The Quotes canon

Sourced and curated.

Every quote has been curated by hand and carefully authenticated.
Browse all 10,075 quotes or apply filters in different categories to narrow your search.
There is a tide in the affairs of men Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries. — William Shakespeare · 1599Reputation is an idle and most false imposition, oft got without merit and lost without deserving. — William Shakespeare · 1604O Fortune, Fortune, all men call thee fickle. — William Shakespeare · 1597Fortune brings in some boats that are not steered. — William Shakespeare · 1611
There are vicissitudes in all things. — Terence · 161 BC
What place can be left for random action, when God constraineth all things to order? — Boethius · 523
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. — Ecclesiastes 9:11 · 931 BC