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May 20

From Wikiquote

Quotes of the dayfrom previous years:

2004
No theory, no ready-made system, no book that has ever been written will save the world. I cleave to no system. I am a true seeker. ~Mikhail Bakunin
2005
If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind. ~John Stuart Mill(born 20 May 1806)
2006
Love is like some fresh spring, first a stream and then a river, changing its aspect and its nature as it flows to plunge itself in some boundless ocean, where restricted natures only find monotony, but where great souls are engulfed in endless contemplation. ~Honoré de Balzac(born 20 May 1799)
2007
The prevailing tendency to regard all the marked distinctions of human character as innate, and in the main indelible, and to ignore the irresistible proofs that by far the greater part of those differences, whether between individuals, races, or sexes, are such as not only might but naturally would be produced by differences in circumstances, is one of the chief hindrances to the rational treatment of great social questions, and one of the greatest stumbling blocks to human improvement. ~John Stuart Mill
2008
The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error. ~John Stuart Mill
2009
However unwillingly a person who has a strong opinion may admit the possibility that his opinion may be false, he ought to be moved by the consideration that, however true it may be, if it is not fully, frequently, and fearlessly discussed, it will be held as a dead dogma, not a living truth. ~John Stuart Mill
2010
The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant. He cannot rightfully be compelled to do or forbear because it will be better for him to do so, because it will make him happier, because, in the opinions of others, to do so would be wise, or even right. These are good reasons for remonstrating with him, or reasoning with him, or persuading him or entreating him, but not for compelling him, or visiting him with any evil, in case he do otherwise. ~John Stuart Mill
2011
Kindness is not without its rocks ahead. People are apt to put it down to an easy temper and seldom recognize it as the secret striving of a generous nature; whilst, on the other hand, the ill-natured get credit for all the evil they refrain from. ~Honoré de Balzac
2012
To saunter is to enjoylife;it is to indulge theflightof fancy; it is to enjoy thesublimepictures ofmisery,oflove,ofjoy,ofgraciousor grotesque physiognomies; it is to pierce with a glance the abysses of a thousand existences; for theyoungit is todesireall, and to possess all; for theoldit is to live the life of the youthful, and to share theirpassions.
~Honoré de Balzac~
2013
Lovehas its owninstinct,finding the way to theheart,as the feeblestinsectfinds the way to itsflower,with awillwhichnothingcan dismay nor turn aside.
~Honoré de Balzac~
2014
There is arevolutioncoming. It will not be like revolutions of thepast.It will originate with theindividualand withculture,and it willchangethepoliticalstructure only as its final act. It will not requireviolencetosucceed,and it cannot be successfully resisted by violence. It is now spreading with amazing rapidity, and already ourlaws,institutions andsocialstructure are changing inconsequence.It promises a higherreason,a morehumancommunity,and a new andliberatedindividual.Its ultimatecreationwill be a new and enduringwholenessandbeauty— a renewedrelationshipof man to himself, to other men, tosociety,tonature,and to the land.
This is the revolution of the new generation.
~Charles A. Reich~
2015
Let not any onepacifyhisconscienceby thedelusionthat he can do noharmif he takes no part, and forms noopinion.Badmen neednothingmore to compass their ends, than thatgoodmen should look on and do nothing. He is not a good man who, without a protest, allowswrongto be committed in hisname,and with themeanswhich hehelpsto supply, because he will not trouble himself to use hismindon the subject.
~John Stuart Mill~
2016
When anopinionistrue,it may be extinguished once, twice, or many times, but in the course of ages there will generally be found persons to rediscover it, until some one of its reappearances falls on atimewhen from favourablecircumstancesit escapespersecutionuntil it has made such head as to withstand all subsequent attempts tosuppressit.
~John Stuart Mill~
2017
Manyfalseopinionsmay be exchanged fortrueones, without in the least altering thehabitsofmindof which false opinions are made.… I am nowconvinced,that nogreatimprovements in the lot ofmankindare possible, until a greatchangetakes place in the fundamental constitution of their modes ofthought.
~John Stuart Mill~
2018
We can never be sure that theopinionwe are endeavouring to stifle is afalseopinion; and if we were sure, stifling it would be anevilstill.
First: the opinion which it is attempted to suppress byauthoritymay possibly be true. Those whodesiretosuppressit, of coursedenyitstruth;but they are notinfallible.They have no authority to decide the question for allmankind,and exclude every other person from the means of judging. To refuse a hearing to an opinion, because they are sure that it is false, is to assume thattheircertaintyis the same thing asabsolutecertainty. All silencing of discussion is an assumption of infallibility. Itscondemnationmay be allowed to rest on this commonargument,not the worse for being common.
Unfortunately for thegood senseof mankind, thefactof their fallibility is far from carrying the weight in their practicaljudgment,which is always allowed to it intheory;for while every one well knows himself to be fallible, few think itnecessaryto take any precautions against their own fallibility, or admit the supposition that any opinion, of which they feel very certain, may be one of the examples of theerrorto which they acknowledge themselves to be liable.
~John Stuart Mill~
in
~On Liberty~
2019
Apennilessmanwho has no ties to bind him is master ofhimselfat any rate, but a luckless wretch who is inloveno longer belongs to himself, and may not take his ownlife.Love makes us almostsacredin our owneyes;it is the life of another that wereverewithin us; then and sobeginsfor us thecruelesttroubleofall.
~Honoré de Balzac~
2020
Liesrun sprints but thetruthruns marathons.
~Michael Jackson~
2021
Ages are no moreinfalliblethanindividuals;every age having held manyopinionswhich subsequent ages have deemed not onlyfalsebutabsurd;and it is ascertainthat many opinions now general will be rejected byfutureages, as it is that many, once general, are rejected by thepresent.
~John Stuart Mill~
2022
Ourheartis a treasury; if you pour out all itswealthat once, you are bankrupt. We show no moremercyto the affection that reveals its utmost extent than we do to another kind of prodigal who has not a penny left.
~Honoré de Balzac~
2023
The best state forhumannatureis that in which, while no one ispoor,no onedesiresto be richer, nor has anyreasontofearbeing thrust back by theeffortsof others to push themselves forward.
~John Stuart Mill~
2024
The dictum thattruthalways triumphs overpersecution,is one of those pleasantfalsehoodswhich men repeat after one another till they pass into commonplaces, but which allexperiencerefutes.Historyteems with instances of truth put down by persecution. If not suppressed for ever, it may be thrown back for centuries.… Men are not more zealous for truth than they often are forerror,and a sufficient application oflegalor even ofsocialpenaltieswill generally succeed in stopping the propagation of either. The realadvantagewhich truth has, consists in this, that when anopinionis true, it may be extinguished once, twice, or many times, but in the course of ages there will generally be found persons to rediscover it, until some one of its reappearances falls on atimewhen from favourablecircumstancesit escapes persecution until it has made such head as to withstand all subsequent attempts tosuppressit.
~John Stuart Mill~
2025
Rank or add further suggestions…

Quotes by people born this day, already used as QOTD:

  • Truth gains more even by the errors of one who, with due study and preparation, thinks for himself, than by the true opinions of those who only hold them because they do not suffer themselves to think. ~John Stuart Mill

The Quote of the Day (QOTD) is a prominent feature of theWikiquote Main Page.Thank you for submitting, reviewing, and ranking suggestions!

Ranking system
4:Excellent – should definitely be used.(This is the utmost ranking and should be used by any editor for only one quote at a time for each date.)
3:Very Good– strong desire to see it used.
2:Good– some desire to see it used.
1:Acceptable– but with no particular desire to see it used.
0:Not acceptable– not appropriate for use as a quote of the day.
An averaging of the rankings provided to each suggestion produces it’s general ranking in considerations for selection of Quote of the Day.The selections made are usually chosen from the top ranked options existing on the page, but the provision of highly ranked late additions, especially in regard to special events (most commonly in regard to the deaths of famous people, or other major social or physical occurrences), always remain an option for final selections.
Thank you for participating!

Suggestions

[edit]

There is something great and terrible about suicide. ~Honoré de Balzac

  • 3 because in death comes the terror and the tragedy, but in accepting and approaching the demise comes a grandeur of sort. The moments can be described as terrible and great all at the same time. It's one of the major reasons why I love many of the characters I love, because their demise, whether in suicide or homicide, is made magnificently brilliant, a concoction of emotion and sheer bitter power expressed through final moments.Zarbon00:03, 3 May 2008 (UTC)
  • 2InvisibleSun06:19, 18 May 2008 (UTC)
  • 1Kalki00:18, 19 May 2008 (UTC)
  • 1 Without context, it is meaningless and even sounds offensive POV. As a widow of suicidal dead husband, I feel quite disgusted. --Aphaia10:40, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

We have no solution, you shall continue to live like dogs, and whoever wishes may leave, and we will see where this process leads. ~Moshe Dayan(born May 20)

  • 3 because the truth is sometimes the best remedy.Zarbon04:56, 17 May 2008 (UTC)
  • 0 See the discussion page for Dayan about this continually disputed quote. It was moved from Attributed to Sourced by an editor in March 2008. It will likely be moved, deleted and restored many more times. Even without its doubtful verification, I wouldn't be inclined to vote for it.InvisibleSun06:19, 18 May 2008 (UTC)
    • Source: Fateful Triangle: The United States, Israel, and the Palestinians - Page 561 - Noam Chomsky - Political Science - 1999
    • Comment: Now it is sourced so you can repeat your vote.Zarbon21:37, 18 May 2008 (UTC)
  • This, however, is the very source that's endlessly disputed; see the discussion page on Dayan for the reasons. Even if there were more of an agreement on the source, I would end up giving it a 1.InvisibleSun02:21, 19 May 2008 (UTC)
  • 1Kalki00:18, 19 May 2008 (UTC)
  • 1Aphaia10:40, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

I know of nothing more exciting than war. ~Moshe Dayan

OR

War is the most exciting and dramatic thing in life. In fighting to the death you feel terribly relaxed when you manage to come through. ~Moshe Dayan

  • 2 and I agree with Dayan here. The amount of excitement is unparalleled, regardless of all the horrid pain and suffering, it is true that war is never ever dull.Zarbon04:56, 17 May 2008 (UTC)
  • 0 This is an Unsourced quote.InvisibleSun06:19, 18 May 2008 (UTC)
    • SOURCE:The Book of Military Quotations- Peter G. Tsouras - Reference - 2005 - Page 477
    • Comment: Now it is sourced so you can repeat your vote.Zarbon21:37, 18 May 2008 (UTC)
  • Then it's a 2 for the second version.InvisibleSun02:21, 19 May 2008 (UTC)
  • 1Kalki00:18, 19 May 2008 (UTC)



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