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Words from the Wise: Over 6,000 of the Smartest Things Ever Said
When faced with life's greatest quandaries, there's just one place to go for all your beloved heroes and heroines. These 6,000 thought-provoking quotations cover almost every imaginable dilemma and come from writers like Confucius, Horace, Shakespeare, Twain and Austen; modern figures such as Andy Rooney and Meryl Streep; and fictional TV favorites Homer Simpson and Chandler Bing. Need help when considering a new look? Jim Morrison "Some of the worst mistakes of my life have been haircuts." Want to know if a new relationship is going to work out? Woody Allen can tell you, "The only love that lasts is unrequited love." Arranged alphabetically, this wordfest encompasses everything from attraction to zen, cats to dogs, and politics to religion.
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594 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2007
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61 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 1, 2022
Title sums it up.
Not much really to say. The title really sums it up. Lots of inspiring, humorous, and thought provoking quotes. Entertaining
Not much really to say. The title really sums it up. Lots of inspiring, humorous, and thought provoking quotes. Entertaining
November 15, 2019
I am a collector of aphorisms. Listed below are some aphorisms that I found clever and wise and collected it for further reference. There were a number of topics that did not interest me so I skipped various sections of the book.
First do it, then say it. Russian proverb
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We do not know what to do with this short life, yet we want another which will be eternal. Anatole France
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Take care that old age does not wrinkle your spirit even more than your face. Michel de Montaigne
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A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves. Bertrand de Jouvenel
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We shall have to repent in this generation not so much for the evil deeds of the wicked people but for the appalling silence of the good people. Martin Luther King
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A man who works with his hands is a labourer; a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist.
Louis Nizer
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The most costly of all follies is to believe passionately in the palpably not true. It is the chief occupation of mankind. H. L. Mencken
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Under capitalism man exploits man; under socialism it’s the other way round. Polish saying
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Foreign aid: when the poor people of a rich nation send their money to the rich people of a poor nation. Anon
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Every day people are straying away from church and going back to God. Lenny Bruce
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It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution. Oscar Wilde All the good writers of confessions, from Augustine onwards, are men who are still a little in love with their sins.
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We are all born originals – why is it so many of us die copies?
Edward Young
First do it, then say it. Russian proverb
==========
We do not know what to do with this short life, yet we want another which will be eternal. Anatole France
==========
Take care that old age does not wrinkle your spirit even more than your face. Michel de Montaigne
==========
A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves. Bertrand de Jouvenel
==========
We shall have to repent in this generation not so much for the evil deeds of the wicked people but for the appalling silence of the good people. Martin Luther King
==========
A man who works with his hands is a labourer; a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist.
Louis Nizer
==========
The most costly of all follies is to believe passionately in the palpably not true. It is the chief occupation of mankind. H. L. Mencken
==========
Under capitalism man exploits man; under socialism it’s the other way round. Polish saying
==========
Foreign aid: when the poor people of a rich nation send their money to the rich people of a poor nation. Anon
==========
Every day people are straying away from church and going back to God. Lenny Bruce
==========
It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution. Oscar Wilde All the good writers of confessions, from Augustine onwards, are men who are still a little in love with their sins.
==========
We are all born originals – why is it so many of us die copies?
Edward Young
March 28, 2024
"An opinion is just that. Only take it in, if it makes sense and you like it." - Gez (a wise old friend of mine)
A very comprehensive book of quotes that I've been reading for half a year (reading material whilst I brushed my teeth). What's great about this book is that even as a quotes connoisseur or more accurate: obsessive, I haven't read most of them. And the ones that I had, I never knew who had spoken them which gave me a chance to look up who these intelligent world changers were. There's a mix of funny, profound and enlightening sayings that has increased my intelligence by about 10% give or take.
The lack of a star is the obvious bias of the curator. It's clear she isn't a woman of faith, she's a pacifist, she has a pessimistic view on life etc. She doesn't offer a multitude of viewpoints. I think that loses some of its credibility.
But overall, the quotes were easy enough to understand and some quite memorable. It mixed contempary in with tried and tested quotes and proverbs. Not a short book but nice to dip in and out of, especially whilst cleaning your mush.
A very comprehensive book of quotes that I've been reading for half a year (reading material whilst I brushed my teeth). What's great about this book is that even as a quotes connoisseur or more accurate: obsessive, I haven't read most of them. And the ones that I had, I never knew who had spoken them which gave me a chance to look up who these intelligent world changers were. There's a mix of funny, profound and enlightening sayings that has increased my intelligence by about 10% give or take.
The lack of a star is the obvious bias of the curator. It's clear she isn't a woman of faith, she's a pacifist, she has a pessimistic view on life etc. She doesn't offer a multitude of viewpoints. I think that loses some of its credibility.
But overall, the quotes were easy enough to understand and some quite memorable. It mixed contempary in with tried and tested quotes and proverbs. Not a short book but nice to dip in and out of, especially whilst cleaning your mush.
November 16, 2020
You lost me at Adolf Hitler...
November 1, 2024
Loved this collection. Like all quote books, it is hard to read this cover toncover, but it would be lovely to have this book in my collection and turn the pages randomly and reflect upon quotes!
November 10, 2019
Insightful and informative providing an table full of "Food for thought"
Some of the wisest words made me smile and made me laugh at times.
Some of the wisest words made me smile and made me laugh at times.
November 15, 2012
Everyone should read at least one book of quotes in their life. It is an easier way to see into the minds of those influential people of yesteryear, without studying a full history. The topics are set up in a straight forward manner though I wish there would have been some sort of index to find quotes by people, such as Mark Twain. Not much to say about this book in particular, it seems to have a good assortment of topics and authors not so big as to be overwhelming but not so small as to leave you wishing for more.
January 27, 2008
Yes, it's just a compilation and a worse selection would make it no different than a gift shop book, but the selection is very, very good.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews