98
You can never understand one language until you understand at least two.
By Geoffrey Willans, English writer and journalist
377
The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.
By George Orwell
Orwell is most recognised for his works '1984' and 'Animal Farm', where he cautions against totalitarian regimes and the threats posed by propaganda. This quote demontsrates how the knowledge of one's own past acts as a crucial element in forming both personal and collective identity.
105
Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.
By Margaret Mead, cultural anthropologist
3
I have nothing to declare but my genius!
By Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde was not known for his modesty! This is, reputedly, Wilde's response to an offical who asked him if he had anything to declare at a customs control in New York in 1882.
180
Anyone can become angry…That is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way—that is not easy.
By Aristotle, ancient Greek Philosopher
179
It's scary what a smile can hide.
By Park Jimin, South Korean singer
This lyric from the song "Filter" serves as a reminder of the complexity of human emotions, urging us to be compassionate and not to take things at face value, as we never know the full story.
122
The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.
By William Shakespeare
A truly wise person recognises their own limitations and acknowledges that there is always more to learn. This critique of arrogance is from Shakespeare's "As You Like It", Act 5, Scene 1.
10
My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or the other of us has to go.
By Oscar Wilde
Said by Oscar Wilde who near the end of his life was debt-ridden and ill and his shabby accommodation in Paris did not meet with his aesthetic standards.
106
Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans.
By attributed to John Lennon
Although the quote is often attributed to John Lennon, it was reputedly first used in 1957 in an issue of Reader’s Digest by a man named Allen Saunders.
466
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars
By Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde
Unlike many quotes attributed to Wilde, this one was not spoken by him during conversation, but comes from the play 'Lady Windermere’s Fan' where the line is uttered by Lord Darlington.
There are many amusing sayings attributed to Wilde (such as "Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go" ) however, often there is little or no evidence to prove that they really did originate from him. In this case there is no such ambiguity.
241
Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about.
By Marilyn Monroe
This quote, attributed to the iconic American actress, reflects her perspective on maintaining a positive outlook. Despite difficulties or hardships, there is always something worthwhile to appreciate and be joyful about.
404
Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.
By Christian Lous Lange, Norwegian Politician
Lange's quote underscores the dual nature of technology. On one hand, technology can greatly enhance human life and productivity when used effectively and responsibly. On the other hand, when technology becomes dominant or uncontrolled, it can lead to significant problems and challenges.
217
You have two choices, to control your mind or to let your mind control you.
By Paulo Coelho, Brazilian novelist
This quote comes from Coelho's work 'Veronika Decides to Die', a novel about the meaning and value of life and the possibility of rebirth and transformation. This particular quote reflects the power of the mind in shaping our reality, and therefore, the importance of choosing to control one's mind.
79
There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.
By Oscar Wilde
In his book "The Picture of Dorian Gray".
100
Nothing is impossible, the word itself says I'm possible.
By Audrey Hepburn, actress and humanitarian
175
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
By Elbert Hubbard, writer
A variaion of the famous phrase first appeared in print in a 1915 obituary for Marshall Pinckney Wilder, written by Hubbard. In the obituary, Hubbard wrote, "He picked up the lemons that Fate had sent him and started a lemonade-stand." The phrase as it is used today is accredited to author Dale Carnegie, who wrote “If you have a lemon, make a lemonade” in his book 'How to Stop Worrying and Start Living'. The phrase's meaning encourages us to be optimistic in the face of adversity and to turn setbacks into opportunities.
376
When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.
By Samuel Johnson
This might be the most frequently cited quote about London. Interestingly, it was penned not by someone from the capital, but by a man who didn't live there until he was twenty-seven. Dr. Samuel Johnson is considered one of the most eminent figures in English literary history.
164
Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.
By Malcolm X, civil rights activist
This quote is from Malcolm X's 1964 address at the founding rally of the Organisation of Afro-American Unity. It serves as a reminder of the important role education plays in shaping our future, opening doors to new opportunities and experiences.
93
I can never wear beige because nobody will know who I am.
By Queen Elizabeth II
104
I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.
By Douglas Adams, The Salmon of Doubt
99
The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.
By Ludwig Wittgenstein, Austrian-British philosopher
155
I desire the things which will destroy me in the end.
By Sylvia Plath, American poet and novelist
This reflects a profound and complex emotional state, often explored in Plath's work, as her writing frequently deals with themes of inner conflict and existential despair. This quote reflects the internal conflict between one's destructive impulses and the understanding that it may lead to personal harm.
267
The best way to predict your future is to create it.
By Attributed to Abraham Lincoln, former president of the United States of America
This quote addresses the concept of self-determination, claiming that it is our choices and actions that mould our future, thus giving us a degree of control in creating our reality.