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;
“If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals”
Today’s historical link is a no brainer; happy birthday to the wonderful J.K Rowling and by extension Harry Potter.
“Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”
Emily Brontë was born today 30th July 1818; our quote comes from her only novel Wuthering Heights.
“I don’t pretend we have all the answers. But the questions are certainly worth thinking about.”
1958 and Congress establishes the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a civilian agency responsible for coordinating America’s activities in space.
Our quote comes from sci fi author, Arthur C. Clarke and our book of the day is his most famous work;
“Thank goodness I was never sent to school; it would have rubbed off some of the originality.”
That most wonderful of children’s authors Beatrix Potter was born today 28th July 1866. There cannot be many children who have not made the acquaintance of Peter Rabbit at some point in their lives.
Beatrix Potter; The Complete Tales US
Beatrix Potter; The Complete Tales UK
“Oh, you can’t describe someone you’re in love with!”
1884 and The East Cleveland Street Railway Company begins the first U.S. commercial electric streetcar line in Cleveland. Who else could today’s quote come from but Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire.
“Freedom was wonderful beyond relief. But with it came that bitch, Duty.”
1775 July 26th; Congress establishes the United States Post Office and names Benjamin Franklin the first United States postmaster general. Our quote today comes from David Brin’s The Postman; a post apocalyptic novel.
“…for literature had always been a solace for him, something that the ugliness of facts could not spoil.”
Pratibha Devisingh Patil was sworn in as president of India on 25th July 2007 the first woman to hold this office.
Our quote though a little tenuous is close enough and comes from E.M Forster’s A Passage To India.
“Never interrupt some doing what you said couldn’t be done.”
Born July 24, 1897 Amelia Earhart was an American aviation pioneer and author. She was the first female to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean and wrote best-selling books about her flying experiences.
“The flood of print has turned reading into a process of gulping rather than savouring”
Today is Raymond Chandler’s birthday, born July 23rd 1888 his best known protagonist Philip Marlowe is the quintessential American Private Detective
Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe US
Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe UK
“Anything one man can imagine, other men can make real.”
On 22nd July 1933 Wiley Post landed safely at Floyd Bennett Field in New York, having flown solo around the world in 7 days, 18 hours, and 49 minutes. He was the first aviator to accomplish the feat.
A little faster perhaps than Phileas Fogg; nonetheless our quote today comes from Jules Verne’s novel Around The World in Eighty Days.
Around The World in Eighty Days US
Around The World in Eighty Days UK
“All good books have one thing in common – they are truer than if they had really happened.”
Happy 116th birthday to one of the greatest writers of all time Ernest Hemingway; winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature and author of so many wonderful quotes it was difficult choosing just one.
The Complete Collection of Short Stories US
The Complete Collection of Short Stories UK
“Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic.”
20th July 1969 saw man set foot on the moon for the first time, which as Neil Armstrong so famously said “That’s one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.” but we’ve decided to go with a different quote. Today’s thought is from Carl Sagan’s Cosmos.
“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, but only saps today of its strength.”
On this day in 1896 Archibald Joseph Cronin was born; a doctor and author whose best known novel The Citadel, promoted controversial new ideas in medical ethics and was the inspiration behind the launch of the UK’s National Health Service.
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
Nelson Mandela, a man deemed a violent communist saboteur, imprisoned for 27 years and who after his release in 1990, the ending of apartheid and his election as leader of the newly legalised ANC became South Africa’s first black president; would have celebrated his 97th birthday today; 18th July 2015.
“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.”
Disneyland was opened today in in Anaheim, California, on 17th July 1955 and our quote is from Walt Disney.
“It is no small thing, this, for a woman: freedom.”
16th July 1557 saw the death of Anne of Cleves, the only one of Henry VIII’s wives to survive his philandering ways. (Catherine Parr surviving through widowhood). Our quote today comes from Philippa Gregory’s The Boleyn Inheritance
“Life’s a daring adventure or nothing at all”
Today we wish prolific author Clive Cussler a happy 84th birthday
“That’s all I can stands, I can’t stands no more”
Popeye appeared in his first ever cartoon on 14 July 1933
“Life is dear to every living thing, the worm that crawls upon the ground will struggle for it”
On 13th July 1787, the U.S. Continental Congress forbade slavery in the Northwest Territory and to commemorate that event today’s quote comes from the memoirs of Solomon Northup.
“Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.”
The first chapter has been revealed and it won’t be long before we can enjoy the sequel to Harper Lee’s iconic To Kill a Mockingbird.
“After all, what’s a life, anyway? We’re born, we live a little while, we die. A spider’s life can’t help being something of a mess, with all this trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone’s life can stand a little of that.”
Today we celebrate the birth of E.B White, author of Charlotte’s Web 11/07/1899
