What is your favorite quote? And why?

[Hwo Thumb]

"Humanitarianism is the expression of stupidity and cowardice."
"I do not see why man should not be just as cruel as nature."
"The victor will never be asked if he told the truth."

Hitler had some... interesting... perspectives on things.

You know, we could sit here and exchange quotes from famous people, but the words of the infamous are interesting as well.

[csspest]

Keep you powder dry and your rhubarb bent

[free]

“Remember who you are, what you stand for, and what's most important in your life…”
― James A. Murphy, The Waves of Life Quotes and Daily Meditations

[Sido]

"Know thyself."
--A Delphic maxim--

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."
--Winston Churchill--

[Bengt Mettyl]

Not THE favourite, but A favourite, and not philosophical, but evocative (for me, knowing the context):

'Grim beauty in those stilted forms, the taloned padding paws
The lolling tongues, the wicked gape of those flesh-rending jaws'.

['Deep Secrets' from 'Not Since I Grew Legs']

[Quietudity]

"If there was any word of comfort that would be a solace to her in her dying hour, and only I possessed it, I wouldn't part with it for Life itself."


Ironically, I hated David Copperfield.

[free]

“Luck comes and goes; you have to seize it. Bad luck comes and goes; it must be overcome. But I will never, never sit at the side of the road showing my wounds and shouting, 'It's destiny'!”
― Jean Van Hamme, Dutch Connection

[free]

“A good book is an event in my life.”
― Stendhal, The Red and the Black

[free]

I am dressed in wool, but I am not a sheep.

- Bohemian proverb

[IAmYouth]

"I'm youth, I'm joy . . . I'm a little bird that has broken out of the egg."

Name that character or author.

[IAmYouth]

oh I love this one!

[YesNo]

Here's a quote attributed to Mother Teresa, but the original version may have been by Kent M. Keith: http://prayerfoundation.org/mother_t..._it_anyway.htm

I saw it in the waiting room of a title company a while ago. Since I can't forget it, I figured I might as well look it up and pass it along:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

Why do I like this? Keith's repeated "anyway" ending sounds nice. Mother Teresa's last line makes the whole thing stand out.

[IAmYouth]

My favorite would have to be...

'To Live would be an awfully big adventure.'
Peter Pan. J.M. Barrie

I think it has a beautiful outlook on life.

I agree. Peter Pan has lessons and encouragements.

[NikolaiI]

"I'm youth, I'm joy . . . I'm a little bird that has broken out of the egg."

Name that character or author.

I don't recognize the quote, but it reminds me of the first stanza of one of my favourite poems, by Blake, "Infant Joy"

I have no name
I am but two days old.—
What shall I call thee?
I happy am
Joy is my name,—
Sweet joy befall thee!

[russellb]

Two quotes that often occur to me are by the Scottish psychiatrist R D Laing. The first one sounds like it might have been crafted by an emo, the second is the final couplet of a poem
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease with a one hundred percent mortality rate"
"Love cannot help but wish all well/To deny it is the essence of pure hell"