John von Neumann: Quote for December 13, 2009

If people do not believe that mathematics is simple, it is only because they do not realize how complicated life is.

-- John von Neumann

Categories: John von Neumann

Barbara Ehrenreich: Quote for December 12, 2009

It seems to me that there must be an ecological limit to the number of paper pushers the earth can sustain, and that human civilization will collapse when the number of, say, tax lawyers exceeds the world's total population of farmers, weavers, fisherpersons, and pediatric nurses.

-- Barbara Ehrenreich

Categories: Barbara Ehrenreich

Robert A. Heinlein: Quote for December 11, 2009

What are the facts? Again and again and again — what are the facts? Shun wishful thinking, ignore divine revelation, forget what "the stars foretell," avoid opinion, care not what the neighbors think, never mind the unguessable "verdict of history"; what are the facts, and to how many decimal places? You pilot always into an unknown future; facts are your single clue. Get the facts!

-- Robert A. Heinlein

Categories: Robert A. Heinlein

Mother Teresa: Quote for December 10, 2009

People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

• If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
• If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
• If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
• The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
• Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

-- Mother Teresa

Categories: Mother Teresa

W C Fields: Quote for December 9, 2009

Women are like Elephants. I like to watch them, but I wouldn't want to own one.

-- W C Fields

Categories: W C Fields

Andrew Carnegie: Quote for December 8, 2009

Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishment toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.

-- Andrew Carnegie

Categories: Andrew Carnegie

Ayn Rand: Quote for December 7, 2009

We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission; which is the stage of the darkest periods of human history, the stage of rule by brute force.

-- Ayn Rand

Read Ayn Rand's Novella "Anthem" for free. Click here.

Categories: Ayn Rand

Erwin Rommel: Quote for December 6, 2009

Men are basically smart or dumb and lazy or ambitious. The dumb and ambitious ones are dangerous and I get rid of them. The dumb and lazy ones I give mundane duties. The smart ambitious ones I put on my staff. The smart and lazy ones I make my commanders.

-- Erwin Rommel

This was how he selected the officers under his command.

Categories: Erwin Rommel

Colonel Hogan: Quote for December 5, 2009

Sir, you see, today is one of our national holidays, Repeal of Prohibition. The fellas were preparing a gourmet dinner and they asked me to invite our lovable Commandant to join the festivities.

-- Colonel Hogan

from: Hogan's Heroes (1965)

Bob Crane acted as Colonel Hogan

Werner Klemperer appears in this clip acting as Colonel Klink.
Henry Corden appears in this clip acting as General von Kaplow.

The Repeal of Prohibition occurred on December 5, 1933.

Categories: Colonel Hogan, Bob Crane, Hogan's Heroes

Alexis de Tocqueville: Quote for December 4, 2009

In America the majority raises formidable barriers around the liberty of opinion; within these barriers an author may write what he pleases, but woe to him if he goes beyond them.

-- Alexis de Tocqueville

This is still true today. The modern term for these barriers is "Political Correctness."

Categories: Alexis de Tocqueville

Daisy Buchanan: Quote for December 3, 2009

Jay Gatsby: Why? Why didn't you wait for me?

Because, rich girls don't marry poor boys, Jay Gatsby. Haven't you heard? Rich girls don't marry poor boys.

-- Daisy Buchanan

from: The Great Gatsby (1974)

Mia Farrow acted as Daisy Buchanan

Robert Redford appears in this clip acting as Jay Gatsby.

Categories: Daisy Buchanan, Mia Farrow, The Great Gatsby

Rod Blagojevich: Quote for December 2, 2009

For the same reason we don't allow kids to buy pornography, for the same reason we don't allow kids to buy cigarettes, for the same reason we don't allow kids to buy alcohol, we shouldn't allow them to go to stores and buy video games.

-- Rod Blagojevich

Categories: Rod Blagojevich

George Burns: Quote for December 1, 2009

I honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate.

-- George Burns

Categories: George Burns

Betrand Russell: Quote for November 30, 2009

Yet, by death, by illness, by poverty, or by the voice of duty, we must learn, each one of us, that the world was not made for us, and that, however beautiful may be the things we crave, Fate may nevertheless forbid them.

-- Betrand Russell

Click here to read Bertrand Russell's Mysticism and Logic and Other Essays, from which this quote is taken.

Categories: Betrand Russell

Confucius: Quote for November 29, 2009

To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.

-- Confucius

Categories: Confucius