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Quote by Samuel Johnson

Work

The Life of Samuel Johnson LL.D. Vol 2

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Author

Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson

Samuel Johnson was an English writer, poet, and lexicographer, renowned for his comprehensive English dictionary, 'A Dictionary of the English Language', published in 1755. His distinctive writing style and wit have cemented his place as a significant figure in the history of English literature. more

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“In a society dominated by irrationality, it is difficult to come to power with rational discourses. So what to do? You must use irrational discourses! The rational part of the society will understand your tactic and vote for you. What about after coming to power? Irrational discourses should be completely thrown away and the country should be governed with rational policies. In fact, the easy part of the job is to win elections, the hard part is to manage the country with rational policies. The history of the world is full of examples that led their countries to disaster by applying irrational policies after winning an election.”

“Carthago delenda est. How many humans would know what those words meant? How many Terrans, whose world had birthed them, and how many on the thousands of newly populated and rediscovered orbs, all frantically developing and building and reaching upwards to a dimly understood but fantastically powerful future? Just a handful, maybe, who had access to lost books written in dead languages. History had a penchant for repeating itself, though, for rehearsing old patterns in ever grander circuits even if the participants had forgotten their origins.”

“There have always been those who would champion the merits of perception, instinct, or faith over Empirical Truth. But facts are immutable, regardless of who or what perceives them. Power will always belong to the one who knows them. To one accustomed to small triumphs, every victory is great. It is in my gift, and in yours, to see beyond.”