<= Previous | December Issues Index | Next =>
Quotes of the Day for 16 December 2003 - George Santayana

Jorge Augustin Nicolas Ruiz de Santayana was born at Madrid, Spain on this day in 1863, of a Spanish father and American mother. When his parents separated, he moved to Boston and took the name George, studying at the Boston Latin School and Harvard. After two years in Germany, her returned to Harvard for his doctorate, joining the philosophy faculty until an inheritance allowed him to retire in 1912. Despite his atheism, from the start of World War II to his death in 1952 Santayana lived in a convent in Rome. I do believe that the very first quote I ever memorized was one of his.

Everything in nature is lyrical in its ideal essence, tragic in its fate, and comic in its existence.

A man's feet should be planted in his country, but his eyes should survey the world.

Children are natural mythologists: they beg to be told tales, and love not only to invent but to enact falsehoods.

Friends are generally of the same sex, for when men and women agree, it is only in the conclusions; their reasons are always different.

Scepticism is the chastity of the intellect, and it is shameful to surrender it too soon, or to the first comer.

There is no cure for birth and death save to enjoy the interval. The dark background which death supplies brings out the tender colors of life in all their purity.
     - All from George Santayana, 1863 - 1921

Would you like to see quotes like these in your mail tomorrow morning? Our 10,000 loyal subscribers hate to miss a day, perhaps you should sign up now! No cost or obligation, just be open to the enlightenment waiting for you among our 22,500+ quotes.