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Quotes by Scottish Authors
"Surely it is time to examine into the meaning of words and the nature of things, and to arrive at simple facts, not received upon the dictum of learned authorities, but upon attentive personal observation of what is passing around us."
"I have lost confidence in myself."
"To believe Christ's cross to be a friend, as he himself is a friend, is also a special act of faith."
"Affliction's sons are brothers in distress; A brother to relieve, how exquisite the bliss!"
"As we draw on the grace of God He increases voluntary poverty all along the line. Always give the best you have got every time; never think about who you are giving it to; let other people take it or leave it as they choose. Pour out the best you have, and always be poor. Never reserve anything; never be diplomatic and careful about the treasure God gives."
"Fairfax was incredibly important to the shaping of the country."
"Jesus doesn't bring anything up from the wells of human nature--He brings them down from above."
"Friends, if we be honest with ourselves, we shall be honest with each other."
"It was as if she was a dream, like London, which he could not entirely grasp and of which he was not worthy. He wanted to be part of it but had forgotten how. It seemed extraordinary and strange that this paragon among women had condescended to travel on his ship. In fact, she'd insisted upon it. Her presence was at once otherworldly and familiar, none of which explained why his brain ceased to function when he was in her company."
"The number of strokes to the inch controls the pitch of the note: the more, the higher the pitch; the fewer, the lower the pitch, the size of the stroke controls the loudness... the tone quality is the most difficult element to control, it is made by the shape of the strokes."
"The true definition of a snob is one who craves for what separates men rather than for what unites them."
"His locked, lettered, braw brass collar, Shewed him the gentleman and scholar."
"The record industry is still pissed off that other people are making money off their business, even if it promotes their products and increases their sales. I think they're still mad about radio."
"Now for my own case, I bless the Lord that, for all that hath been said of me, my conscience doth not condemn me. I do not say I am free of sin, but I am at peace with God through a slain Mediator; and I believe that there is no salvation but only in Christ."
"Nothing that's forced can ever be right, if it doesn't come naturally, leave it."
"The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to notice. And because we fail to notice that we fail to notice, there is little we can do to change; until we notice how failing to notice shapes our thoughts and deeds."
"The accumulation of numbers always augments in some measure moral corruptions, and the consequences to health of the various vices incident thereto, are well known."
"All successful people these days seem to be neurotic. Perhaps we should stop being sorry for them and start being sorry for me - for being so confounded normal."
"Rule, Britannia, rule the waves; Britons never will be slaves."
"I think the shocking thing to discover is the owls are not stupid and very feral, very hard to train."
"If America had been discovered as many times as I have, no one would remember Columbus."
"He who never made a mistake, never made a discovery."
"It takes leadership to improve safety. And I started off the movement in my time, but the person who has done more over the past 20 to 30 years and who has led it is Professor Sid Watkins."
"If you have any opinions at all or if you're even remotely verbal then they're going to call you fiery."
"It's nice to have been around long enough to be a part of people's lives. A lot of people who come to my show are real nostalgic for the '80s."
"Lovers may be and indeed generally are enemies, but they never can be friends, because there must always be a spice of jealousy and a something of Self in all their speculations."
"You grow up a lot in terms of your understanding of the industry and how to deal with the corporate things."
"I have been a man of great sins, but He has been a God of great mercies; and now, through His mercies, I have a conscience as sound and quiet as if I had never sinned."
"He that climbs the tall tree has won right to the fruit, He that leaps the wide gulf should prevail in his suit."
"Well - I started writing - probably in the early 60s and by say '65-'66 I had read most of the poetry that had been published - certainly in the 20 years prior to that."
"The apprenticeship of difficulty is one which the greatest of men have had to serve."
"I like women. I don't understand them, but I like them."
"It has always been a great wrong that these men and their families should be held in bondage."
"Let us unite on the safe and sure ground of fact and experiment, and we can never err; yet better, we can never differ."
"Believe me, my children have more stamina than a power station."
"In Great Britain the price of food is at a higher level than in any other country, and consequently, the British artisan labours at a disadvantage in proportion to the higher rate of his food."
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