Dirk Bal > Dirk's Quotes

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
― Lao Tzu

“A handicap parking permit is not a reward for a lifetime of poor eating habits...”
― T. Rafael Cimino

“We are all born to love people and use things. Unfortunately, we grow to love things and use people...”
― T. Rafael Cimino

“The single observation I would offer for your consideration is that some things are beyond your control. You can lose your health to illness or accident. You can lose your wealth to all manner of unpredictable sources. What are not easily stolen from you without your cooperation are your principles and your values. They are your most important possessions and, if carefully selected and nurtured, will well serve you and your fellow man.”
― Neil Armstrong

“Intelligence is the ability to avoid doing work, yet getting the work done.”
― Linus Torvalds

“I am not a visionary. I'm an engineer. I'm happy with the people who are wandering around looking at the stars but I am looking at the ground and I want to fix the pothole before I fall in.”
― Linus Torvalds

“O youth! The strenght of it, the faith of it, the imagination of it! (...) I think of her with pleasure, with affection, with regret - as you would think of some one dead you have loved. I shall never forget her.... Pass the bottle.”
― Joseph Conrad, Youth, a Narrative

“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring