Success and Failure

Prophecy is many times the principal cause of the events foretold.

Thomas Hobbes, in Science and Religion and Success and Failure

Hofstadter's Law: It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take Hofstadter's Law into account.

Doug Hofstadter, in Success and Failure

Happiness: An agreeable sensation arising from contemplating the misery of another.

Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary, in Love and Hate and Success and Failure

Hatred: A sentiment appropriate to the occasion of another's superiority.

Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary, in Love and Hate and Success and Failure

An expert is one who knows more and more about less and less until he knows absolutely everything about nothing.

Nicholas Murray Butler, in Science and Religion and Success and Failure

All progress is based upon a universal innate desire on the part of every organism to live beyond its income.

Samuel Butler, in Success and Failure

It is better to be defeated on principle than to win on lies.

Arthur Calwell, in Success and Failure

Freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better.

Albert Camus, in Law and Politics and Success and Failure

If you pray for rain, don't be surprised if you're struck by lightning.

Damien Cannon, in Success and Failure

No pressure, no diamonds.

Mary Case, in Success and Failure

Man is able to do what he is unable to imagine. His head trails a wake through the galaxy of the absurd.

René Char, in Success and Failure

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

Winston Churchill, in Success and Failure

Everyone has his day and some days last longer than others.

Winston Churchill, in Success and Failure

I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.

Winston Churchill, in Success and Failure

Kites rise highest against the wind -- not with it.

Winston Churchill, in Success and Failure

99% of the game is half mental.

Yogi Berra, in Success and Failure

It's not over until it's over.

Yogi Berra, in Success and Failure

You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there.

Yogi Berra, in Success and Failure

It took me fifteen years to discover that I had no talent for writing, but I couldn't give up because by that time I was too famous.

Peter Benchley, in Success and Failure

I have made mistakes, but have never made the mistake of claiming I never made one.

James G. Bennet, in Success and Failure