Wit & Wisdom

From Gore Vidal, Ayn Rand, Konrad Adenauer, Junot Díaz, Stendahl, Charles Darwin, Tom Stoppard

“Democracy is supposed to give you the feeling of choice, like Painkiller X and Painkiller Y. But they’re both just aspirin.”

Gore Vidal, quoted in The Guardian (U.K.)

“A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others.”

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“History is the sum total of the things that could have been avoided.”

German statesman Konrad Adenauer, quoted in the Associated Press

“Success loves a witness, but failure can’t exist without one.”

Junot Díaz, quoted in The Boston Globe

“Life is too short, and the time we waste in yawning never can be regained.”

Stendahl, quoted in The Wall Street Journal

“Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge.”

Charles Darwin, quoted in the Naples, Fla., Daily News

“It’s better to be quotable than to be honest.”

Tom Stoppard, quoted in Forbes.com