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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“You shall not pile, with servile toil, Your monuments upon my breast, Nor yet within the common soil Lay down the wreck of power to rest, Where man can boast that he has trod On him that was “the scourge of God.”
Edward Everett (1794–1865) first seen 1823 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Dirge of Alaric, the Visigoth" In The New Monthly Magazine and Literary Journal Vol. V, No. 25 (January-June 1823), p. 64.
“We have now in our possession three instruments of civilization, unknown to antiquity. These are the art of printing; free representative government; and, lastly, a pure and spiritual religion, the deep fountain of generous enthusiasm, the mighty spring of bold and lofty designs, the great sanctuary of moral power.”
Edward Everett (1794–1865) said by 1865 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Edward Everett, reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 141.
“The solitary, silent, solemn scene, Where Caesars, heroes, peasants, hermits lie, Blended in dust together; where the slave Rests from his labours; where the insulting proud Resigns his power; the miser drops his hoard; Where human folly sleeps.”
John Dyer (1699–1757) said by 1757 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“..."the only intrinsic nett worth, in my possession, is Mrs. Sancho- who I can compare to nothing so properly as to a diamond in the dirt- but, my friend, that is Fortune's fault, not mine- for, had I power, I would case her in gold.”
Ignatius Sancho (1729–1780) first seen 1775 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: (from vol 1, letter 21: probably summer 1775, to Mr R___ ).
“The people think of wealth and power as the greatest fate, But in this world, a spell of health is the best state. What men call sovereignty is worldly strife and constant war; Worship of God is the highest throne, the happiest of all estates.”
Suleiman the Magnificent (1494–1566) first seen 1453 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted by Mansel, Philip, Constantinople: city of the world's desire 1453-1924 (1995), p. 84
“Fifty years of anarchy await you, and you will emerge from it only by the power of some dictator who will arise- a true statesman and patriot. O prating people, if you did but know how to act!”
Jean-Paul Marat (1743–1793) first seen 1792 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: L'Ami du peuple, vol. 7 (1792-09-05), p. 4790
“Peace the offspring is of Power.”
Bayard Taylor (1825–1878) first seen 1862 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: A Thousand Years" (September 20, 1862), stanza 12; in The Poems (1866), p. 411.
“It is not within our power not to desire to be happy.”
Nicolas Malebranche (1638–1715) said by 1715 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Now let us thank the Eternal Power: convinced That Heaven but tries our virtue by affliction,— That oft the cloud which wraps the present hour Serves but to brighten all our future days.”
John Brown (essayist) first seen 1754 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Barbarossa (1754), Act V, Scene 3
Also quoted by: John Brown
“When we follow those who preach hatred, confrontation, and conflict, we are the ones who end up losing. We do not have the power or the means for a confrontation.”
Abd Al-Hamid Al-Ansari wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Soviet rocket troops possess enough equipment to be able, if need be, to sweep any aggressor from the face of the earth at whatever point of the globe he may be and whatever military power, territory, or economy he may possess.”
Sergey Biryuzov (1904–1964) first seen 1963 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted in "Military Procurement Authorization" - Page 347 - United States - 1963
“These decrees of yours are no different from spiders' webs. They'll restrain anyone weak and insignificant who gets caught in them, but they'll be torn to shreds by people with power and wealth.”
Anacharsis (701–601 BC) said by 601 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Discussing Solon's laws with him, as quoted by Plutarch, in Solon ch. 5; translation by Robin Waterfield from Plutarch Greek Lives (1998) p. 50.
“If we are to survive, we must not accept the official indoctrination of the purpose of nuclear 'power' stations, radiation health risks, the 'need' for further nuclear weapons and the reality of nuclear war.”
Martin Ryle (1918–1984) first seen 1980 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: p 29 of Towards the Nuclear Holocaust (1980) Menard Press, London.
“But from the hoop’s bewitching round, Her very shoe has power to wound.”
Edward Moore (1712–1757) said by 1757 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Only a teaching that gives each individual the power to draw forth his or her innate Buddha nature can lead all people to happiness.”
Daisaku Ikeda (1928–2023) said by 2023 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The essence of the Daishonin's practice lay in the struggle against the devilish nature of power and authority that treats the people with contempt. Fundamentally, it is a struggle against the forces that seek to keep people from entering the path to enlightenment.”
Daisaku Ikeda (1928–2023) said by 2023 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The survival of this country depends upon letting the world know we have the power and the ability to use it if the occasion demands.”
Forrest Sherman (1896–1951) first seen 1950 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in "According to Plan" in Time magazine (13 March 1950)
“I look at Obama, a young man, a good-looking person. That is my first impression, I feel sorry for him. He looks 100% like Lukashenko, when I came to power after the downfall of the Soviet Union. The store shelves were empty, a severe financial crisis.”
Alexander Lukashenko (born 1954) first seen 2008 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in The Wall Street Journal - Belarus President Seeks to Deploy Russia Missiles (14 November 2008).
“George Sylvester Viereck: Do you care much for money or for power? Beaverbrook: For neither in itself. I like activity, to wrestle with life and to beat it, to dare and win. I made my first million before I was thirty. Viereck: But having achieved so much, what keeps you going? Why do you spend yourself, your vitality, in politics and in business? Beaverbrook: To escape boredom.”
Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook (1879–1964) first seen 1929 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Interview in May 1929 published in the New York American in June 1930, quoted in A. J. P. Taylor, Beaverbrook (1972), p. 244
“Emotion, feeling — these are well enough if they feed the springs of power. Prayer, praise, preaching — these are all good and never to be dispensed with; but if the life to which they minister have no manifestation out of them, it is a failure.”
Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819–1881) said by 1881 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The moment we recognize God as supreme in power and infinitely good and loving toward all His intelligent creatures, that moment we admit the doctrine of universal and special providence.”
Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819–1881) said by 1881 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The moral value of the Image in Art must consist in its power to arouse a conviction of Beauty.If a conviction of Beauty is aroused, all images of Passion and Action allied to it will become vitalized.Vitality in a work of Art thus becomes a communicable element in mind, and so fulfils its function of stimulating vitality in Life.”
Norman Lindsay (1879–1969) first seen 1923 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Sex Synonym in Art", in Vision (May 1923), p. 22
“Women are a sisterhood. They make common cause in behalf of the sex; and, indeed, this is natural enough, when we consider the vast power that the law gives us over them.”
William Cobbett (1763–1835) said by 1835 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“No matter what is willed by consciousness, that which belongs to the depths can only be restored in the depths: the numinous lies outside the power of collectives, cannot be subject to state decree, created by a resolution at an international conference, offered to all shareholders and employees by the board of Standard Oil or General Motors.”
J. B. Priestley (1894–1984) first seen 1960 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Literature and Western Man (Harper, 1960).
“We are what we must, And not what we would be. I know that one hour Forestalls not another. The will and the power Are diverse.”
Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton (1831–1891) said by 1891 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“So many able writers have shown that the unjust institutions which work so much misery and suffering to the masses have their root in governments, and owe their whole existence to the power derived from government. We cannot help but believe that were every law, every title deed, every court, and every police officer or soldier abolished tomorrow with one sweep, we would be better off than now.”
Lucy Parsons (1851–1942) said by 1942 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We must all understand that only manly discipline—unconditional subordination to selfless leaders guided only by their public spirit, relegation of our own thoughts, and confidence in the Führer—can guarantee that the moral force of the individual shall be aggregated into a power that will effect the re-building of the nation and the Fatherland.”
Erich Ludendorff (1865–1937) first seen 1922 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Kriegsführung und Politik (Berlin, 1922), p. 337, quoted in W. W. Coole (ed.), Thus Spake Germany (London: George Routledge & Sons, 1941), p. 27
“The best immortality prospect for the materialist looks to be either deep freezing dead bodies until a cure is found, or computer replication of brains in silicon. One won’t work and the other can’t survive a power outage.”
Robert J. Marks II (born 1950) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There is so much a man can tell you, So much he can say. You remain, my power, my pleasure, my pain”
Seal (musician) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Every day, you have the power to choose our better history — by opening your hearts and minds, by speaking up for what you know is right, by sharing the lessons of Brown versus Board of Education, the lessons you learned right here in Topeka, wherever you go for the rest of your lives.”
Michelle Obama (born 1964) first seen 2014 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted on Yahoo News!, "First lady tells Kansas students to fight bias" (16 May 2014)
“One Light feeds another. One strong family lends strength to more. One engaged community can ignite those around it. This is the power of the light we carry.”
Michelle Obama (born 1964) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The power of one honest conversation can shift an entire day.”
Michelle Obama (born 1964) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Leaden trumpets spit the soot of power they say "I'm on your side when nobody is, cause nobody is. Come sit right here and sleep while I slip poison in your ear”
St. Vincent (musician) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Sometimes I think we Americans are the loneliest people in the world. To be sure, we hunger for the power of affection, the self-acceptance that gives life. It is the oldest and strongest hunger in the world. But hungering is not enough.”
Sherwood Anderson (1876–1941) said by 1941 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“By Thy perfect Intelligence, O Mazda Thou didst first create us having bodies and spiritual consciences, And by Thy Thought gave our selves the power of thought, word, and deed. Thus leaving us free to choose our faith at our own will.”
“He who upholds Truth with all the might of his power, He who upholds Truth the utmost in his word and deed, He, indeed, is Thy most valued helper, O Mazda Ahura!”
“Now, at this very minute, another thing is happening which we cannot hear because most paintings do not have a sound-track. Peter is inventing the word "simony" to explain ecclesiastical purchase-power, for which, since his Church later exercised it so expertly, Simon Magus ought to be revered as a patron not a rogue.”
Peter Greenaway (born 1942) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Power shows the man.”
Pittacus of Mytilene (651–571 BC) said by 571 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Real and major changes in religious or political power systems do not occur until substantial numbers of people realize the old systems are destructive, genocidal and beyond repair.”
David Lane (white nationalist) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“All the perversion and opposition of our ancient enemy, of false religions, of treason, of cunning, of deception, of miscegenation and chaos, of governments, prisons or death shall not withstand the power of these 14 Words: "WE MUST SECURE THE EXISTENCE OF OUR PEOPLE AND A FUTURE FOR WHITE CHILDREN." These are the words the world shall note and long remember.”
David Lane (white nationalist) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The economy is not in our [i.e. black] hands, we are not in control of economic power. We have identified the weaknesses in [land reform]. Willing buyer, willing seller did not work. It made the state’s price tag an unfair process. In addition there are many laws dealing with land which cause confusion and delays. … Land hunger is real.”
Jacob Zuma (born 1942) first seen 2017 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On 3 March 2017 during his annual address to the National House of Traditional Leaders, Zuma wants ‘black parties’ to unite on land issue, Citizen reporter (3 March 2017)
“If we add state capitalism to the [[George W. Bush|[George W.] Bush]] administration’s success in eroding both the US Constitution and the power of Congress, we may be witnessing the final death of accountable constitutional government.”
Paul Craig Roberts (born 1939) first seen 2008 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Bitter Fruits of Deregulation, CounterPunch (24 October 2008)
“The military/security complex has resurrected its Cold War enemy so necessary for its outsized budget and power and intends to keep Russia as The Enemy.”
Paul Craig Roberts (born 1939) first seen 2018 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Self-Genocide of the West, Foreign Policy Journal (26 December 2018)
“The result of cutting [political power] up into little bits is simply that the man who can sweep the greatest number into one heap will govern the rest... In a pure democracy the ruling men will be the wirepullers and their friends; but they will no more be on an equality with the voters than soldiers of Ministers of State are on an equality with the subjects of monarchy.”
James Fitzjames Stephen (1829–1894) said by 1894 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Foreknowledge is power.”
Auguste Comte (1798–1857) said by 1857 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in A Dictionary of Scientific Quotations (1991) by Alan Lindsay Mackay
“if it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought, morally, to do it.”
Peter Singer (born 1946) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There is no death—the thing that we call death Is but another, sadder name for life, Which is itself an insufficient name, Faint recognition of that unknown Life— That Power whose shadow is the Universe.”
Richard Henry Stoddard (1825–1903) said by 1903 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When you create an administration in which one man has all the power and everybody else has to flatter his voracious ego, stupidity results.”
David Brooks (journalist) first seen 2025 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: I Should Have Seen This Coming", April 7, 2025, The Atlantic
“Governments everywhere are lying to people to make them hate others that they wouldn't have any quarrel with otherwise. You'd think they'd have learned something after two world wars, but where else can it lead than right where it's all going? Theo's right — the lunatics end up in charge of everything. Sane, normal people don't need power trips.”
James P. Hogan (1941–2010) said by 2010 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“One thing I truly knew — knew it in the pit of my stomach, in the center of my bones, knew it from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet, knew it deep in my empty chest — was how love gave someone the power to break you. I had been broken beyond repair.”
Stephenie Meyer (born 1973) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source