Distinguished Quotes - Page 2

• That which is usually called dotage is not the weak point of all old men, but only of such as are distinguished by their levity.

  Marcus Tullius Cicero

  Men, Age, Weak Points

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• Living organisms are distinguished by their specified complexity

  Leslie Orgel

  Complexity, Living Organisms, Organisms

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• Imagination in poetry, as distinguished from mere fancy is the transfiguring of the real or actual to the ideal.

  Alfred Austin

  Real, Imagination, Fancy

  "The Bridling of Pegasus: Prose Papers on Poetry". Book by Alfred Austin, 1910.

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• As a graduate student at Columbia University, I remember the a priori derision of my distinguished stratigraphy professor toward a visiting Australian drifter [a supporter of the theory of continental drift]. Today my own students would dismiss with even more derision anyone who denied the evident truth of continental drift - a prophetic madman is at least amusing; a superannuated fuddy-duddy is merely pitiful.

  Stephen Jay Gould

  Today, Students, Graduates

  "Ever Since Darwin: Reflections in Natural History". Book by Stephen Jay Gould. "The Validation of Continental Drift", pp. 160-161, 1977.

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• Man is distinguished not only by his reason, but also by this singular passion, from all other animals.

  Thomas Hobbes

  Passion, Men, Animal

  Thomas Hobbes (1750). “The Moral and Political Works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury: Never Before Collected Together : To which is Prefixed, the Author's Life, Extracted from that Said to be Written by Himself, ...”, p.119

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• While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.

  George Washington

  Christian, Character, Voting

  Philander D. Chase, George Washington, Frank E. Grizzard, Edward G. Lengel, Dorothy Twohig (2006). “The Papers of George Washington: May-June 1778”, University of Virginia Press

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• I'd like to have two armies: one for display with lovely guns, tanks, little soldiers, staffs, distinguished and doddering generals, and dear little regimental officers who would be deeply concerned over their general's bowel movements or their colonel's piles, an army that would be shown for a modest fee on every fairground in the country.

  Jean Larteguy

  Country, Military, Army

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• The life of the artist should be distinguished from that of all other people, even in external habits. They are Brahmins, a higher caste, not ennobled by birth, however, but through deliberate self-initiation.

  Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel

  Artist, Self, People

  "Dialogue on Poetry and Literary Aphorisms" by Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel, translated by Ernst Behler and Roman Struc, Pennsylvania University Press, 1968.

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• The first-beginnings of things cannot be distinguished by the eye.

  Lucretius

  Creativity, New Beginnings, Eye

  "De rerum natura".

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• We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess. Sometimes we are too close to the scene, to see clearly. We "know" ourselves so well that we cannot see how we are perceived by others. Our opinion of ourselves is only "one" opinion and it may not be the truth.

  Mark Twain

  Inspirational Life, May, Fifteen

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• It would be more honourable to our distinguished ancestors to praise them in words less, but in deeds to imitate them more.

  Horace Mann

  Grandparent, Would Be, Deeds

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• Even today a good many distinguished minds seem unable to accept or even to understand that from a source of noise natural selection alone and unaided could have drawn all the music of the biosphere. In effect natural selection operates upon the products of chance and can feed nowhere else; but it operates in a domain of very demanding conditions, and from this domain chance is barred. It is not to chance but to these conditions that eveloution owes its generally progressive cource, its successive conquests, and the impresssion it gives of a smooth and steady unfolding.

  Jacques Monod

  Science, Acceptance, Giving

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• It is proof of a narrow mind when things worthy of esteem are distinguished from things worthy of love. Great minds naturally love whatever is worthy of their esteem.

  Luc de Clapiers

  Mind, Proof, Worthy

  Jean de La Bruyère, Luc de Clapiers marquis de Vauvenargues (1903). “La Bruyère and Vauvenargues: Selections from the Characters, Reflexions and Maxims”

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• Therefore the Sage embraces Unity, and is a model for all under Heaven. He is free from self-display, therefore he shines forth; from self-assertion, therefore he is distinguished; from self-glorification, therefore he has merit; from self-exaltation, therefore he rises superior to all. Inasmuch as he does not strive, there is no one in the world who can strive with him.

  Laozi

  Humility, Self, Shining

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• It is not the most distinguished achievements that men's virtues or vices may be best discovered; but very often an action of small note. An casual remark or joke shall distinguish a person's real character more than the greatest sieges, or the most important battles.

  Plutarch

  Real, Character, Men

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• Let me be content with being happy, without sighing that I am not distinguished.

  Anna Seward

  Being Happy, Sigh, Let Me

  Anna Seward (1810). “Works”, p.73

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• When, however, the lay public rallies round an idea that is denounced by distinguished but elderly scientists and supports that idea with great fervor and emotion - the distinguished but elderly scientists are then, after all, probably right.

  Isaac Asimov

  Science, Ideas, Elderly

  Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, 1977.

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• The world would be astonished if it knew how great a proportion of its brightest ornaments, of those distinguished even in popular estimation for wisdom and virtue, are complete sceptics in religion.

  John Stuart Mill

  Religion, Ornaments, Would Be

  John Stuart Mill (2015). “Autobiography John Stuart Mill: Top Biography”, p.20, 谷月社

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• The hero was distinguished by his achievement; the celebrity by his image or trademark. The hero created himself; the celebrity is created by the media. The hero was a big man; the celebrity is a big name.

  Daniel J. Boorstin

  Sports, Hero, Men

  Daniel J. Boorstin (2012). “The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-Events in America”, p.61, Vintage

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• Today we know not only that there is a terrible amount of disorder in the heavens - great catastrophes or conflagrations occur frequently - but evolution gives us a perfectly natural explanation of such order as there is. No distinguished astronomer now traces "the finger of God" in the heavens; and astronomers ought to know best.

  Joseph McCabe

  Order, Giving, Heaven

  Joseph McCabe (1929). “The Story of Religious Controversy”

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• I tell young girls all the time: "Go for the guys who are more serious, distinguished". The hot-model types, they're too pretty, and too wet behind the ears. Besides, do you want a guy who takes longer to get ready than you?

  Kimora Lee Simmons

  Girl, Guy, Hot

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• Emotions of any kind are produced by melody and rhythm; therefore by music a man becomes accustomed to feeling the right emotions; music has thus the power to form character, and the various kinds of music based on various modes may be distinguished by their effects on character.

  Aristotle

  Character, Men, Feelings

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• Let me say that for comfort, there is no thought more full of sweetness than that of an eternal God engaged in Christ Jesus to His people; to love, and bless, and save them all. One Who has made them the distinguished objects of His discriminating regard from all eternity, it is the eternal God.

  Charles Spurgeon

  Jesus, People, Comfort

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• Setting aside the vast herd which shows no definable character at all, it seems to me that the minority distinguished by what is commonly regarded as an excess of sin is very much more admirable than the minority distinguished by an excess of virtue. My experience of the world has taught me that the average wine-bibbler is a far better fellow than the average prohibitionist, and that the average rogue is better company than the average poor drudge, and that the worst white-slave trader of my acquaintance is a decenter man than the best vice crusader.

  H. L. Mencken

  Wine, Character, Men

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• Humility is not a weak and timid quality; it must be carefully distinguished from a groveling spirit.

  Edwin Hubbel Chapin

  Humility, Quality, Spirit

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