The Quotes canon
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Browse all 10,075 quotes or apply filters in different categories to narrow your search.
Browse all 10,075 quotes or apply filters in different categories to narrow your search.
Adversity2 quotes
The way to bliss lies not on beds of down,
And he that had no cross deserves no crown. — Francis Quarles · 1621The first ten million years were the worst. And the second ten million years, they were the worst too. The third ten million I didn't enjoy at all. After that I went into a bit of a decline. — Douglas Adams · 1978Learning from mistakes2 quotes
You live and learn. At any rate, you live. — Douglas Adams · 1992A learning experience is one of those things that says, "You know that thing you just did? Don't do that.” — Douglas Adams · 2001Man and animals2 quotes
It was none the less a perfectly ordinary horse, such as convergent evolution has produced in many of the places that life is to be found. They have always understood a great deal more than they let on. It is difficult to be sat on all day, every day, by some other creature, without forming an opinion about them. — Douglas Adams · 1987For instance, on the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much—the wheel, New York, wars and so on—while all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man—for precisely the same reasons. — Douglas Adams · 1978Meaning of life2 quotes
The Answer to Life, the Universe and Everything...it's Forty-two. — Douglas Adams · 1978There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened. — Douglas Adams · 1980Serendipity2 quotes
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be. — Douglas Adams · 1988Follow the accident, fear the fixed plan-that is the rule. — John Fowles · 1977The universe2 quotes
In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move. — Douglas Adams · 1978There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened. — Douglas Adams · 1980Airports1 quote
It can hardly be a coincidence that no language on earth has ever produced the expression "As pretty as an airport." — Douglas Adams · 1988America1 quote
In the four quarters of the globe, who reads an American book, or goes to an American play, or looks at an American picture or statue?... Under which of the old tyrannical governments of Europe is every sixth man a slave, whom his fellow-creatures may buy, and sell and torture? — Sydney Smith · 1820Animals1 quote
It was none the less a perfectly ordinary horse, such as convergent evolution has produced in many of the places that life is to be found. They have always understood a great deal more than they let on. It is difficult to be sat on all day, every day, by some other creature, without forming an opinion about them. — Douglas Adams · 1987Architecture1 quote
It can hardly be a coincidence that no language on earth has ever produced the expression "As pretty as an airport." — Douglas Adams · 1988Bad news1 quote
Nothing travels faster than the speed of light with the possible exception of bad news, which obeys its own special laws. — Douglas Adams · 1992Beauty1 quote
Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too? — Douglas Adams · 1979Beginning of time1 quote
In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move. — Douglas Adams · 1978Being in love1 quote
Thou art my way; I wander, if thou fly;
Thou art my light; if hid, how blind am I!
Thou art my life; if thou withdraw, I die. — Francis Quarles · 1643Books1 quote
No furniture so charming as books. — Sydney Smith · 1845Civilization1 quote
For instance, on the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much—the wheel, New York, wars and so on—while all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man—for precisely the same reasons. — Douglas Adams · 1978Consciousness1 quote
Consciousness... Is the phenomenon whereby the universe's very existence is made known. — Roger Penrose · 1989Creation of the world1 quote
In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move. — Douglas Adams · 1978Criticism of America1 quote
In the four quarters of the globe, who reads an American book, or goes to an American play, or looks at an American picture or statue?... Under which of the old tyrannical governments of Europe is every sixth man a slave, whom his fellow-creatures may buy, and sell and torture? — Sydney Smith · 1820Deadlines1 quote
I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by. — Douglas Adams · 2001Design1 quote
A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof was to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. — Douglas Adams · 1992Disenchanted world1 quote
Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too? — Douglas Adams · 1979Dolphins1 quote
For instance, on the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much—the wheel, New York, wars and so on—while all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man—for precisely the same reasons. — Douglas Adams · 1978Doubt and skepticism1 quote
The road to resolution lies by doubt:
The next way home's the farthest way about. — Francis Quarles · 1635Downsides of technology1 quote
We are stuck with technology when what we really want is just stuff that works. — Douglas Adams · 2001Dreams1 quote
He felt that his whole life was some kind of dream and he sometimes wondered whose it was and whether they were enjoying it. — Douglas Adams · 1979Economic inequality1 quote
When I was poor and I complained about inequality they said I was bitter, now I'm rich and I complain about inequality they say I'm a hypocrite. I'm beginning to think they just don't want to talk about inequality. — Russell Brand · 2014Effects of time1 quote
What's not destroyed by Time's devouring hand?
Where's Troy, and where's the May-pole in the Strand? — James Bramston · 1729Enemies1 quote
I wish my deadly foe, no worse
Than want of friends, and empty purse. — Nicholas Breton · 1577Fatigue1 quote
We spend our midday sweat, our midnight oil;
We tire the night in thought, the day in toil. — Francis Quarles · 1635