Spike Milligan (1918-2002), on a characteristic of religious fanaticism ::
Like most fanatics, he didn’t enjoy religion, he suffered from it. Continue reading Spike Milligan (1918-2002), on a characteristic of religious fanaticism ::
Tag: quote
Joseph Conrad (1857-1924), on the soldier and the philosopher ::
I remember I preferred the soldier to the philosopher at the time; a preference which life has only confirmed. One was a man, and the other was either more—or less. Continue reading Joseph Conrad (1857-1924), on the soldier and the philosopher ::
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), on life’s least possible dimensions ::
… that moment of evening when the light and the darkness are so evenly balanced that the constraint of day and the suspense of night neutralise each other, leaving absolute mental liberty. It is then that the plight of being alive becomes attenuated to its least possible dimensions. Continue reading Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), on life’s least possible dimensions ::
Lionel Ferbos (b. 1911), on his Life as a Trumpeter ::
There’s something to be said for doing one thing right. Continue reading Lionel Ferbos (b. 1911), on his Life as a Trumpeter ::
Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), on Those Who Count ::
It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is … Continue reading Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), on Those Who Count ::
Confucius (551 BC-479 BC), on Leadership ::
Lead the people with governmental measures and regulate them by law and punishment, and they will avoid wrongdoing but have no sense of honour and shame. Lead them with virtue and regulate them by the rules of propriety, and they will have a sense of shame and, moreover, set themselves right. Continue reading Confucius (551 BC-479 BC), on Leadership ::
Han Feizi (280 BC-233 BC), on Fathers and Sons ::
[To] hold that rulers and ministers act toward each other like father and son and consequently there will necessarily be orderly government, is to imply that there are no disorderly fathers and sons. Continue reading Han Feizi (280 BC-233 BC), on Fathers and Sons ::
Robert Fink, on Repetitive Music ::
… repetitive music provides an acknowledgment, a warning, a defense — or even just an aesthetic thrill — in the face of myriad repetitive relationships that, in late-capitalist consumer society, we must all face over and over (and over and over …). We repeated ourselves into this culture. We might be able to repeat ourselves out. Continue reading Robert Fink, on Repetitive Music ::
Friedrich Nietszche (1844-1900), on Masters ::
Masters of the very first order can be recognised by the following characteristic: in all matters great and small they know with perfect assurance how to find the end, whether it be the end of a melody or the end of a thought, whether it be the fifth act of a tragedy or the end of a political action. The very best of the second-in-rank … Continue reading Friedrich Nietszche (1844-1900), on Masters ::
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976), on Posterity ::
I believe in roots, in associations, in backgrounds, in personal relationships. I want my music to be of use to people, to please them … I do not write for posterity. Continue reading Benjamin Britten (1913-1976), on Posterity ::
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (1870-1924), on Music ::
I can’t listen to music too often. It affects your nerves, makes you want to say stupid nice things, and stroke the heads of people who could create such beauty while living in this vile hell. Continue reading Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (1870-1924), on Music ::
Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951), on Free Speech ::
Art is from the outset naturally not for the people. But one wants to force it to be. Everyone is supposed to have their say. For the new bliss consists of the right to speak: free speech! Oh God! Continue reading Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951), on Free Speech ::
Feruccio Busoni (1866-1924), on Banality:
Do not be afraid of banality. Continue reading Feruccio Busoni (1866-1924), on Banality:
William James (1842-1910), on the Religious Problem ::
Here is the real core of the religious problem: Help! help! Continue reading William James (1842-1910), on the Religious Problem ::
Thomas Mann (1875-1955), on the Purpose of Art ::
Do you think gaudy colours can gloss over the misery of the world? Do you think loud orgies of good taste can drown the moans of the tortured earth? … Art is the sacred torch that must shed its merciful light into all life’s terrible depths, into every shameful and sorrowful abyss; art is the divine flame that must set fire to the world, until … Continue reading Thomas Mann (1875-1955), on the Purpose of Art ::
