In his dream he stood at the center of endless concentric circles. The
first circle contained the numbers from 1 to 10; the second, those from 11
to 100... and so on, illimitably, over the infinite surface of a boundless
plain.... Beside him in the center stood Pi, the master of ceremonies.
Pi's face was masked, and it was understood that none could behold it and
live. But piercing eyes looked out from the mask, inexorable, cold, and
enigmatic. -- Bertrand Russell, "The Mathematician's Nightmare"
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Fortune Quote #2401
When the Angles (with the Saxons) invaded England, they descended on what
was later the Land Debatable, that is the North of England and the South of
Scotland. The acute Angles went north and the obtuse ones south.
-- An anonymous Scotsman
was later the Land Debatable, that is the North of England and the South of
Scotland. The acute Angles went north and the obtuse ones south.
-- An anonymous Scotsman
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Fortune Quote #2400
What is the difference between a method and a device? A method is a
device which you can use twice. -- G. Polya, "How To Solve It"
device which you can use twice. -- G. Polya, "How To Solve It"
Monday, February 25, 2019
Fortune Quote #2399
This principle is so perfectly general that no particular application of
it is possible. -- G. Polya, "How To Solve It"
it is possible. -- G. Polya, "How To Solve It"
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Fortune Quote #2398
"You get used to things being a certain way, and then something happens
that startles you. Like if you turned on the tap and Spaghetti-Ohs came
out." -- Karen Kahler (about pornographic television)
that startles you. Like if you turned on the tap and Spaghetti-Ohs came
out." -- Karen Kahler (about pornographic television)
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Fortune Quote #2397
"I will be your friend from now to Eternity, no matter whether you are on
the lowest mental plane or on the highest plane of wisdom. I will be your
friend even if you should err, for then you will need my friendship more
than at any other time." -- Swami Sri Yukteswar, to Paramahansa
Yogananda
the lowest mental plane or on the highest plane of wisdom. I will be your
friend even if you should err, for then you will need my friendship more
than at any other time." -- Swami Sri Yukteswar, to Paramahansa
Yogananda
Friday, February 22, 2019
Fortune Quote #2396
The supreme happiness in life is the conviction that we are loved --
loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves. --
Victor Hugo
loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves. --
Victor Hugo
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Fortune Quote #2395
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength; loving someone deeply
gives you courage. -- Lao-Tzu
gives you courage. -- Lao-Tzu
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Fortune Quote #2393
Diplomacy rarely ends conflicts. Hardly a single major interstate
conflict has concluded due to some one's clever schema. The idea that
a "peace process" can take the place of the dirty work of war is a
conceit.... The oft-heard mantra that "there is no military solution"...
in short, has things exactly wrong. -- Daniel Pipes, Middle East
commentator
conflict has concluded due to some one's clever schema. The idea that
a "peace process" can take the place of the dirty work of war is a
conceit.... The oft-heard mantra that "there is no military solution"...
in short, has things exactly wrong. -- Daniel Pipes, Middle East
commentator
Monday, February 18, 2019
Fortune Quote #2392
Peace cannot be accomplished simply because some visiting envoy, with or
without an advanced degree in negotiating from the Harvard Business School,
sits everyone down around a table so they can all reason together.
-- Michael Ledeen, foreign policy researcher
without an advanced degree in negotiating from the Harvard Business School,
sits everyone down around a table so they can all reason together.
-- Michael Ledeen, foreign policy researcher
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Fortune Quote #2391
In every case I can think of, peace has come about at the end of a war in
which there was a winner and a loser. The winner imposed terms on the
loser, and those terms were called "peace." -- Michael Ledeen,
foreign policy researcher
which there was a winner and a loser. The winner imposed terms on the
loser, and those terms were called "peace." -- Michael Ledeen,
foreign policy researcher
Saturday, February 16, 2019
Fortune Quote #2390
Eli and Bessie went to sleep. In the middle of the night, Bessie nudged
Eli. "Please be so kindly and close the window. It's cold outside!" Half
asleep, Eli murmured, "Nu ... so if I'll close the window, will it be warm
outside?"
Eli. "Please be so kindly and close the window. It's cold outside!" Half
asleep, Eli murmured, "Nu ... so if I'll close the window, will it be warm
outside?"
Friday, February 15, 2019
Fortune Quote #2389
Seems that a pollster was taking a worldwide opinion poll. Her question
was, "Excuse me; what's your opinion on the meat shortage?" In Texas, the
answer was "What's a shortage?" In Poland, the answer was "What's meat?" In
the Soviet Union, the answer was "What's an opinion?" In New York City, the
answer was "What's excuse me?"
was, "Excuse me; what's your opinion on the meat shortage?" In Texas, the
answer was "What's a shortage?" In Poland, the answer was "What's meat?" In
the Soviet Union, the answer was "What's an opinion?" In New York City, the
answer was "What's excuse me?"
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Fortune Quote #2388
Even though we may feel in our business dealings or social relationships
that we are listening very hard, what we are usually doing is listening
selectively, with a preset agenda in mind, wondering as we listen how we
can achieve certain desired results and get the conversation over with as
quickly as possible or redirected in ways more satisfactory to us.
-- M. Scott Peck, "The Road Less Traveled"
that we are listening very hard, what we are usually doing is listening
selectively, with a preset agenda in mind, wondering as we listen how we
can achieve certain desired results and get the conversation over with as
quickly as possible or redirected in ways more satisfactory to us.
-- M. Scott Peck, "The Road Less Traveled"
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Fortune Quote #2387
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. -- Lazarus Long (Robert A. Heinlein)
both at once. -- Lazarus Long (Robert A. Heinlein)
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Fortune Quote #2386
With reasonable men I will reason; with humane men I will plead; but to
tyrants I will give no quarter. -- William Lloyd Garrison
tyrants I will give no quarter. -- William Lloyd Garrison
Monday, February 11, 2019
Fortune Quote #2385
Will Rogers, having paid too much income tax one year, tried in vain to
claim a rebate. His numerous letters and queries remained unanswered.
Eventually the form for the next year's return arrived. In the section
marked "DEDUCTIONS," Rogers listed: "Bad debt, US Government -- $40,000."
claim a rebate. His numerous letters and queries remained unanswered.
Eventually the form for the next year's return arrived. In the section
marked "DEDUCTIONS," Rogers listed: "Bad debt, US Government -- $40,000."
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Fortune Quote #2384
Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see
it tried on him personally. -- Abraham Lincoln
it tried on him personally. -- Abraham Lincoln
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Friday, February 8, 2019
Fortune Quote #2382
When you say that you agree to a thing in principle, you mean that you
have not the slightest intention of carrying it out in practice. --
Otto Von Bismarck
have not the slightest intention of carrying it out in practice. --
Otto Von Bismarck
Thursday, February 7, 2019
Fortune Quote #2381
When you have to kill a man it costs nothing to be polite. --
Winston Churchill, on formal declarations of war
Winston Churchill, on formal declarations of war
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
Fortune Quote #2379
We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once.
-- Calvin Coolidge
-- Calvin Coolidge
Monday, February 4, 2019
Fortune Quote #2378
We all declare for liberty, but in using the same word we do not all mean
the same thing. -- Abraham Lincoln
the same thing. -- Abraham Lincoln
Sunday, February 3, 2019
Fortune Quote #2377
"`Violence accomplishes nothing.' What a contemptible lie! Raw, naked
violence has settled more issues throughout history than any other method
ever employed. Perhaps the city fathers of Carthage could debate the
issue, with Hitler and Alexander as judges?"
violence has settled more issues throughout history than any other method
ever employed. Perhaps the city fathers of Carthage could debate the
issue, with Hitler and Alexander as judges?"
Saturday, February 2, 2019
Fortune Quote #2376
Treaties are like roses and young girls--they last while they
last. -- Charles DeGaulle
last. -- Charles DeGaulle
Friday, February 1, 2019
Fortune Quote #2375
To say you got a vote of confidence would be to say you needed a vote of
confidence. -- Andrew Young
confidence. -- Andrew Young
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