Contrary Quotes - Page 39

• It is a very grave mistake to think that the enjoyment of seeing and searching can be promoted by means of coercion and a sense of duty. To the contrary, I believe it would be possible to rob even a healthy beast of prey of its voraciousness, if it were possible, with the aid of a whip, to force the beast to devour continuously, even when not hungry.

  Albert Einstein

  Education, Mistake, Believe

  Albert Einstein, Stephen W. Hawking (2007). “A Stubbornly Persistent Illusion: The Essential Scientific Works of Albert Einstein”, p.346, Running Press

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• Jo's face was a study next day, for the secret rather weighed upon her, and she found it hard not to look mysterious and important. Meg observed it, but did not troubled herself to make inquiries, for she had learned that the best way to manage Jo was by the law of contraries, so she felt sure of being told everything if she did not ask.

  Louisa May Alcott

  Law, Next Day, Secret

  Louisa May Alcott (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Louisa May Alcott (Illustrated)”, p.414, Delphi Classics

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• Thus we never see the true state of our condition till it is illustrated to us by its contraries, nor know how to value what we enjoy, but by the want of it.

  Daniel Defoe

  Want, States, Enjoy

  Daniel Defoe (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Daniel Defoe (Illustrated)”, p.128, Delphi Classics

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• Do the kind of things that come from the heart, When you do, you won't be dissatisfied, you won't be envious, you won't be longing for somebody else's things. On the contrary, you'll be overhelmed with what comes back

  Morrie Schwartz

  Heart, Kind, Longing

  "Tuesdays with Morrie". Book by Mitch Albom, 1997.

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• It is not the consciousness of men that determines their being, but, on the contrary, their social being that determines their consciousness.

  Karl Marx

  Men, Consciousness, Communist Manifesto

  Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels (1973). “Karl Marx on Society and Social Change: With Selections by Friedrich Engels”, p.5, University of Chicago Press

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• He had been content with daily labour and rough animal enjoyments, 'till Catherine crossed his path. Shame at her scorn, and hope of her approval, were his first prompts to higher pursuits; and, instead of guarding him from one and winning him to the other, his endeavors to raise himself had produced just the contrary result.

  Emily Bronte

  Animal, Winning, Guarding

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• And while I'm sure you feel that your particular mistake is extraordinarily big, insurmountable even, contrary to what you might think, these types of things can always be undone, and oftentimes aren't nearily as lethal as we think—or, should I say, as we allow them to be.

  Alyson Noel

  Mistake, Thinking, Might

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• Listen carefully to me. Despite popular belief to the contrary, there is absolutely no power in intention...There is no difference in the person who intends to do things differently and the one who never thinks about it in the first place. Have you ever considered how often we judge ourselves by out intentions while we judge others by their actions? Yet intention without action is an insult to those who expect the best from you.

  Andy Andrews

  Life, Thinking, Differences

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• This does not mean that you are warmongers. On the contrary, the soldier above all other people prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. But always in our ears ring the ominous words of Plato, that wisest of all philosophers: "Only the dead have seen the end of war.

  Douglas MacArthur

  Plato, War, Mean

  Sylvanus Thayer Award Acceptance Address, delivered 12 May 1962, West Point, NY

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• If, while at the piano, you attempt to form little melodies, that is very well; but if they come into your mind of themselves, when you are not practising, you may be still more pleased; for the internal organ of music is then roused in you. The fingers must do what the head desires; not the contrary.

  Robert Schumann

  Piano, Mind, Desire

  Robert Schumann (1860). “Advice to Young Musicians”, p.28

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• Faith in God means believing absolutely in something with no proof whatsoever. Faith in humanity means believing absolutely in something with a huge amount of proof to the contrary. We are the true believers.

  Joss Whedon

  Believe, Mean, Humanity

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• Truth is contrary to our nature, not so error, and this for a very simple reason: truth demands that we should recognize ourselves as limited, error flatters us that, in one way or another, we are unlimited.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Simple, Errors, Demand

  "Maxims and Reflections". Book by by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, translated by Elisabeth Stopp. Maxim 310, 1998.

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• Prayer or not, I want to believe that, despite all evidence to the contrary, it is possible for anyone to find that one special person. That person to spend Christmas with or grow old with or just to take a nice silly walk in Central Park with. Somebody who wouldn't judge another for the prepositions they dangle, or their run-on sentences, and who in turn wouldn't be judged for the snobbery of their language etymology inclinations.

  Rachel Cohn

  Running, Prayer, Nice

  Rachel Cohn, David Levithan (2010). “Dash & Lily's Book of Dares”, p.72, Knopf Books for Young Readers

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• Hope is not blind optimism. It's not ignoring the enormity of the task ahead or the roadblocks that stand in our path. It's not sitting on the sidelines or shirking from a fight. Hope is that thing inside us that insists, despite all evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us if we have the courage to reach for it, and to work for it, and to fight for it. Hope is the belief that destiny will not be written for us, but by us, by the men and women who are not content to settle for the world as it is, who have the courage to remake the world as it should be.

  Barack Obama

  Fighting, Destiny, Men

  Iowa Caucus Victory Speech, delivered 3 January 2008, Des Moines, Iowa

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• The motive that impels modern reason to know must be described as the desire to conquer and dominate. For the Greek philosophers and the Fathers of the church, knowing meant something different: it meant knowing in wonder. By knowing or perceiving one participates in the life of the other. Here knowing does not transform the counterpart into the property of the knower; the knower does not appropriate what he knows. On the contrary, he is transformed through sympathy, becoming a participant in what he perceives.

  Jürgen Moltmann

  Father, Knowing, Greek

  "The Dance Between God and Humanity: Reading the Bible Today as the People of God". Book by Bruce K. Waltke, 2013.

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• Just being alive is such a gift, but nobody ever told you to be thankful to existence. On the contrary, everyone was grumpy, complaining. Naturally, if everything surrounding your life from the very beginning goes on pointing out to you that you are not what you should be, goes on giving you great ideals that you have to follow and you have to become, your isness is never praised. What is praised is your future - if you can become someone respectable, powerful, rich, intellectual, in some way famous, not just a nobody.

  Rajneesh

  Spiritual, Powerful, Giving

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• Right, well, he'd been sick for a while and his nurse said to him, 'You seem to be feeling better this morning,' and Isben looked at her and said, 'On the contrary,' and then he died.

  John Green

  Morning, Feel Better, Nurse

  John Green (2008). “Looking for Alaska”, p.18, Penguin

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• I understand you, and I shall not attempt to make you change your mind. I am too old to want to improve the world. I have told you what I think, and that is all. I shall remain your friend even if you act contrary to my convictions, and I shall help you even if I disagree with you.

  Milan Kundera

  Thinking, Mind, World

  "Farewell Waltz". Book by Milan Kundera, 1972.

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• God cannot honor anything, no matter its degree of sincerity, if it is contrary to His Word.

  Leslie Ludy

  Honor, Degrees, Matter

  Eric Ludy, Leslie Ludy (2009). “Wrestling Prayer: A Passionate Communion with God”, p.109, Harvest House Publishers

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• Be quiet or I'll be forced to flick you." "Ooh," he mocked. "The ultimate threat. I don't think I've ever been flicked before." "Are you suggesting I can't hurt you?" "On the contrary, I think you have the power to do great damage.

  Alexandra Adornetto

  Hurt, Thinking, Damage

  Alexandra Adornetto (2010). “Halo”, p.149, Macmillan

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• We keep on being told that religion, whatever its imperfections, at least instills morality. On every side, there is conclusive evidence that the contrary is the case and that faith causes people to be more mean, more selfish, and perhaps above all, more stupid.

  Christopher Hitchens

  Atheist, Stupid, Selfish

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• She dreams of him that has forgot her love; You dote on her that cares not for your love. 'Tis pity love should be so contrary; And thinking of it makes me cry 'alas!

  William Shakespeare

  Dream, Love You, Thinking

  William Shakespeare (1996). “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare”, p.208, Wordsworth Editions

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• You used your power to toss one rock at me?" he exclaimed, an almost comic note of incredulity in his voice. "On the contrary," I heard Dorian say pleasantly. "I didn't use magic for that. I just threw it.

  Richelle Mead

  Rocks, Voice, Magic

  Richelle Mead (2012). “Richelle Mead Dark Swan Bundle: Storm Born, Thorn Queen, Iron Crowned & Shadow Heir”, p.400, Zebra Books

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• The people heard it, and approved the doctrine, and immediately practiced the contrary.

  Benjamin Franklin

  People, Doctrine, Contradiction

  Andrew Carnegie, Benjamin Franklin (2015). “The ABC of Money: Including The Way to Wealth and The Gospel of Wealth”, p.76, Cosimo Classics

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• In this world, perfection is an illusion. Reagrdless of all those who utter the contrary, this is the reality. Obviously mediocre fools will forever lust for perfection and seek it out. However, what meaning is there in perfection? None. Not a bit. ...After perfection there exists nothing higher. Not even room for creation which means there is no room for wisdom or talent either. Understand? To scientists like ourselves, perfection is despair. - Kurotsuchi Mayuri (Bleach 306)

  Tite Kubo

  Mean, Reality, Perfection

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