Pearls of wisdom

All generalizations are dangerous,
even this one.
– Alexandre Dumas fils

The ancients who wished to demonstrate illustrious virtue throughout the kingdom, first ordered well their own states. Wishing to order well their states, they first regulated their families. Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their persons. Wishing to cultivate their persons, they first rectified their hearts. Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first extended to the utmost their knowledge. Such extension of knowledge lay in the investigation of things....

From the Son of Heaven down to the mass of the people, all must consider the cultivation of the person the root of everything besides.
– Confucius

Patriotism is a word ... that generally comes to mean either “my country, right or wrong,” which is infamous, or “my country is always right,” which is imbecile.
– Patrick O’Brian

There are two tragedies in life.
One is to lose your heart’s desire.
The other is to gain it.
– George Bernard Shaw

If you look for the
worst in people and
expect to find it,
you surely will.
– Abraham Lincoln

Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.
– H.G. Wells

Truth is never pure,
and rarely simple.
– Oscar Wilde

Have we a history of omniscience?
We are the strongest nation in the world today. I do not believe we should ever apply that economic, political or military power unilaterally. If we had followed that rule in Vietnam, we wouldn’t have been there. None of our allies supported us. Not Japan. Not Germany. Not Britain or France.

If we can’t persuade nations with comparable values of the merit of our cause, we’d better reexamine our reasoning.
– Robert McNamara

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
– Voltaire

...isn’t it wonderful to be able to make your career from your passion? A life without passion is so empty.
– Eddy Merckx

On curves ahead
Remember, sonny
That rabbit’s foot
Didn’t save the bunny.
– Burma-Shave