Ben Connolly

“In historical events (where the subject of observation is the actions of people), the most primordial approximation appears as the will of the gods, then as the will of those people who stand in the most conspicuous historical place—the historical heroes. But we need only enquire into the essence of any historical event, that is, into the activity of the entire mass of people who took part in the event, to become convinced that the will of the historical hero not only does not guide the actions of the masses, but is itself constantly guided.”
― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

“Society--civilized society, at least--is never very ready to believe anything to the detriment of those who are both rich and fascinating”
― Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray

“Or we could buy the French Barracuda design with its nuclear power plant rather than go to the trouble and risk of developing a conventionally powered version.”
― Hugh White, How to Defend Australia

“was the condition of the first man’s blessedness before his fall. The love of idleness remained the same in fallen man, but the curse still weighs on man, and not only because we must win our bread in the sweat of our face,1 but because our moral qualities are such that we are unable to be idle and at peace. A secret voice tells us that we should feel guilty for being idle. If man could find a condition in which, while idle, he felt that he was being useful and was fulfilling his duty, he would have found one side of primordial blessedness.”
― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace