As a matter of selective necessity, man is an agent. He is, in his own apprehension, a centre of unfolding impulsive activity; "teleological activity." He is an agent seeking in every act the accomplishment of some concrete, objective, impersonal end. By force of being such an agent, he is possessed of a taste for effective work, and a distaste for futile effort. ~Thorstein Veblen
#quotes #thorstein-veblen #human

To fold the hands in prayer is well, to open them in charity is better. ~French Proverb
#proverbs #french-proverbs #praying #helping

There is no such thing as a free lunch. ~English Proverb
#proverbs #english-proverbs

Clear conscience never fears midnight knocking. ~Chinese Proverb
#proverbs #chinese-proverbs #conscience

A cat bitten once by a snake dreads even rope. ~Arab Proverb
#proverbs #arab-proverbs #cats

Verse comedy is interesting to me because of the challenge of writing in rhymed couplets, which is not a form that's usually amenable to English, yet to me it gives great possibility for comedy. ~David Ives
#quotes #david-ives #writing #comedy

Let me tell you something. For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback. ~Michelle Obama
#quotes #michelle-obama #patriotism

It blows a snowing gale in the winter of the year; The boats are on the sea and the crews are on the pier. The needle of the vane, it is veering to and fro. A flash of sun is on the veering of the vane. Autumn leaves and rain. The passion of the gale. ~Robert Louis Stevenson
#quotes #robert-louis-stevenson #seasons #nature

A life without love is like a year without summer. ~Swedish Proverb
#proverbs #swedish-proverbs #life #love #seasons

The rain follows after the forest. ~Hawaiian Proverb
#proverbs #hawaiian-proverbs

If you cannot find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it? ~Zen Proverb
#proverbs #zen-proverbs #buddhism #truth

Oh simple thing, where have you gone? I am getting old and I need something to rely on. So tell me when you are going to let me in. I am getting tired and I need somewhere to begin. ~Bil Keane
#quotes #bil-keane #simplicity #tired

When planning for a year, plant corn. When planning for a decade, plant trees. When planning for life, train and educate people. ~Chinese Proverb
#proverbs #chinese-proverbs #planning #corn #trees #education

If you watch the first [Star Wars] movie, you don't actually know exactly what the Empire is trying to do. They're going to rule by fear; but you don't know what their endgame is. You don't know what Leia is princess of. You don't yet understand who Jabba the Hutt is, even though there is a reference to him. You don't know that Vader is Luke's father, Leia is his sister; but the possibility is all there. The beauty of that movie was that it was an unfamiliar world, and yet you wanted to see it expand and to see where it went. ~J. J. Abrams
#quotes #j-j-abrams #star-wars

We should constantly be aspiring to reach higher and higher and higher. We should never be comfortable where we are. ~Lauryn Hill
#quotes #lauryn-hill #trying

The fear among economists across the political spectrum was that we were rapidly plummeting toward a second Great Depression. So in the weeks and months that followed, we undertook a series of difficult steps to prevent that outcome. And we were forced to take those steps, largely without the help of an opposition party, which, unfortunately, after having presided over the decision-making that had led to the crisis, decided to hand it over to others to solve. ~Barack Obama
#quotes #barack-obama #government #economy

You well never plow a field by turning it over in your mind. ~Irish Proverb
#proverbs #irish-proverbs #wisdom

There is no shame in not knowing; the shame lies in not finding out. ~Russian Proverb
#proverbs #russian-proverbs #knowledge

All that is necessary, as it seems to me, to convince any reasonable person that the Bible is simply and purely of human invention; of barbarian invention; is to read it. Read it as you would any other book; think of it as you would of any other; get the bandage of reverence from your eyes; drive from your heart the phantom of fear; push from the throne of your brain the cowled form of superstition; then read the Holy Bible, and you will be amazed that you ever, for one moment, supposed a being of infinite wisdom, goodness and purity, to be the author of such ignorance and of such atrocity. ~Robert Green Ingersoll
#quotes #robert-green-ingersoll #books #religion

All the seven deadly sins are self destroying, morbid appetites, but in their early stages at least, lust and gluttony, averice and sloth know some gratification, while anger and pride have power, even though that power eventually destroys itself. Envy is impotent, numbed with fear, never ceasing in its appetite, and it knows no gratification, but endless self torment. It has the ugliness of a trapped rat, which gnaws its own foot in an effort to escape. ~Angus Wilson
#quotes #angus-wilson #pride #sin

A bird in the hand is worth two in a bush. ~English Proverb
#proverbs #english-proverbs

A trade not properly learned is an enemy. ~Irish Proverb
#proverbs #irish-proverbs #learning

I started off with a company, InfoSpace, with my own funding. The company was listed among the most successful companies and I went on to start Intelius and Moon Express. Now, I focus my time on using the skills of an entrepreneur to solve many of the grand challenges facing us in the areas of education, healthcare, clean water and energy. ~Naveen Jain
#quotes #naveen-jain #entrepreneurship

A thorn defends the rose, harming only those who would steal the blossom. ~Chinese Proverb
#proverbs #chinese-proverbs #nature #flower

If you wish to know the mind of a man, listen to his words. ~Chinese Proverb
#proverbs #chinese-proverbs #mind