vacarlier’s most recent Quotables

The secret to happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom, courage...

Any time someone puts a lock on something you own against your wishes, and doesn't give you the key, they're not doing it for your benefit.

I find it really strange how, when first envisaged, the internet would be this great forum for scientists and the intelligentsia but it’s turned out to be a place for the hopeless dregs of society to write comments about things they know nothing about.

Find a place where you can tinker alone.

I am in that temper that if I were under water I would scarcely kick to come to the top.

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.

The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have some pretty annoying virtues.

We suffer our way into wisdom.

You must give up the life you planned in order to have the life that is waiting for you.

Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.

It’s never too late to become the person you might have been.

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit.

The summit of happiness is reached when a person is ready to be what he is.

Action is the antidote to despair.

The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reasons for remaining ashore.

Life is a mystery to be lived, not a problem to be solved.

Learn to value yourself, which means: to fight for your happiness.