Refinement Quotes - Page 7

• The idea of restraining the legislative authority, in the means of providing for the national defense, is one of those refinements which owe their origin to a zeal for liberty more ardent than enlightened.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Mean, Ideas, Liberty

  Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2016). “The Federalist Papers and the Constitution of the United States: The Principles of the American Government”, p.140, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

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• Cutting down the enemy is the way of strategy, and there is no need for many refinements of it.

  Miyamoto Musashi

  War, Cutting, Enemy

  Miyamoto Musashi, Victor Harris (2007). “A Book of Five Rings: With the Unfettered Mind”

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• The source of genius is imagination alone, the refinement of the senses that sees what others do not see, or sees them differently.

  Eugene Delacroix

  Art, Imagination, Genius

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• I think chemistry is being frittered away by the hairsplitting of the organic chemists; we have new compounds discovered, which scarcely differ from the known ones and when discovered are valueless-very illustrations perhaps of their refinements in analysis, but very little aiding the progress of true science.

  Michael Faraday

  Knowledge, Science, Thinking

  Michael Faraday, Christian Friedirich Schoenbein (1899). “The letters of Faraday and Schoenbein 1836-1862: With notes, comments and references to contemporary letters”

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• It is astonishing that so simple a truth should ever have had an adversary; and it is one among a multitude of proofs, how apt a spirit of ill-informed jealousy, or of too great abstraction and refinement is to lead men astray from the plainest paths of reason and conviction.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Simple, Men, Path

  Alexander Hamilton (1831). “The Federalist on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788, with an Appendix Containing the Letters of Pacificus and Helvidius on the Proclamation of Neutrality of 1793”, p.58

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• No one wants adversity. Trials, disappointments, sadness, and heartache come to us from two basically different sources. Those who transgress the laws of God will always have those challenges. The other reason for adversity is to accomplish the Lord's own purposes in our life that we may receive the refinement that comes from testing. It is vitally important for each of us to identify from which of these two sources come our trials and challenges, for the corrective action is very different.

  Richard G. Scott

  Disappointment, Sadness, Adversity

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• We had stretched out our arms to each other and supported something in our joined hands, but this thing we were holding was like a sort of gas that exists when you believe in its existence and disappears when you doubt. The task of supporting it seems simple at first glance, but actually requires an ultimate refinement of calculation and a consummate skill.

  Yukio Mishima

  Believe, Simple, Hands

  Yukio Mishima (1958). “Confessions of a Mask”, p.243, New Directions Publishing

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• Past persons of Scottishness in contact with mastermind of supernatural persuasion in London, aka Agent Doom.’ Floote moved on to the third bit of paper. “ ‘Lady K says Agent Doom assisted depraved Plan of Action. May have all been his idea.’ Moving on to the last one, he read out, "Summer permits Scots to expose more knee than lady of refinement should have to withstand. Hairmuffs much admired. Yours etc., Puff Bonnet.

  Gail Carriger

  Summer, Moving, Past

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• How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity.

  Winston Churchill

  Dog, Men, Agriculture

  Winston Churchill (2012). “Churchill: The Power of Words”, p.50, Hachette UK

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• It was a subtle refinement of God to learn Greek when he wished to write a book – and that he did not learn it better.

  Friedrich Nietzsche

  Book, Writing, Greek

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• The same relation exists between merchant and pirate, who for a long period are one and the same person: where the one function appears to them inadvisable, they exercise the other.

  Friedrich Nietzsche

  Long, Pirate, Today

  "Human, All Too Human".

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• The ministers of Christ should possess refinement. All uncouth manners, attitudes and gestures should be discarded, and they should encourage in themselves humble dignity of bearing.

  Ellen G. White

  Attitude, Humble, Gestures

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• The zenith of elegance in any woman's wardrobe is the little black dress, the power of which suggests dash and refinement.

  Andre Leon Talley

  Black, Dresses, Zenith

  "On The Little Black Dress" by Andre Leon Talley, www.huffingtonpost.com. April 11, 2013.

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• It is impossible to tell you the perfect sweetness of the lips and closed eyes, nor the solemnity of the seal of death which is set upon the whole figure. It is, in every way, perfect--truth itself, but truth selected with inconceivable refinement of feeling.

  John Ruskin

  Eye, Perfect, Feelings

  John Ruskin (1903). “The Works of John Ruskin”

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• Yale's greatness carries an urgent need to guard against the fall of excellence into exclusivity, of refinement into preciousness, of elegance into class and convention.

  Benno C. Schmidt, Jr.

  Fall, Greatness, Yale

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• Does power bring happiness? Does it bring refinement? Does it bring humor? Does it bring a good-heartedness, or is it just cold? Power is never cold. Cold people may use power in cold ways.

  Frederick Lenz

  Power, People, May

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• God's arrows of affliction are sharp and painful so He can get our attention. He won't let His beloved children get away with sin because He knows it robs us of blessings, opportunities, and even character refinement.

  Charles Stanley

  Children, Character, Blessing

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• I've always been battling against my sense of dignity and refinement. I was embarrassed by any bodily functions when I was younger. I could never even blow my nose.

  Helen Mirren

  Blow, Noses, Dignity

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• All education should be directed toward the refinement of the individual's sensibilities in relation not only to one's fellow humans everywhere, but to all living things whatsoever.

  Ashley Montagu

  Life, Education, Equality

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• Madame Michel has the elegance of the hedgehog: on the outside she is covered in quills, a real fortress, but my gut feeling is that on the inside, she has the same simple refinement as the hedgehog: a deceptively indolent little creature, fiercely solitary--and terrible elegant.

  Muriel Barbery

  Real, Simple, Feelings

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• Do you dance, Mr. Darcy?" Darcy: "Not if I can help it!" Sir William: "What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy! There is nothing like dancing, after all. I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished societies." Mr. Darcy: "Certainly, sir; and it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst the less polished societies of the world; every savage can dance.

  Jane Austen

  People, Dancing, Savages

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• You can create value with breakthrough innovation, incremental refinement, or complex coordination. Great companies often do two of these. The very best companies do all three.

  Sam Altman

  Two, Innovation, Three

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• The spirit of the tea beverage is one of peace, comfort, and refinement.

  Arthur Gray

  Tea, Comfort, Beverages

  Arthur Gray (2012). “The Little Tea Book”, p.1, BoD – Books on Demand

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• Capitalism is a development by refinement from feudalism, just as feudalism is development by refinement from slavery . Capitalism is but the gentlemen's method of slavery.

  Kwame Nkrumah

  Gentleman, Development, Slavery

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• I am sure," cried Catherine, "I did not mean to say anything wrong; but it is a nice book, and why should not I call it so?" "Very true," said Henry, "and this is a very nice day, and we are taking a very nice walk, and you are two very nice young ladies. Oh! It is a very nice word indeed! It does for everything. Originally perhaps it was applied only to express neatness, propriety, delicacy, or refinement—people were nice in their dress, in their sentiments, or their choice. But now every commendation on every subject is comprised in that one word.

  Jane Austen

  Nice, Book, Mean

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