See what gross inconsistency is tolerated. I have heard some of my townsmen say, "I should like to have them order me out to help ...put down an insurrection of the slaves, or to march to Mexico;Msee if I would go"; and yet these very men have each, directly by their allegiance, and so indirectly, at least, by their money, furnished a substitute. The soldier is applauded who refuses to serve in an unjust war by those who do not refuse to sustain the unjust government which makes the war; is applauded by those whose own act and authority he disregards and sets at naught; as if the state were penitent to that degree that it hired one to scourge it while it sinned, but not to that degree that it left off sinning for a moment. Thus, under the name of Order and Civil Government, we are all made at last to pay homage to and support our own meanness.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
The moment of truth, the sudden emergence of a new insight, is an act of intuition. Such intuitions give the appearance of miracul...ous flushes, or short-circuits of reasoning. In fact they may be likened to an immersed chain, of which only the beginning and the end are visible above the surface of consciousness. The diver vanishes at one end of the chain and comes up at the other end, guided by invisible links.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
I shall never send for a priest or recite an Act of Contrition in my last moments. I do not mind if I lose my soul for all eternit...y. If the kind of God exists Who would damn me for not working out a deal with Him, then that is unfortunate. I should not care to spend eternity in the company of such a person.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Some men are born committed to action: they do not have a choice, they have been thrown on a path, at the end of that path, an act... awaits them, their act ...LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Let our hearts, as subtle masters do, Stir up their servants to an act of rage... And after seem to chide 'em. This shall make Our purpose necessary, and not envious; Which so appearing to the common eyes, We shall be called purgers, not murderers.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
The soul, which is the first principle of life, is not a body, but the act of a body; just as heat, which is the principle of cale...faction, is not a body, but an act of a body.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
A conventional good read is usually a bad read, a relaxing bath in what we know already. A true good read is surely an act of inno...vative creation in which we, the readers, become conspirators.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Today's comedian has a cross to bear that he built himself. A comedian of the older generation did an "act" and he told the audien...ce, "This is my act." Today's comic is not doing an act. The audience assumes he's telling the truth. What is truth today may be a damn lie next week.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
In the course of the world, a man must very often put on an easy, frank countenance, upon very disagreeable occasions; he must see...m pleased, when he is very much otherwise; he must be able to accost and receive with smiles, those whom he would much rather meet with swords.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »