Thought of the Day is where you’ll find my little snippets of daily knowledge, historical happenings and newsworthy notes; plus of course the inevitable ‘too good not to add them’ quotes.
I’ve linked them to literary quotes and the books or authors they came from. There’s no rhyme nor reason to them, if it catches my eye then it’s likely to be here, and if you know of an upcoming important happening, or historical even that we should feature on our literary calendar, let us know at;
“They say it is better to be poor and happy than rich and miserable, but how about a compromise like moderately rich and just moody?”
1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997
Eighteen years ago today Princess Diana was killed in a car accident after being hounded by Paparazzi. The quote is hers, the book appropriately enough is The Princess Bride.
“Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.”
30 August 1797 – 1 February 1851
Happy Birthday to Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, an English novelist, short story writer, dramatist, essayist, biographer, and travel writer; best known for her Gothic novel Frankenstein (1818).
“Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.”
29 August 1915 – 29 August 1982
Having been both born and dying on this date, Ingrid Bergman was the obvious choice for today’s quote. Our book choice is the true story of Gladys Aylward on whose life the film The Inn of the Sixth Happiness was based.
“I don’t think I am any good. If I thought I was any good, I wouldn’t be.”
28 August 1906 – 19 May 1984
Today’s quote is from Sir John Betjeman, CBE who was an English poet, writer, and broadcaster and described himself in Who’s Who as a “poet and hack”.
“So much universe, and so little time. ”
Not a historical happening today, instead have something for the future; Terry Pratchett’s final book The Shepherd’s Crown was released today 27th August 2015.
“A fool tries to look different: a clever man looks the same and is different.”
26 August 1875 – 11 February 1940
John Buchan, author of The Thirty Nine Steps was born on this day. A Scottish novelist, historian and politician; he became the fifteenth Governor General of Canada.
“You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist. ”
Friedrich Nietzsche 15 October 1844 – 25 August 1900; philosopher, poet, composer and cultural critic.
“Thomas Edison’s last words were “It’s very beautiful over there“. I don’t know where there is, but I believe it’s somewhere, and I hope it’s beautiful.”
Happy birthday to John Green, born August 24, 1977; we all know him from The Fault In Our Stars but I so love this quote from Looking For Alaska I had to use it.
I too hope that there is something, somewhere and I too hope it is beautiful.
“Suicide seemed to me the greatest kind of freedom, a release from everything, from a life that had been ruined a long time ago.”
Natascha Kampusch, kidnapped on the 2nd March 1998 at the age of ten, she finally escaped on the 23rd August 2006. Perhaps not an inspirational quote today, but nonetheless an important one.
“There must be something in books, something we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don’t stay for nothing.”
Happy birthday to Ray Bradbury, August 22, 1920 – June 5, 2012; author of Fahrenheit 451, the Martian Chronicles and others’
“I’d rather die standing than live on my knees.”
Stéphane Charbonnier publishing director of Charlie Hebdo was born 21st August 1967.
The pen must always remain mightier than the sword.
“I couldn’t live a week without a private library – indeed, I’d part with all my furniture and squat and sleep on the floor before I’d let go of the 1500 or so books I possess.”
Well said Mr Lovecraft. Our quote today comes from the master of horror H.P. Lovecraft, born 20/08/1890.
“Happiness is: Having a scratch for every itch.”
Happy Birthday to Ogden Nash. Born August 19th 1902- Died May 19th 1971.
“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”
Today marks the 75th Anniversary of what is known as ‘The Hardest Day’ of The Battle of Britain. On the 18th August 1940 68 British planes and 69 German planes were shot down during one of the pivotal battles that helped bring WW2 to an end.
Our quote is, of course from the inimitable Sir Winston Churchill and, I think, sums up the price paid by the few in all wars.
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
George Orwell’s Animal Farm was published in Great Britain on this day in 1946.
“And apologies, once postponed, become harder and harder to make, and finally impossible.”
Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone With The Wind died on the 16th August 1949. It was almost impossible to pick just one quote but in the end, I chose this.
“For he that does good, having the unlimited power to do evil, deserves praise not only for the good which he performs, but for the evil which he forbears.”
15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832
Sir Walter Scott was born on this day. Author of Ivanhoe, Rob Roy and many other books, Scott is now seen as an important innovator and a key figure in the development of Scottish and world literature.
“Writing is a solitary endeavor, but not a lonely one. When you write, your world is populated by the characters you invent, and you feel those people filling your life.”
Happy birthday to Danielle Steel; born today in 1947. She is the best selling author alive and the fourth best selling author of all time.
“Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.”
21/09/1866- 13/08/1946.
H.G.Wells, the father of Science Fiction died on this day.
“Never say ‘no’ to adventures. Always say ‘yes’, otherwise you’ll lead a very dull life.”
Ian Fleming, author of that most English of spies James Bond, died on this day in 1964.
“You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.”
21/07/51- 11/08/14.
A year ago today a light went out in the world of entertainment; Robin Williams ended his battle with depression in that most final of ways.
Our quote is from him, our book chosen as the inspiration for (in my opinion) one of his best films.
“Throughout the shadowy world of ghosts and demons there is no figure so terrible, no figure so dreaded and abhorred, yet dight with such fearful fascination, as the vampire, who is himself neither ghost nor demon, but yet who partakes the dark natures and possesses the mysterious and terrible qualities of both.”
Montague Summers, English Author and Clergyman died on this day in 1948. A strange figure he was obsessed with the occult and was responsible for the first English translation, published in 1928, of the notorious 15th-century witch hunter’s manual, the Malleus Maleficarum.
“Find the good. It’s all around you.”
“Find it, showcase it and you’ll start believing it.”
American athlete Jesse Owens, a black man, wins four gold medals at the summer Olympic games in Berlin—a bitter pill for Adolf Hitler, who had earlier boasted of the inherent superiority of the “Aryan race”
“I delight in what I fear.”
Today we commemorate the passing of American author Shirley Jackson who died on the 8th August 1965.
The Lottery and Other Stories US
The Lottery and Other Stories UK
““I know it’s impossible. But I know I’ll do it!” ”
Philippe Petit traversed the gap between the Twin Towers on a high wire on this day in 1974 .
“Every man dies. Not every man really lives”
5th August 1305 and William Wallace, leader of the Scottish Resistance is captured near Glasgow to be transported to London for trial .
William Wallace, Braveheart US
William Wallace, Braveheart UK
“Every man’s life is a fairy tale written by God’s fingers.”
The amazing Hans Christian Anderson passed away on 4th August 1875. The author of so many of our favourite childhood stories; tales we tell our children and they will tell theirs.
“All fiction is largely autobiographical and much autobiography is, of course, fiction.”
Happy Birthday to prolific crime author Phyllis Dorothy James (White) Born 3rd August 1920.
“I can’t go back to yesterday because I was a different person then.”
2nd August 1865, and Lewis Carroll publishes Alice in Wonderland. Today’s image is drawn by the wonderful Jilly Henderson and she has plenty of her gorgeous art for sale on her Facebook page.
“I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I’ll go to it laughing.”
Happy Birthday to Herman Melville and his infamous white whale 1st August 1819.
