Language is an anonymous, collective and unconscious art; the result of the creativity of thousands of generations.
-Edward Sapir, anthropologist and linguist (1884-1939)

Only kings, presidents, editors, and people with tapeworms have the right to use the editorial 'we'.
- Mark Twain

Syllables govern the world.
-John Selden, historian and politician (1584-1654)

Obstinacy is the result of the will forcing itself into the place of the intellect.
-Arthur Schopenhauer, philosopher (1788-1860)

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A wise man will make haste to forgive, because he knows the true value of time, and will not suffer it to pass away in unnecessary pain.
-Samuel Johnson, lexicographer (1709-1784)

It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do a little.
-Sydney Smith, writer and clergyman (1771-1845)

Do not think of knocking out another person's brains because he differs in opinion from you. It would be as rational to knock yourself on the head because you differ from yourself ten years ago.
-Horace Mann, educational reformer (1796-1859)

The perfection of a clock is not to go fast, but to be accurate.
-Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues, moralist and essayist (1715-1747)

Words, like eyeglasses, obscure everything they do not make clear.

-Joseph Joubert, moralist and essayist (1754-1824)