March 7

Quotes of the day from previous years:

2004

May Heaven exist, even if my place is Hell. ~ Jorge Luis Borges

selected by Kalki

2005

Man is constituted as a speculative being; he contemplates the world, and the objects around him, not with a passive indifferent eye, but as a system disposed with order and design. ~ John Herschel (born 7 March 1792)

selected by Kalki

2006

Burn all the statutes and their shelves:
They stir us up against our kind;
And worse, against ourselves.
We have a passion — make a law,
Too false to guide us or control!
And for the law itself we fight
In bitterness of soul.
And, puzzled, blinded thus, we lose
Distinctions that are plain and few:
These find I graven on my heart:
That tells me what to do.
~ William Wordsworth in "Rob Roy's Grave" ~ (Rob Roy born 7 March 1671)

selected by Kalki

2007

Everything that depends on the action of nature is by nature as good as it can be, and similarly everything that depends on art or any rational cause, and especially if it depends on the best of all causes. To entrust to chance what is greatest and most noble would be a very defective arrangement. ~ Aristotle

selected by Kalki

2008

Games give you a chance to excel, and if you're playing in good company you don't even mind if you lose because you had the enjoyment of the company during the course of the game. ~ Gary Gygax (recent death)

selected by Kalki

2009

Three things are necessary for the salvation of man: to know what he ought to believe; to know what he ought to desire; and to know what he ought to do. ~ Thomas Aquinas

proposed by Zarbon

2010

It is absurd to hold that a man ought to be ashamed of being unable to defend himself with his limbs but not of being unable to defend himself with speech and reason, when the use of reason is more distinctive of a human being than the use of his limbs. ~ Aristotle

proposed by Zarbon

2011

I have gained this by philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. ~ Aristotle

proposed by Zarbon

2012

Even when laws have been written down, they ought not always to remain unaltered. ~ Aristotle

proposed by Zarbon

2013

Reason in man is rather like God in the world.

~ Thomas Aquinas ~

proposed by Zarbon

2014

He who has overcome his fears will truly be free.

~ Aristotle ~

proposed by Zarbon

2015

One swallow does not make a summer, nor does one day; and so too one day, or a short time, does not make a man blessed and happy.

~ Aristotle ~

proposed by Zarbon

2016

Life can be great, but not when you can't see it. So, open your eyes to life: to see it in the vivid colors that God gave us as a precious gift to His children, to enjoy life to the fullest, and to make it count. Say yes to your life. And when it comes to drugs and alcohol just say NO.

~ Nancy Reagan ~

proposed by Kalki, to commemorate her recent death.

2017

Man, when perfected, is the best of animals, but when separated from law and justice, he is the worst of all.

~ Aristotle ~

proposed by Zarbon

2018

What is history … without politics? A guide who walks on and on with no one following to learn the road, so that his every step is wasted; just as politics without history is like a man who walks along without a guide.

~ Alessandro Manzoni ~

proposed by Zarbon

2019

Self-respect is the cornerstone of all virtue.

~ John Herschel ~

proposed by Zarbon

2020

A mind which has once imbibed a taste for scientific inquiry, and has learnt the habit of applying its principles readily to the cases which occur, has within itself an inexhaustible source of pure and exciting contemplations. … Accustomed to trace the operation of general causes, and the exemplification of general laws, in circumstances where the uninformed and unenquiring eye perceives neither novelty nor beauty, he walks in the midst of wonders.

~ John Herschel ~

proposed by bystander

2021

In whatever state of knowledge we may conceive man to be placed, his progress towards a yet higher state need never fear a check, but must continue till the last existence of society.

~ John Herschel ~

proposed by Kalki

2022

There was a lot of talk about humanitarian corridors. Every day they talked about the opportunity for people to get out of the cities where Russia moved in, the Russian military. I am grateful to every Ukrainian and everyone who stays around to defend our cities, our freedom. But I also know that there are people who really need to flee, who can't stay, and we heard the promise that there will be humanitarian corridors. There are none! Instead of humanitarian corridors, they can only ensure bloody ones.

~ Volodymyr Zelenskyy ~

proposed by Kalki

2023

If we merge mercy with might and might with right, then love becomes our legacy and change our children's birthright.

~ Amanda Gorman ~

proposed by Kalki

2024

We are striving to forge our union with purpose.
To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters, and conditions of man.

~ Amanda Gorman ~

proposed by Kalki

2025: Rank or add further suggestions…

The Quote of the Day (QOTD) is a prominent feature of the Wikiquote Main Page. Thank you for submitting, reviewing, and ranking suggestions!

Ranking system

4 : Excellent – should definitely be used. (This is the utmost ranking and should be used by any editor for only one quote at a time for each date.)

3 : Very Good – strong desire to see it used.

2 : Good – some desire to see it used.

1 : Acceptable – but with no particular desire to see it used.

0 : Not acceptable – not appropriate for use as a quote of the day.

An averaging of the rankings provided to each suggestion produces it’s general ranking in considerations for selection of Quote of the Day. The selections made are usually chosen from the top ranked options existing on the page, but the provision of highly ranked late additions, especially in regard to special events (most commonly in regard to the deaths of famous people, or other major social or physical occurrences), always remain an option for final selections.

Thank you for participating!

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DOB: Thomas Aquinas · Amanda Gorman · John Herschel · Robert Roy MacGregor · Alessandro Manzoni

Note: Aristotle still has many suggestions here, because previously this date was given as that of his death on Wikipedia; this is no longer accepted, but as no other date seems likely to be provided, this continues to be a primary place for suggestions of quotes by him.

To the natural philosopher there is no natural object unimportant or trifling. ~ John Herschel

3 Kalki 15:45, 28 February 2009 (UTC) with a lean toward 4.
2 Zarbon 19:18, 28 February 2009 (UTC)
3 UDScott 15:38, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
3 InvisibleSun 23:13, 6 March 2009 (UTC)

If ye are seeking Rob Roy, he's ken'd to be better than half a hunder men strong when he's at the fewest. ~ Sir Walter Scott, (Rob Roy's date of birth)

3 Kalki 15:50, 28 February 2009 (UTC) with a lean toward 4.
1 Zarbon 19:18, 28 February 2009 (UTC)
2 UDScott 15:38, 4 March 2009 (UTC)

Law: an ordinance of reason for the common good, made by him who has care of the community. ~ Thomas Aquinas (date of death; date of birth unknown)

3 Zarbon 04:23, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
3 UDScott 15:38, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
2 Kalki 16:55, 6 March 2009 (UTC) with a lean toward 3.
2 InvisibleSun 23:13, 6 March 2009 (UTC)

Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of wine. ~ Thomas Aquinas

2 Zarbon 04:23, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
2 UDScott 15:38, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
2 Kalki 16:55, 6 March 2009 (UTC)

The most hopeful people in the world are the young and the drunk. The first because they have little experience of failure, and the second because they have succeeded in drowning theirs. ~ Thomas Aquinas

3 and lean toward a 4. Zarbon 04:23, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
3 UDScott 15:38, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
2 Kalki 16:55, 6 March 2009 (UTC)
2 bystander (talk) 21:18, 3 March 2012 (UTC)

Sing, my tongue, the Savior's glory,
Of His Flesh the mystery sing;
Of the Blood, all price exceeding,
Shed by our immortal King. ~ Thomas Aquinas

2 Zarbon 04:23, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
2 UDScott 15:38, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
2 Kalki 16:55, 6 March 2009 (UTC)
2 InvisibleSun 23:13, 6 March 2009 (UTC)

It is simplicity that makes the uneducated more effective than the educated when addressing popular audiences. ~ Aristotle

2 Zarbon 04:23, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
2 UDScott 15:38, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
3 Kalki 16:55, 6 March 2009 (UTC)
3 InvisibleSun 23:13, 6 March 2009 (UTC)

The law is reason unaffected by desire. ~ Aristotle

3 Zarbon 04:23, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
2 UDScott 15:38, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
1 Ningauble 22:08, 4 March 2009 (UTC) Would that laws were so, but this is too ironic for me.
1 Kalki 16:55, 6 March 2009 (UTC) Frankly, I must agree with Ninguable here, at least with most understandings of the word "Law."
2 InvisibleSun 23:13, 6 March 2009 (UTC)

Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods. ~ Aristotle

3 Zarbon 04:23, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
3 UDScott 15:38, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
Great quote, but this was already used, on 1 August 2003 ~ Kalki (talk · contributions).

And happiness is thought to depend on leisure; for we are busy that we may have leisure, and make war that we may live in peace. ~ Aristotle

3 and lean toward a 4. Zarbon 04:23, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
3 UDScott 15:38, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
2 Ningauble 22:08, 4 March 2009 (UTC) There are too many other bases for happiness, activity, and war making.
2 Kalki 16:55, 6 March 2009 (UTC)
2 InvisibleSun 23:13, 6 March 2009 (UTC)

For the purposes of poetry a convincing impossibility is preferable to an unconvincing possibility. ~ Aristotle

3 Zarbon 04:23, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
2 UDScott 15:38, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
2 Kalki 16:55, 6 March 2009 (UTC)
3 InvisibleSun 23:13, 6 March 2009 (UTC)

Liars when they speak the truth are not believed. ~ Aristotle

3 Zarbon 04:23, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
2 UDScott 15:38, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
2 Kalki 16:55, 6 March 2009 (UTC)
3 InvisibleSun 23:13, 6 March 2009 (UTC)

I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who overcomes his enemies. ~ Aristotle

4 Zarbon 04:23, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
3 UDScott 15:38, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
2 Kalki 16:55, 6 March 2009 (UTC) with a lean toward 3.
3 InvisibleSun 23:13, 6 March 2009 (UTC)

What comes after is not always progress. ~ Alessandro Manzoni

2 Zarbon 04:23, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
2 UDScott 15:38, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
2 Kalki 16:55, 6 March 2009 (UTC)
2 InvisibleSun 23:13, 6 March 2009 (UTC)

It is one of the advantages of this world that people can hate and be hated without knowing each other. ~ Alessandro Manzoni

3 Zarbon 04:23, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
2 UDScott 15:38, 4 March 2009 (UTC)
1 Ningauble 22:08, 4 March 2009 (UTC) Taken literally or ironically, I find this unappealing.
1 Kalki 16:55, 6 March 2009 (UTC)
2 InvisibleSun 23:13, 6 March 2009 (UTC)

The young have exalted notions, because they have not been humbled by life or learned its necessary limitations; moreover, their hopeful disposition makes them think themselves equal to great things—and that means having exalted notions. They would always rather do noble deeds than useful ones: Their lives are regulated more by moral feeling than by reasoning. ~ Aristotle

3 bystander (talk) 21:18, 3 March 2012 (UTC)
3 ♞☤☮♌︎Kalki·⚚⚓︎⊙☳☶⚡ 18:54, 6 March 2015 (UTC)

The general practice is for the secret to be confided only to an equally trustworthy friend, the same conditions being imposed on him. And so from trustworthy friend to trustworthy friend the secret goes moving on round that immense chain, until finally it reaches the ears of just the very person or persons whom the first talker had expressly intended it never should reach.

~ Alessandro Manzoni ~

3 ♞☤☮♌︎Kalki·⚚⚓︎⊙☳☶⚡ 14:01, 2 April 2016 (UTC)

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March 7

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March 7

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