Bryan Mendez's Favorite Quotes

My Favorite Quotes

Wisdom | Hope | Love | Science | Music |Star Trek | Star Wars | Humor | Song Lyrics

Wisdom


Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils.
- Hector Berlioz

We know what happens to people who stay in the middle of the road. They get run over.
- Ambrose Bierce

A classic is something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read.
- Mark Twain

Reader, suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.
- Mark Twain

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed.
- Albert Einstein

Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.
- Robert F. Kennedy

We are, in the most profound sense, children of the Cosmos.
-Carl Sagan

Our loyalities are to the species and the planet. We speak for Earth. Our obligation to survive is owed not just to ourselves but also to that Cosmos, ancient and vast, from which we spring
-Carl Sagan

"It is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring."
- Carl Sagan

We are a way for the Universe to know itself.
- Carl Sagan

Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings.
- John F. Kennedy

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.
- Henry David Thoreau

The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.
- From "Nature" by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the making of action inspite of fear, the moving out against the resistance engendered by fear into the unknown and into the future.
- From the Road Less Traveled by Scott Peck

"Aim for the stars; that way the lowest thing you can hit is the moon."
- Unknown

It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data.
-- Arthur Conan Doyle

Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.
- Buddha

...Throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain

"Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand."
- Mark Twain

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows."
- Helen Keller

Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
-- Helen Keller

To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy , not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never. In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony.
- William Henry Channing

"Kind words can be short and easy, but their echoes are truely endless"
-Mother Teresa

"Never, Never, Never, Never give up."
- Winston Churchill

You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
- Eleanor Roosevelt

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

"The time is always right to do what is right."
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Always do right- this will gratify some and astonish the rest."
- Mark Twain (1835-1910)

The best way to predict your future is to create it.
- Unknown

Hope


My hopes are not always realized, but I always hope.
- Ovid

The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts about reality.
-- Franklin Delano Roosevelt

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
- Eleanor Roosevelt

Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not.
- George Bernard Shaw

"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

"We have always held to the hope, the belief, the conviction that there is a better life, a better world, beyond the horizon."
- Franklin D. Roosevelt

Love


"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."
- Mother Teresa

"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that one is loved; loved for oneself, or better yet, loved despite oneself."
-- Victor Hugo

Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love.
- Albert Einstein

Science


"The greatest benefit derived from the study of science is that it lifts you out of and above the littleness of daily trials. We learn to live in the universe as a part of it; we cannot seperate ourselves from it -- our every act connects us with it -- our every act affects the whole. Standing under the canopy of stars and remembering their presence you could scarcely do a petty deed, or think a wicked thought."
--Maria Mitchell

As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain, and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality.
- Albert Einstein

One thing I have learned in a long life: that all our science, measured against reality, is primitive and childlike -- and yet it is the most precious thing we have.
- Albert Einstein

"In science one tries to tell people, in such a way as to be understood by everyone, something that no one ever knew before. But in poetry, it's the exact opposite."
- Paul Dirac (1902-1984)

The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible.
- Albert Einstein

"Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler."
- Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
- Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

"The distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion."
-Albert Einstein

"I am become death, shatterer of worlds."
- Robert J. Oppenheimer (1904-1967) (citing from the Bhagavadgita, after witnessing the world's first nuclear explosion)

My goal is simple. It is complete understanding of the universe, why it as it is and why it exists as all.
- Stephen Hawking

We must understand the Cosmos as it is and not confuse how it is with how we wish it be."
-Carl Sagan

The supression of uncomfortable ideas may be common in religion and politics, but it is not the path to knowledge; it has no place in the endeavor of science.
-Carl Sagan

Music


Music expresses that which can not be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.
-Victor Hugo

"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music."
- Aldous Huxley

"If you cannot teach me to fly, teach me to sing."
- Sir James Barrie

"Too many pieces of music finish too long after the end."
- Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)

"Anything that is too stupid to be spoken is sung."
- Voltaire (1694-1778)

Without music life would be a mistake
- Friedrich Nietzsche

Star Trek


"In our galaxy there is a mathematical probability of 3 million Earth-type planets, and in the Universe 3 million million galaxies like this one. And in all of that, and perhaps more, only one of each of us."
-Dr. Leonard H. McCoy, "The Balance of Terror"

"May fortune favor the foolish."
-Kirk, STIV

It is the Unknown that defines our existence. We are constantly searching, not just for answers to our questions, but for new questions. We are explorers. We explore our lives, day by day. And we explore the galaxy, trying to expand the boundaries of our knowledge. And that is why I am here. Not to conquer you with weapons or with ideas, but to co-exist and learn.
-Benjamin Sisko, "Emissary"

"Open your mind to the past; art, history, philosophy, and all of this may mean something."
- Jean-Luc Picard

"Only fools have no fear."
-Worf, "Coming of Age"

"Sir, I must protest, I am not a merry man."
- Worf, "Qpid"

"Today it is a good day to die, Duras. And the day is not over yet."
-Worf, "Sins of the Father"

"It's not safe out here. It's wonderous, with treasures to satiate, desires both subtle and gross. But it is NOT for the timid."
-Q, Q Who

"You can't outrun them. You can't destroy them. If you damage them, the essence of what they are remains...they regenerate and keep coming. Eventually, you'll weaken. Your reserves will be gone. They are relentless."
-- Q on the Borg "Q Who"

"Time is the fire in which we burn..."
-- Dr. Soran

"Live long and Prosper"
--Vulcan salutation.

Live now; make now always the most precious time. Now will never come again"
--Picard (The Inner Light)

"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."
-- Captain Picard, quoting Judge Aaron Satie (The Drumhead)

"Laws change depending on who's making them, but justice is justice."
-- Odo (A Man Alone)

Star Wars


"Do, or do not. There is no 'try'."
- Yoda ('The Empire Strikes Back')

Humor


Bumper Stickers

"As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in public schools"

"Laugh alone and the world thinks you're an idiot."

"It's as BAD as you think, and they ARE out to get you."

"Forget about World Peace.....Visualize Using Your Turn Signal !"

"Warning: Dates in calendar are closer than they appear."

"Give me ambiguity or give me something else."

"We are born naked, wet and hungry. Then things get worse."

"He who laughs last thinks slowest"

"Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else."

"3 kinds of people: those who can count & those who can't."

"Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?"

"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie!'... till you can find a rock."

Steven Wright

I stayed up all night playing poker with tarot cards. I got a full house and four people died.

What's another word for "thesaurus"?

I bought some batteries, but they weren't included. So I had to buy them again

I went to a general store but they wouldn't let me buy anything specific.

I put instant coffee in a microwave and almost went back in time.

Whenever I think of the past, it brings back so many memories . .

I have an existential map; it has 'you are here' written all over it.

The Tick

"Villains! I say to you...knock off all that evil!"
-The Tick

"You don't fight destiny, no sir... and you don't eat crackers in the bed of your future!"
-The Tick

"What good is science if nobody gets hurt?"
- Crome Dome, The Tick vs. Science

"The Fourth Dimension is just one big crazy do not enter clambake jungle of weirdity -- and how does it work? Never mind!"
-The Tick, The Tick vs. Prehistory

"And so, Arthur, we learn that gambling is bad. And yet, in a certain sense, isn't life itself a gamble. You can never be sure of anything. Why, who would have thought that dolphins could go bad, or that fish were magnetic? Not me, no sir, not me."
- The Tick, The Tick vs. Reno, Nevada

"When evil's afoot, and you don't have any arms, you've got to do a little leg work. And when evil's ahead, and you're a little behind, you've got to stay hip. You've got to keep on your toes! You've got to kick a little--"
-The Tick, Armless but not Harmless

"Science is a two headed beast, arthur. One head is good. It brings us advances like aspirin. But the other head-Oh, beware the other head of science, arthur! It bites!"
-Tick, The Tick vs. Dinosaur Neil

"So the moustache was in love. Oh, that's cool. That moustache was cool. But it didn't make me cool. It made Sewer Urchin swing 10 miles by his upper lip...And look at Jim Rage. He should have been cool. He had a cool eye patch, cool RV, cool gadgets, and he traveled the world with three vivacious, exciting, beauticians. That's cool, but he wasn't cool. You know, Arthur, I may have lost my moustache, but I've gained...ha ha...I haven't gained a thing."
-the Tick, That Moustache Feeling

"Babies, chum. Tiny, dimpled, fleshy, little mirrors of our usness that we parents hurl into the future like leathery footballs of hope. And you've gotta get a good spiral on that baby or evil will make an interception."
- the Tick, Devil in Diapers

"That belt is a fashion accessory of evil, and mister, evil is never in fashion."
-the Tick, Tick vs. Arthur

"Isn't sanity just a one trick pony anyway? I mean, all you get is one trick; rational thinking. But when you're good and crazy, oo hoo hoo hoo, the sky is the limit."
-the Tick, Ants in Pants!

TV Reporter: "Can you blow up the Earth with your mind?"
The Tick: "I hope not, that's where I keep all my stuff!"

Song Lyrics

RUSH

From Everyday Glory, Counterparts

If the future's looking dark
We're the ones who have to shine
If there's no one in control
We're the ones who draw the line
Though we live in trying times --
We're the ones who have to try
Though we know that time has wings --
We're the ones who have to fly

RISE FROM THE ASHES --
A BLAZE OF EVERYDAY GLORY

From Presto, Presto

I am made from the dust of the stars, and the oceans flow in my veins

From Totem, Test for Echo

I believe in what I see
I believe in what I hear
I believe that what I'm feeling
Changes how the world appears

From Hemispheres, Hemispheres

Let the truth of love be lighted
Let the love of truth shine clear



"EVERYBODY'S FREE" (to wear Sunscreen)

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of
'99.....Wear Sunscreen

If I could offer you only tip for the future,
sunscreen would be it. The long term
benefits of sunscreen have been proved
by scientists whereas the rest of my
advice has no basis more reliable than
my own meandering experience...I will
dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your
youth; Oh nevermind; you will not
understand the power of beauty of your
youth until they have faded. But trust me,
in 20 years you'll look back at the photos
of yourself and recall in a way you can't
grasp now how much possibility lay
before you and how fabulous you really
looked...You're not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future; or worry, but
know that worrying is as effective as
trying to solve an algebra equation by
chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in
your life are apt to be things that never
crossed your worried mind; the kind that
blindside you at 4pm on some idle
Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares
you.

Sing

Don't be reckless with other people's
hearts, don't put up with people who are
reckless with yours.

Floss

Don't waste your time on jealousy;
sometimes you're ahead, sometimes
you're behind...the race is long, and in
the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive,
forget the insults; if you succeed in doing
this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away
your old bank statements.

Stretch

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what
you want to do with your life...the most
interesting people I know didn't know at
22 what they wanted to do with their
lives, some of the most interesting 40 year
olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium

Be kind to your knees, you'll miss them
when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't,
maybe you'll have children, maybe you
won't, maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe
you'll dance the funky chicken on your
75th wedding anniversary...whatever you
do, don't congratulate yourself too much
or berate yourself either- your choices are
half chance, so are everybody else's

Enjoy your body, use it every way you
can...don't be afraid of it, or what other
people think of it, it's the greatest
instrument you'll ever own.

Dance... even if you have nowhere to do
it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't
follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will
only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents, you never
know when they'll be gone for good. Be
nice to your siblings; they are the best
link to your past and the people most
likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but
for the precious few you should hold on.
Work hard to bridge the gaps in
geography and lifestyle because the
older you get, the more you need the
people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave
before it makes you hard; live in Northern
California once, but leave before it makes
you soft.

Travel

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices
will rise, politicians will philander, you
too will get old, and when you do you'll
fantasize that when you were young
prices were reasonable, politicians were
noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you.
Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you
have a wealthy spouse; but you never
know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair, or by
the time it's 40, it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be
patient with those who supply it. Advice is
a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way
of fishing the past from the disposal,
wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts
and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen...


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