(No translations are made; the quotations are given in the language I found them)
He had made enough enemies to acquire a nickname, and not
enough friends to hear what it was.
(Pat Califia, "The
Spoiler")
Det er ikke vondt ment n�r du vurderer folk. Det er
bare fordi du er blitt testet s� mange ganger selv. Du ser det kanskje
ikke s� tydelig hvis du alltid har klart � prestere noenlunde det som
ble forlangt. Du ser det kanskje best hvis du vet at du hele ditt liv
vil v�re p� grensen.
(Peter H�eg, "De f� utvalgde")
Menschen sind mit Realit�tsfiltern ausgestattet.
Viele Leute glauben, daß nur ein Zehntel des Gehirns wirklich
genutzt werden.Sie irren sich. Nicht einmal der d�mmste aller Sch�pfer
w�rde den menschlichen Kopf so gestalten, daß er mehrere Pfund
unn�tze graue Gr�tze herumtr�gt, deren einziger Zweck darin besteht, bei
fernen primitiven St�mmen in entlegenen T�lern als Delikatesse zu
gelten.
Das Hirn wird genutzt. Eine seiner wichtigsten Funktionen besteht
darin, das Wundervolle v�llig normal erscheinen zu lassen und das
Ungew�hnliche ins Banale zu verwandeln.
Andernfalls bek�men es Menschen direkt und unmittelbar mit
den vielen Wundern des Lebens zu tun. Dann liefen sie von morgens bis
abends mit einem d�mmlichen Grinsen durch die Gegend; so wie gewisse
Stammesangeh�rige, die in ihren entlegenen T�lern gelegentlich von der
Polizei Besuch erhalten und dann erstaunt feststellen, was alles auf
ihren Plantagen und in den Treibh�usern w�chst.
Außerdem: Dann w�rde kaum jemand arbeiten. G�tter m�gen keine Menschen, die wenig arbeiten. Wer wenig arbeitet,
hat zu viel Zeit zum Nachdenken.
Ein Teil des Gehirns hat die Aufgabe, so etwas zu verhindern. Und dieser Teil funktioniert wirklich
hervorragend. Er kann daf�r sorgen, daß sich manche Personen
langweilen, obwohl sie von Wundern umgeben sind.
(T. Pratchett, "Small Gods - Einfach g�ttlich")
When you've made up your mind to shout out who you are to the world, it's a relief to know that you can do it in a whisper.
(T. Pratchett, "Feet of Clay")
It has always been my aim to live a life so openly scandalous that I would be immune to blackmail.
(Lord Beaumont)
Die sichere Überzeugung, daß man könnte, wenn man wollte, ist
Ursache an manches guten Kopfes Untätigkeit und das nicht ohne
Grund.
(Georg Christoph Lichtenberg)
It is recommended that each servicer have a pair of balls for maintaining
optimum customer satisfaction, and that any customer missing his balls
should
suspect local personnel of removing these necessary functional items.
-- aus einem IBM Rundbrief "Mauskugeln jetzt als Ersatzteil erh�ltlich"
(Thanks, Andreas, for sending me this quotation.)
Es ist besser, dein Leben mit deinem besten Freund zu teilen als mit deinem sch�rfsten Sexualpartner.
Das klingt zun�chst langweilig, aber mit der Zeit wird das unglaublich aufregend, und eine Nacht
voll Sex ist ja auch jederzeit drin.
(Domenico Dolce on his relationship to/with Stefano Gabbana)
Jonas Gardell om hvorfor alle nynazister har barbert hodene sine:
"Når de har drept alle de homofile er det jo ingen igjen til � klippe dem."
Je gr��er der Abstand ist, aus dem heraus Du Dich betrachtest, um so deutlicher kannst Du die Tiefen und Weiten Deiner Wirklichkeit erkennen.
Unbekannt
(found as DenkMal der Woche 32, 2000)
Of course, he was a natural mathematician, and one thing a natural mathematician wants
to do is get away from actual damn sums as quickly as possible and slide into those bright
sunny uplands where everything is explained by letters in a foreign alphabet, and no one shouts very much.
(Terry Pratchett, "The Science of Discworld")
Das Chaos wird immer �ber die Ordnung siegen, denn es ist viel besser organisiert.
(Terry Pratchett)
There are creatures which have evolved to live in coral reefs and simply
could not survive in the rough, tooth-filled wastes of the open sea.
They continue to exist by lurking among the dangerous tentacles of the
sea anemone or around the lips pf the giant clam and other perilous
crevices shunned by all sensible fish.
A university is very much like a coral reef. It provides calm waters
and food particles for delicate yet marvellously constructed organisms
that could not possibly survive in the pounding surf of reality, where
people ask questions like "Is what you do of any use?" and other
nonsense.
(T. Pratchett "The Science of Discworld")
Die Frau ist blind: ich w�re beinahe �ber ihren Hund gestolpert...
(Andreas)
Man mu� diese Welt nicht verstehen, man mu� sich in ihr nur zurechtfinden!
Albert Einstein
Die Familie ist eine Ansammlung von Menschen beiderlei Geschlechts, die sich dazu berufen
fuehlen, ihre Nase in Deine Angelegenheiten zu stecken.
Kurt Tucholsky
Wer die M�glichkeit eines Mi�erfolgs als absurd von sich weist, bringt alle
notwendigen Voraussetzungen mit sich, um zu einem Ziegelstein auf dem Weg des
Fahrrads der Geschichte zu werden.
(T. Pratchett "Equal Rites - Das Erbe des Zauberers")
Kort sagt: N�r man venner seg til en bestemt standard p� ett omr�de, begynner man � betrakte andre omr�der med nye �yne.
(Thomas Hylland Eriksen, "�yeblikkets tyranni")
The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it.
(Chinese proverb)
Wenn die Tatsachen gegen dich sprechen, dann berufe dich auf das Gesetz. Wenn die Gesetze gegen dich sprechen, dann berufe dich auf die Tatsachen. Wenn Tatsachen und Gesetze gegen dich sprechen, dann schrei und schimpfe so laut du kannst.
Schatten t�uschen oft �ber die wahre Gr�ße,
Denn sie geben eigentlich nur den Stand der Sonne an.
Vergi� bei dem ganzen Jammer nicht, Du hast noch die ganze Sahnetorte vor Dir stehen, nur im Moment suchste noch den L�ffel.
Eieren av en hammer ser på ethvert problem som en spiker - noe en skrue ikke setter pris på.
Wer nicht zu sich selbst steht, verliert sich am Beispiel anderer.
Hans Arndt
Furcht formt einen sonderbaren N�hrboden. Gehorsam
gedeiht darin besonders gut. Wie Korn w�chst er, in ordentlichen Reihen,
durch die das Unkraut j�ten besonders leicht wird. Aber manchmal reifen
im Boden, den Blicken verborgen, die Kartoffeln des Trotzes
heran.
(T. Pratchett, "Small Gods - Einfach
g�ttlich")
... Two roads diverged in a wood and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
(Robert Frost)
Det er jo en grunntanke i dette landet at mennesker i utgangspunktet er onde eller iallfall i prinsippet ubehagelige å ha med å gj�re, og at det derfor gjelder � spre dem over et st�rst mulig omr�de.
(...)
I alle fall er det tryggest � spre folk mest mulig, for � unng� at hovedvirkeligheten klapper sammen ved at de ulike gruppene oppdager hvor forskjellige de faktisk er. I s� fall ville de kanskje bli svimesl�tt av akutt fremmedfrykt.
(Thomas Hylland Eriksen, "Typisk norsk")
Das Wichtigste im Leben finden wir nicht durch intensive Suche,
sondern so, wie man etwa eine Muschel am Strand findet.
Im Grunde findet es uns.
(Jochen Mariss)
N�r man snakker og tenker for mye p� sin identitet, slutter man � v�re b�rer av identiteten; i stedet fors�ker man bevisst � spille seg selv som rolle. Den andres blikk blir avgj�rende for ens egen selvf�lelse.
(...)
Jo mer forskjellige vi fors�ker � v�re, desto likere blir vi. Men vi fortsetter � v�re forskjellige, selv om vi blir like. Det gjelder bare � f� �ye p� forskjellighetene.
(Thomas Hylland Eriksen, "Typisk norsk")
Jo mindre en stat er, jo mer gjennomsiktig er de indre forholdene. Det betyr at kriminalitet og konflikter n�rmest utrydder seg selv, men det betyr igjen at du lever i et stagnativt samfunn fattig p� utfordringer. Du lever s� forbannet trygt og velordnet ar du enten blir gal eller forg�r i kjedsomhet. Og eventuelle indre omveltninger har vanligvis som m�l � innf�re et nytt totalit�rt eller umyndiggj�rende system.
(...)
Minst halvparten av oss som utvandrer fra Jorda er jo mer eller mindre mistilpassede der vi kommer fra. Er det ikke nettopp derfor man utvandrer? Graset er som kjent alltid gr�nnere p� den andre siden av gjerdet. Det er bare det at asosialiteten ofte er noe man har i blodet. Noen av oss er asosiale uansett hvilket samfunn vi lever i.
(Leonard Borgzinner, "Hasardfaktoren")
Die gr��te Mutprobe f�r den, der fernab von den Hauptstra�en des Lebens seinen Weg gehen will,
besteht wohl darin, die Einsamkeit als einen best�ndigen Wegbegleiter anzunehmen.
If everyone saw things through the other person's eyes, there wouldn't be any arguments.
- That's the secret, but it won't ever happen. If everyone always saw the other person's view, we'd all end up acting the same, turn into machines. Same customs, food, music, everything. It's differences that make life interesting, and there's always going to be some organisation trying to make things the same. Doesn't matter if it's religion, politics, big business, royalty. They're all at it. A bit of friction keeps you on your toes, but I know what you mean, and it's true when it comes to people. You can have both. Differences and respect.
(...)
It's a way of thinking, that the mainstream is right no matter what it does, just as long as the trousers are expensive, and the hair coiffured. Appearance over content. Same old story.
(...)
There has to be passion or you might as well be dead. That's what always got me about the smelly squatter punks who were really hippies, because if you'd read one of their fanzines and they were analysing everything to death done up like tramps when you knew most of them came from money, boasting about how the roof was leaking and how cold they were, killing any passion for life stone dead. If that's all punk ends up as, student rebellion for a handful of wankers who think they're "underground" or "alternative" and wear Mao caps, then I'd rather be a fucking soulboy.
(...)
I try not to look back too much. What's done is done. You've got to go forward. It's more exciting, seeing what's round the corner. But I can understand not wanting to get cornered, stuck with someone for the rest of your life, nailed into the system, your whole life controlled by bankers as you graft to pay off the mortgage and credit cards. It's a decision you have to make. Don't commit and you don't hurt anyone else. On your own, there's nobody to blame for your mistakes. That's the way I see things. That's my choice.
(...)
He told me that the secret was getting out of the Good-Bad, Left-Right way of thinking, that if you really want to think for yourself you can't hide behind any group, have to break away from the set rules. He was right when he said people take themselves too seriously. All of this tied in with punk, which has a lot to say but was forever taking the piss out of itself, moving on and breaking its own rules, always one step ahead, mutating and carrying on regardless.
(...)
They're all the same, obsessed with empty statements, living in a fantasy world, chasing fame and fortune, acting out the system's idea of rebellion, as if dressing up is hard.
(...)
It's good to be alive, don't care what anyone says, and when it comes down to it we're nothing special, just two ordinary blokes trying to do the right thing, going with the flow but keeping your eyes wide open, like you do.
(John King, "Human Punk")
Denn, nat�rlich kann nur einer, der der Masse angeh�rt, den Drang empfinden, sich von der Masse abzuheben. Wer sowieso nicht der Masse angeh�rt, braucht keinen bunten Plunder und wirre Frisuren. Wer nicht der Masse angeh�rt, wird sich h�ten, sich irgendwie auff�llig zu geb�rden, um von der Masse nicht v�llig in den Abgrund getrieben zu werden.
(Max Goldt, "Verr�ckte Welt")
Our care should not be to have lived long but to have lived enough.
(Seneca)
Whatever you want to do, you owe it to yourself to do it, because it will teach you something, number one, and you'll find the answer, man. You'll figure it out. Put your hand in the damn fire.
(Perry Farell)
You see, MacEmm, we're extraordinary people. We must do extraordinary things.
(Jamie O'Neill, "At Swim, Two Boys")
Matematikk er ikke en forsiktig marsj nedover en ryddig landevei, men en reise inn i en fremmed villmark der den oppdagelsesreisende ofte g�r seg vill. T�ffe vanskeligheter b�r v�re et signal til historikeren om at kartene er blitt laget og de virkelige oppdagelsesreisende er reist et annet sted.
(W.S. Anglin)
It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do.
(Jerome K. Jerome)
Du begynner med et problem som forvirrer deg. Du skj�nner det ikke, det er s� komplisert, du ser ikke foran eller bak p� det. Men s� n�r du endelig l�ser det, f�r du denne utrolige f�lelsen av hvor vakkert det er, hvordan alt passer sammen s� elegant. Mest bedragerske er de problemene som ser enkle ut, og likevel viser seg � v�re ekstremt innviklede.
(A. Wiles)
En ekspert p� probleml�sning m� v�re utrustet med to kvaliteter som ikke passer sammen - en rastl�s fantasi og en t�lmodig st�het.
(H.W. Eves)
For � f� nye ideer trengs det en sv�rt lang periode der problemet kan v�re i fokus uten forstyrrelser. Man m� ikke tenke p� noe annet enn problemet - bare konsentrere seg om det. S� stopper du opp. Etterp� ser det ut til � komme en slags avslappingsperiode der underbevisstheten synes � ta over, og et er i l�pet av denne tiden at ny innsikt kommer.
(A. Wiles)
Wiles beskriver denne erfaringen med � utvikle matematikk som en reise gjennom et m�rkt, uutforsket herskapshus. "Man g�r inn i det f�rste rommet i det store huset, og det er m�rkt. Stummende m�rkt. Man snubler omkring og st�ter borti m�bler, men gradvis l�rer man seg hvor hvert m�bel befinner seg. Til slutt, etter seks m�neder eller der omkring, finner man lysbryteren og sl�r den p�, og plutselig er alt opplyst. Man ser n�yaktig hvor man er. Man kan s� bevege seg inn i neste rommet og tilbringe ytterligere seks m�neder i m�rket. Hvert av gjennombruddene, noen ganger skjer de �yeblikkelig, andre ganger kommer de etter en dag eller to, er kulminasjonen p�, og de ville ikke ha skjedd uten, de mange m�neder med famling rundt i det m�rket som var der tidligere."
(S. Singh, "Fermats siste sats")
In order ot invent, one must think aside.
(Sourian)
Those who have an excessive faith in their ideas are not well fitted to make discoveries.
(Claude Bernard)
We never know what we are talking about, nor whether what we are saying is true.
(Bertrand Russell)
... whether it be in the choice of questions or in their treatment, a man without some love of science could not be successful, because he would be unable to choose.
(J. Hadamard, "The Psychology of Invention in the Mathematical Field")
A distributed system is one in which the failure of a computer you didn't even know existed can render your own computer unusable.
(L. Lamport '92)
The key to winning, as always, was looking as if you had every right, nay, duty to be where you were. It helped if you could also suggest in every line of your body that no one else had any rights to be doing anything, anywhere, whatsoever. It came easily to an old copper.
(Therry Pratchett, "Night Watch")
Failing is good, as long as it doesn't become a habit.
Die Seele ist alt geboren und wird jung. Das ist die Kom�die des Lebens.
Der K�rper ist jung geboren und wird alt. Das ist die Trag�die des Lebens.
(Oscar Wilde)
Reisen gir deg en anledning til � riste litt p� deg, men i motsetning til hva jeg trodde gir den deg ikke friheten. Tvert imot m� du finne deg i en slags innskrenkning; som man fjerner en volumin�s emballasje, blir den reisende fratatt sine vaner og vante omgivelser, og redusert til langt mer beskjedne proporsjoner. Men han er ogs� mer �pen for nysgjerrigheten, intuisjonen og impulser.
(...) N�r det kommer til stykket, er det hverken familien eller karrieren som utgj�r eksistensens skjelett, heller ikke det de andre kommer til � si eller tenke om deg, men derimot �yeblikk som dette; som l�ftes opp av en fredelig kraft, enda fredeligere enn kj�rlighetens, og som livet deler ut med en sparsommelighet avpasset etter v�re svake hjerter.
(N. Bouvier, "Bruken av verden")
Det ligner egentlig ganske mye p� selve livet. Man vil aldri finne lykken eller meningen. Den ligger i detaljene. De ubetydelige detaljene fra ditt, mitt, hvem det n� m�tte v�re sitt liv, og hvordan man setter dem sammen og f�r dem til � stemme overens.
(C. Gibb, "Et uvedkommende liv")
Mathematicians are like Frenchmen: whenever you say something to them,
they translate it into their own language, and at once it is something
entirely different.
(J.W. v. GOETHE)
S�vidt jeg kunne forst� besto hovedproblemet av at det har liten hensikt � trekke druknende opp av havet s� lenge redningsb�ten mangler bunn.
(I. Ambj�rnsen, "Det gyldne vakuum")
... wenn du einmal meinen solltest, das Ziel deines Lebens deutlich vor dir zu sehen, dann hast du dich vermutlich im Weg geirrt.
(...)
"Ein Mann, was bedeutet das schon? ... Kommt es darauf an? Ihr Menschen seid recht unvollkommene Gesch�pfe, daß ihr immer nur eine H�lfte des Lebens in euch habt."
(H. Bemmann, "Stein und Fl�te. Und das ist noch nicht alles")
- Was ist unser Dasein am Ende schon - außer einer Geschichte, die wir uns selbst erz�hlen, um im Schmerz des Lebens einen Sinn zu finden?
- Wir m�ssen glauben, daß daas Leben einen Sinn hat.
- Vielleicht kann es nur so viel SSinn haben wie unsere F�higkeit, es zu leben.
(M. Frost, "Sieben")
Die Ferne ist ein sch�ner Ort
Doch wenn ich da bin, ist sie fort,
Die Ferne ist, wo ich nicht bin,
Ich geh und geh und komm nicht hin.
(Silly)
das verschlingen von neuigkeiten ist ein warten, und weil warten unertr�glich ist, muß die wartezeit immer weiter verk�rzt werden, aktualit�t als ertr�glichmachen von welt.
(R.M. Schernikau, "die tage in l.")
I don't feel like a woman, never having been a man.
(Jane Beck in C. Barker, "The history of the devil")
Hvordan kan det ha seg, at enkelte dager synes � ha sluppet unna minnets hjelpekorps? Er det fordi de var s� sterke, s� opprinnelige og n�rmest mystiske, at de er resistente mot all forandring? Kanskje det. Ofte synes dette � gjelde de gode dagene, de f�r bli som de var. De dagene da gleden kom i flokk; for akkurat som ulykker helst opptrer i flokk, mens du lever i n�et og ikke har sjangs til � bli hjulpet av hukommelsens beskyttende sl�r, er gleden ogs� glad i sine likesinna. Verken ulykken eller gleden liker seg alene, n�r de skal bes�ke oss, virker det som om de har samla alle likemenn de kjenner f�r de legger ut p� ferden, s�nn at de skal slippe � herje med oss helt alene. Hvem vet, kanskje de frykter den grusomme ensomheten det er � v�re ulykkelig alene, glad alene?
(T. Renberg, "Mannen som elsket Yngve")
Incapable of spontaneity and naturalness, individuals hide in safe dependable actions, seeking security in a system that tells them what to do.
(O.J. Nordmann)
The trouble with the rat-race is even if you win, you find out you're still a rat.
(L. Tomlin)
Wer seine Weltanschauung nie mit etwas konfrontiert, was au�erhalb davon liegt, kapselt sich ein; wer seine Wahrnehmung nie mit der Wahrnehmung eines Gegen�bers abgleicht, regrediert. Was bleibt, ist das narzisstische Vergn�gen, sich nichts Neuem auszusetzen.
That was what made traveling appeal to him - he always made new friends, and he didn't need to spend all of his time with them. When someone sees the same people every day, [...], they wind up becoming a part of that person's life. And then they want the person to change. If someone isn't what others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.
(P. Coelho, "The Alchemist")
Du lyser av livsvilje og p�gangsmot! Og dessuten har du en glede i deg som jeg aldri har sett maken til. Den gjenspeiler noe ukuelug som gnistrer til innimellom - og da er du bare skj�nn!
(G. Vindland, "Stjerneskudd")
Vi er nesten alltid ute av kontroll. N�r som helst kan virkeligheten sl� over i galopp. Gode intensjoner gir ingen garanti for at ting ikke kan g� fullstendig galt. Alt blir med n�dvendighet annerledes enn vi hadde tenkt oss. Verden blir regjert av uintenderte konsekvenser av v�re egne handlinger. Vi fors�ker kanskje � gj�re gode gjerninger; men virkningene har vi nesten ingen kontroll over. I tillegg har egoistiske handlinger ofte positive konsekvenser for helheten. Det er direkte forvirrende, men vi er jo n�dt til � fortsette � late som ingenting, eller som om ting kommer til � bli slik som vi ville. Verken v�re liv eller verden som helhet er innrettet p� denne m�ten. Ikke f�r vi innser dette, vil vi kunne ta v�re valg eller vurdere v�re handlinger p� et realistisk grunnlag.
(M.A. Str�ksnes, "Sn�en som falt ifjor")
Courage is starting the race with no end in sight.
Jeder m�chte geliebt werden. Geht dieser Wunsch aber in Erf�llung, so vermag das kaum jemand zu ertragen. Jeder sehnt sich nach Liebe, und ist dabei doch unf�hig zu glauben, dass er sie verdient. Wie gross die pers�nlichen Katastrophen auch sein m�gen, zu denen die Liebe f�hrt - die Liebe selbst ist auf verbl�ffende und geheimnisvolle Weise unpers�nlich; sie ist eine Realit�t, die sich durch nichts, was man tut, ver�ndert.
(J. Baldwin, "Sag mir, wie lange ist der Zug schon fort")
... if you're going to get anywhere, you're going to have to do it yourself, because no one is going to do it for you.
(...)
Things take place, there is a confluence of events and circumstances, and we can't always know their purpose, or even if there is one. But we can take responsibility for ourselves and be brave.
(...)
The definition of courage is: the quality of spirit that enables one to encounter danger with firmness and without fear.
(...)
The mind and the body almost never work together cooperatively. Mostly, we are at odds with ourselves, and for a road cyclist, this is especially true: when your body gets tired it's the job of your mind to override the impulse to stop. Or, when your mind wants more than can rightly be accomplished, it's the job of the body to rebell and tell you it needs food and water before it does anything else. Occasionally, the two work together in concert, and what happens then is the Hautacam. When they are in direct opposition to each other, what happens is you bonk on the way to Morzine.
(L. Armstrong, "It's not about the bike")
Ultimately, we all have to look after ourselves, whether on mountains or in day to day life. In my view that is not a license to be selfish, for only by taking good care of ourselves are we able to help others ...
(J. Simpson, "Touching the void")
The world is divided into people who do things and people who get the credit. Try, if you can, to belong to the first class. There's far less competition.
(D. Morrow, in a letter to his son)
He was struck by the thought that you only begin to know someone when confronted by the immeasurability of what you don�t know.
(J. O'Neill, "Moody and Gay")
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
(Mark Twain)