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February 7

day of the year

Quotes of the dayfrom previous years:

2005
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way — in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. ~Charles DickensinA Tale of Two Cities(born 7 February 1812)
2006
He judged it not fit to determine anything rashly; and seemed to doubt whether those different forms of religion might not all come from God, who might inspire man in a different manner, and be pleased with this variety; he therefore thought it indecent and foolish for any man to threaten and terrify another to make him believe what did not appear to him to be true. ~Thomas More(born 7 February 1478)
2007
Throughout life, our worst weaknesses and meannesses are usually committed for the sake of the people we most despise. ~Charles Dickens
2008
A man acts suitably to his nature, when he conquers his enemy in such a way as that no other creature but a man could be capable of, and that is by the strength of his understanding. ~Thomas More
2009
It is the same with any life. Imagine one selected day struck out of it, and think how different its course would have been. Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day. ~Charles Dickens
2010
Extreme justice is an extreme injury: for we ought not to approve of those terrible laws that make the smallest offences capital, nor of that opinion of the Stoics that makes all crimes equal; as if there were no difference to be made between the killing a man and the taking his purse, between which, if we examine things impartially, there is no likeness nor proportion. ~Thomas More
2011
In no victory do they glory so much as in that which is gained by dexterity and good conduct without bloodshed. In such cases they appoint public triumphs, and erect trophies to the honour of those who have succeeded; for then do they reckon that a man acts suitably to his nature, when he conquers his enemy in such a way as that no other creature but a man could be capable of, and that is by the strength of his understanding. ~Thomas More
2012
There are many pleasantfictionsof thelawin constant operation, but there is not one so pleasant or practicallyhumorousas that which supposes everymanto be ofequalvalue in its impartial eye, and thebenefitsof all laws to be equally attainable by all men, without the smallest reference tothe furniture of their pockets.~Charles Dickens
2013
Themenwho learnendurance,are they who call the wholeworldbrother.
~Charles Dickens~
2014
The Prince himself has no distinction, either of garments, or of a crown; but is only distinguished by a sheaf of corn carried before him; as the high priest is also known by his being preceded by a person carrying awax light.
They have but fewlaws,and such is their constitution that theyneednot many. They very muchcondemnothernationswhose laws, together with the commentaries on them, swell up to so many volumes; for they think it an unreasonable thing to oblige men toobeya body of laws that are both of such a bulk, and sodarkas not to bereadandunderstoodby every one of the subjects.
~Thomas More~
2015
Reflectupon yourpresentblessings— of which every man has many — not on yourpastmisfortunes,of whichallmen have some.
~Charles Dickens~
2016
Euclidtaughtme that withoutassumptionsthere is noproof.Therefore, in anyargument,examine the assumptions. Then, in the alleged proof, be alert for inexplicit assumptions. Euclid'snotoriousoversights drove this lesson home.
~Eric Temple Bell~
2017
Sciencemakes nopretensiontoeternaltruthorabsolutetruth; some of its rivals do. That science is in some respects inhuman may be thesecretof itssuccessin alleviatinghumanmiseryand mitigating humanstupidity.
~Eric Temple Bell~
2018
Whenmenare about to commit, or sanction the commission of someinjustice,it is not uncommon for them to expresspityfor the object either of that or some parallel proceeding, and tofeelthemselves, at the time, quitevirtuousandmoral,and immensely superior to those who express no pity at all. This is a kind of upholding offaithaboveworks,and is verycomfortable.
~Charles Dickens~
in
~The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby~
2019
Takenothingon itslooks;take everything onevidence.There's no betterrule.
~Charles Dickens~
2020
Asactorsit is easy for us to play thehero.We get tofightthebad guysand stand up forjustice.Inreallife,thechoicesare not always soclear.TheHollywood Blacklist…was a time Irememberwell. Thechoiceswere hard. Theconsequenceswerepainfuland very real. During the blacklist, I hadfriendswho went intoexilewhen no one would hire them; actors who committedsuicideindespair.…I wasthreatenedthat using a Blacklisted writer forSpartacus–– my friendDalton Trumbo— would mark me as a “Commie-lover” and end my career. There are times when one has to stand up forprinciple.I am soproudof my fellow actors who use their public influence to speak out againstinjustice.At 98 years old, I havelearnedone lesson fromhistory:It very often repeats itself.
~Kirk Douglas~
2021
Charitybeginsathome,andjusticebegins next door.
~Charles Dickens~
in
~The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit~
2022
Whatever wasrequiredto be done, the Circumlocution Office was beforehand with all the public departments in theartofperceiving— HOW NOT TO DO IT.
~Charles Dickens~
2023
I have known a vast quantity ofnonsensetalked about bad men not looking you in the face. Don'ttrustthat conventionalidea.Dishonestywill starehonestyout of countenance, any day in the week, if there is anything to be got by it.
~Charles Dickens~
2024
Arepistolswith revolving barrels, sword-sticks, bowie-knives, and such things, Institutions on which youprideyourselves? Are bloody duels, brutal combats, savage assaults, shooting down and stabbing in the streets, your Institutions! Why, I shall hear next thatDishonourandFraudare among the Institutions of the great republic!
~Charles Dickens~
in
~The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit~
2025
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Quotes by people born this day, already used as QOTD:

  • "Business!" cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. "Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!" ~Charles DickensinA Christmas Carol

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For men use, if they have an evil turn, to write it in marble: and whoso doth us a good turn we write it in dust. ~Thomas More(born February 7, 1478)

Here's the rule for bargains — 'Do other men, for they would do you.' That's the true business precept. ~Charles Dickens

Great men are seldom over-scrupulous in the arrangement of their attire. ~Charles Dickens

The law is a ass — a idiot. ~Charles DickensinOliver Twist

Success is more a function of consistent common sense than it is of genius. ~An Wang

Any impatient student of mathematics or science or engineering who is irked by having algebraic symbolism thrust on him should try to get on without it for a week.
~Eric Temple Bell~
The pursuit of pretty formulas and neat theorems can no doubt quickly degenerate into a silly vice, but so also can the quest for austere generalities which are so very general indeed that they are incapable of application to any particular.
~Eric Temple Bell~
The so-called obvious was repeatedly scrutinized from every angle and was frequently found to be not obvious but false. "Obvious" is the most dangerous word in mathematics.
~Eric Temple Bell~
Wherever religion is resorted to as a strong drink, and as an escape from the dull, monotonous round of home, those of its ministers who pepper the highest will be the surest to please. They who strew the Eternal Path with the greatest amount of brimstone, and who most ruthlessly tread down the flowers and leaves that grow by the wayside, will be voted the most righteous; and they who enlarge with the greatest pertinacity on the difficulty of getting into heaven will be considered, by all true believers, certain of going there: though it would be hard to say by what process of reasoning this conclusion is arrived at.
~Charles Dickens~


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