people, credited to who said them. Your own quotes must not match any of these. More are added all the time. 1,158,808 quotes Who coined it · How we decide

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Power

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“What sometimes enrages me and always disappoints and grieves me is the preference of great schools of learning for the derivative as opposed to the original, for the conventional and thin which can be duplicated in many copies rather than the new and powerful, and for arid correctness and limitation of scope and method rather than for universal newness and beauty, wherever it may be seen.”
Norbert Wiener (1894–1964) said by 1964 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Let the entire world hear me. Our hostility to the Great Satan [America] is absolute [...] Regardless of how the world has changed after 11 September, Death to America will remain our reverberating and powerful slogan: Death to America.”
Hassan Nasrallah (1960–2024) first seen 2002 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Al-Manar, BBC Monitoring. (27 September 2002)
“Economic reforms based on the idea of limitless growth in a limited world, can only be maintained by the powerful grabbing the resources of the vulnerable. The resource grab that is essential for “growth” creates a culture of rape—the rape of the earth, of local self-reliant economies, and of women.”
Vandana Shiva (born 1952) first seen 2013 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On economic reforms in India and rape in India, from "Vandana Shiva: Our Violent Economy is Hurting Women " article in Yes Magazine (18 January 2013)
“corporate globalization is really about an aggressive privatization of the water, biodiversity, and food systems of the Earth, when these communities declare sovereignty and act on that sovereignty, they have developed a powerful response to globalization. Living democracy then is the democracy that is custodian of the living wealth on which people depend.”
Vandana Shiva (born 1952) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There is, I think, a spontaneous resurgence of thinking that centers on protection of life, celebrating life, enjoying life as both our highest duty and our most powerful form of resistance against a violent and brutal system that globalizes not just trade, but fascism, and denies civil liberties and freedoms.”
Vandana Shiva (born 1952) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Every Manifestation is but a revelation of Thine Own Self, with each of Whom we have truly appeared and we bow down in adoration before Thee. Thou hast been, O my Best Beloved, and shalt ever be my witness throughout bygone times and in the days to come. Verily, Thou art the All-Powerful, the Ever-Faithful, the Omnipotent.”
Báb (1819–1850) said by 1850 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Where a story begins in the mind I am not sure—a memory of haystacks, maybe, or wheel ruts in the ruined stone, the ironies that fall out of the friction between past and present, some casual phrase overheard. But something kicks in, some powerful juxtaposition, and the whole book shapes itself up in the mind…”
Annie Proulx (born 1935) first seen 1999 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On her writing process in in “An Interview with Annie Proulx” in The Missouri Review (1999 Mar 1)
“Women have no rights, Don, except what men allow us. Men are more aggressive and powerful, and they run the world. When the next real crisis upsets them, our so-called rights will vanish like—like that smoke. We'll be back where we always were: property. And whatever has gone wrong will be blamed on our freedom, like the fall of Rome was. You'll see.”
James Tiptree Jr. (1915–1987) said by 1987 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Maybe. A powerful. Enough. Metaphor. Grows. Its own. Truth.”
Matthew Stover (born 1962) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A powerful enough metaphor grows its own truth.”
Matthew Stover (born 1962) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Just as the Brahmins are shouting Hinduise India, we should shout Dalitise India. Shout that we hate Hinduism, we hate Brahmanism. Capture the Hindu temples by expelling the Brahmins from them. … The hated must hate. They must become powerful and organised. I want to create anger.”
Kancha Ilaiah (born 1952) first seen 2000 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted in "The Earthy Pundit" at OutlookIndia (25 December 2000).
“Music has a powerful effect on everybody: Children, adults, animals, plants, everything. It’s, I think, one of the abstract miracles and phenomena," said Quincy Jones.”
Newton Lee wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In spite of the potential risk of misinformation and disinformation, anonymous social apps can be powerful tools for citizen journalists, whistleblowers, political activists, crime tippers, and other cybercitizens whose online privacy is a matter of the utmost importance.”
Newton Lee wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“American civil rights activist and U.S. Army Sergeant Medgar Evers once said that "you can kill a man, but you can't kill an idea." His statement applies to both good and evil. Drones are powerful assassination weapons that offer short-term fixes. Drones kill terrorists, but not the idea of terrorism in the long term.”
Newton Lee wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Human game players together with AI agents can create more powerful citizen scientists, resulting in more scientific discoveries.”
Newton Lee wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If humans are to colonize another planet, we better have a powerful immune system to protect us from deadly new pathogens. H.G. Wells’ novel The War of the Worlds reminds us that the invading Martians overpowered humans but were killed by earthly pathogens to which they had no immunity.”
Newton Lee wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Words are powerful, especially when emotions run high, which can lead to dire consequences.”
Newton Lee wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Words are powerful enough to steer a country to war or peace. World peace is certainly attainable when people and their leaders are willing to give peace a chance.”
Newton Lee wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Though not as terrifying as weapons of mass destruction, cyberattacks are powerful weapons of mass disruption that can endanger human lives.”
Newton Lee wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When the ties of kindred and of speech have force enough to bind together a powerful community, such a community may be able to defend its independence. If it fail, the pretension in itself has no claim on the consideration of the rest of mankind.”
James Anthony Froude (1818–1894) said by 1894 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Wait, he "loves drama"?! I'm sorry, I'm really not that comfortable with one of the most powerful people on Earth being summed up the same way you describe Andy Cohen on New Year's Eve!”
John Oliver (born 1977) first seen 2023 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Last Week Tonight -- "Elon Musk" (ff. 0:28:35) (17 December 2023)
“Never be insolent unless it is a deliberate decision, and only toward a man more powerful than yourself.”
Émile Chartier (1868–1951) said by 1951 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“By instructing students how to learn, unlearn and relearn, a powerful new dimension can be added to education.”
Alvin Toffler (1928–2016) said by 2016 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“He will always see the most beauty whose affections are the warmest and most exercised, whose imagination is the most powerful, and who has most accustomed himself to attend to the objects by which he is surrounded.”
Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey (1773–1850) first seen 1811 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Review of Archibald Alison's Essays on the Nature and Principles of Taste, in the Edinburgh Review (May 1811)
“I must say that the Pagan movement will have a lot to do. The opposing forces are very powerful, and they have a long tradition of using force and repression. But I believe that a new spirit is rising and once the Pagans begin to speak, they are going to be heard.”
Ram Swarup (1920–1998) first seen 1991 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Of Hindus, Pagans and The Return of The Gods Hinuism Today 1991
“Curiosity is natural to the soul of man and interesting objects have a powerful influence on our affections. Let these influencing powers actuate, by the permission or disposal of Providence, from selfish or social views, yet in time the mysterious will of Heaven is unfolded, and we behold our conduct, from whatever motives excited, operating to answer the important designs of heaven.”
Daniel Boone (1734–1820) first seen 1784 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in the opening lines of "The Adventures of Col. Daniel Boon; containing a Narrative of the Wars of Kentucke" in The Discovery, Settlement And present State of Kentucke (1784) by John Filson
“This is not a political war at all. This is not a cultural war at all. This is a spiritual war. And the Father of Lies has his sights on what you would think the Father of Lies, Satan, would have his sights on: a good, decent, powerful, influential country, the United States of America.”
Rick Santorum (born 1958) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“What I hear is valueless; only what I see is living, and when I close my eyes my vision is even more powerful.”
Giorgio de Chirico (1888–1978) first seen 1963 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: as quoted in Letters of the great artists – from Ghiberti to Gainsborough, Richard Friedenthal, Thames and Hudson, London, 1963, p . 232
“The right to hope is the most powerful human motivation I know.”
Aga Khan IV (1936–2025) first seen 1996 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Baccalaureate Address at Brown University Delivered by His Highness the Aga Khan, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America (26 May 1996)
“If our animosities are born out of fear, then confident generosity is born out of hope. One of the central lessons I have learned after a half century of working in the developing world is that the replacement of fear by hope is probably the single most powerful trampoline of progress.”
Aga Khan IV (1936–2025) first seen 2006 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Address by His Highness the Aga Khan to the Tutzing Evangelical Academy Upon Receiving the "Tolerance" Award, Tutzing, Germany (20 May 2006)
“The most powerful tool to lift families out of extreme poverty is to grant micro-loans to women.”
Begum Aga Khan (born 1963) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I believe that the proper mix of proven complementary, traditional and modern remedies, which emphasizes the active participation of the patient, can help create a powerful healing force in the world.”
Charles III (born 1948) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Earth has never been in better shape…I know — climate change and a polarised political thing — but there are no more world wars. I mean, imagine what London looked like 60 years ago. This is the best of times. Unemployment in the United States is the lowest it’s been in 50 years — 5-0…More people are working. More people are making more money. Unions are more powerful." (2019)”
Gene Simmons (born 1949) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In less than four years he had transformed Macedonia from a backward and primitive kingdom to one of the most powerful states in the Greek world.”
Peter Green (1924–2024) first seen 323 BC wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Alexander of Macedon, 356-323 B.C.: A Historical Biography (1991), p. 32
“Necessity is the most powerful divinity the world knows--it is the result of physical forces set in operation by ethical forces.”
José Rizal (1861–1896) said by 1896 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There came a point when if a conspiracy was that powerful and subtle it became pointless to worry about it.”
Iain Banks (1954–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Holse had no idea how these things worked; he had never really bothered with religion, though he had always paid lip-service to the church for the sake of an easy life. He had long suspected that the WorldGod was just another convenient semi-fiction supporting the whole structure that sustained the rich and powerful in their privilege.”
Iain Banks (1954–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The old and powerful never want to let go. They always think they’re both profoundly indispensable and uniquely right. They are always wrong. Part of the function of ageing and dying is to let the next generation have its say, its time in the sun, to sweep away the mistakes of the previous age while, if they’re lucky, retaining the advances made and the benefits accrued.”
Iain Banks (1954–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“What's the point of being the greatest, most powerful nation in the world and not having an imperial role?”
Irving Kristol (1920–2009) said by 2009 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In times of violence, personal predilections for niceties of colour and form seem irrelevant. All primitive expression (like the myths) reveals the constant awareness of powerful forces, the immediate presence of terror and fear.”
Adolph Gottlieb (1903–1974) first seen 1943 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Radio broadcast with Mark Rothko, 1943, as quoted in Abstract Expressionism Creators and Critics, edited by Clifford Ross, Abrams Publishers New York 1990.
“Drama moves us: conflict is an inherent pattern in reality. Harmony moves us too: faced as we are with ever imminent disorder. It is a powerful idea. Van Gogh's drama and Seurat's silent harmony were born in the same country and epoch: but they do not contradict one another; they refer to different patterns among those which constitute reality.”
Mark Rothko (1903–1970) said by 1970 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“[After pleasuring a gay man named Gary in a Soho toilet] My tendencies and inclinations towards women are very, very powerful.”
Russell Brand (born 1975) first seen 2023 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Episode 7: "W—-y W—-y", as cited in "The forgotten TV show that warned us about Russell Brand", The Telegraph (18 September 2023)
“All those people who derided me did me a favour, because now I don't care what anyone says about me. I feel I am now able to be a really powerful painter, to take on the mantle of the US male expressionist.”
Stella Vine (born 1969) first seen 2007 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Eyre, Hermione. "Completing my new show was the only thing that saved me from suicide", The Independent, (2007-07-15)
“The bombs held in current nuclear arsenals are seventy times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Nagasaki. If we don’t begin opposing the drift towards more and more of them, we will live in the shadow of the mushroom cloud for the rest of our lives — and millions may die there.”
Johann Hari (born 1979) first seen 2006 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: And the solution to the Iran crisis is...a return to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty", JohannHari.com (The Independent, 22 January 2006)
“Adolph Hitler, "the most ingenious field marshal of all time," the all-powerful ruler over the 1,000 Year Reich-- which collapsed after twelve years --- has disappeared from the scene. The NSDAP has come to a complete and inglorious end.”
Friedrich Kellner (1885–1970) first seen 1945 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: May 1, 1945; p. 405.
“In spite of the pangs of travail, the longing for motherhood remains the most powerful instinct in woman.”
Joseph H. Hertz (1872–1946) said by 1946 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Being a practiced liar doesn't mean you have a powerful imagination. Many good liars have no imagination at all; it's that which gives their lies such wide-eyed conviction.”
Philip Pullman (born 1946) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If the attractive virtue of the moon extends as far as the earth, it follows with greater reason that the attractive virtue of the earth extends as far as the moon and much farther; and, in short, nothing which consists of earthly substance anyhow constituted although thrown up to any height, can ever escape the powerful operation of this attractive virtue.”
Johannes Kepler (1572–1630) said by 1630 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There's nothing that tastes of death more than the summer sun, the powerful light, exuberant nature. You sniff the air and listen to the woods and know that the plants and animals don't give a damn about you. Everything lives and consumes itself. Nature is death...”
Cesare Pavese (1908–1950) said by 1950 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Along the way she’d acquired a powerful conviction that history was a series of accidents—God was either absent or playing a very elaborate practical joke (the Eschaton didn’t count, having explicitly denied that it was a deity)—and that the seeds of evil usually germinated in the footprints of people who knew how everybody else ought to behave and felt the need to tell them so.”
Charles Stross (born 1964) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source