Robert Cecil, British prime minister (1830-1903)

By a free country, I mean a country where people are allowed, so long as they do not hurt their neighbours, to do as they like. I do not mean a country where six men may make five men do exactly as they like. -Robert Cecil, British prime minister (1830-1903)

The latter condition is "the tyranny of the majority," as bad as any other tyranny and a constant danger in a democracy.

Jean Cocteau, author and painter (1889-1963)

Take a commonplace, clean it and polish it, light it so that it produces the same effect of youth and freshness and originality and spontaneity as it did originally, and you have done a poet's job. The rest is literature. -Jean Cocteau, author and painter (1889-1963)

A very good, even inspiring, description of the poet's work.

Josh Billings, columnist and humorist (1818-1885)

Don't mistake pleasure for happiness. They're a different breed of dog. -Josh Billings, columnist and humorist (1818-1885)

Good one!

Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, scientist and philosopher (1742-1799)

The most dangerous of all falsehoods is a slightly distorted truth. -Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, scientist and philosopher (1742-1799)

Very true.

Bob Monkhouse, comedian (1928-2003)

They laughed when I said I was going to be a comedian. They're not laughing now. -Bob Monkhouse, comedian (1928-2003)

Very clever double meaning.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author and aviator (1900-1945)

If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea. -Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author and aviator (1900-1945)

"Where there is no vision, the people perish."  Prov 29:18 (KJV)

Sydney J. Harris, journalist and author (1917-1986)

Most people are mirrors, reflecting the moods and emotions of the times; few are windows, bringing light to bear on the dark corners where troubles fester. The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows. -Sydney J. Harris, journalist and author (1917-1986)

And the purpose of Christian education, however it comes, is to let the light of Christ shine in those dark corners.