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History gives us a kind of chart, and we dare not surrender even a small rushlight in the darkness. The hasty reformer who does not remember the past will find himself condemned to repeat it.

John Buchan

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John Buchan
Age: 64 †
Born: 1875
Born: August 26
Died: 1940
Died: February 11
Barrister
Biographer
Former Governor General Of Canada
Journalist
Military Personnel
Novelist
Poet
Politician
Science Fiction Writer
Perth
Scotland
John Buchan
1st Baron Tweedsmuir
Lord Tweedsmuir
History
Condemned
Past
Repeat
Remember
Repeats
Doe
Surrender
Find
Dare
Reformer
Giving
Darkness
Chart
Even
Gives
Hasty
Kind
Small
Reformers

More quotes by John Buchan

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He who would valiant be against all disaster let him in constancy follow the Master. There's no discouragement shall make him once relent his first avowed intent to be a pilgrim.
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Civilisation needs more than the law to hold it together. You see, all mankind are not equally willing to accept as divine justice what is called human law.
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What would you call the highest happiness, Lewie? he asked. The sense of competence, was the answer, given without hesitation.
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That is the supreme value of history. The study of it is the best guarantee against repeating it.
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There may be peace without joy, and joy without peace, but the two combined make happiness.
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I always try to suit my clothes to my company. It is the only way to be inconspicuous.
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I was a peaceful sedentary man, a lover of a quiet life, with no appetite for perils and commotions. But I was beginning to realise that I was very obstinate.
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He disliked emotion, not because he felt lightly, but because he felt deeply.
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I would have been content with any job however thankless, in any quarter however remote, if I had a chance of making a corner of the desert blossom and the solitary place glad.
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But some love not the method of your first Romance they count it, throw't away as dust If I should meet with such, what should I say Must I slight them as they slight me, or nay
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Civilization is a conspiracy. Modern life is the silent compact of comfortable folk to keep up pretences.
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Every man at the bottom of his heart believes that he is a born detective.
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London is like the tropical bush -- if you don't exercise constant care the jungle, in the shape of the slums, will break in.
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Without humility there can be no humanity.
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The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope.
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You think that a wall as solid as the earth separates civilization from barbarism. I tell you the division is a thread, a sheet of glass. A touch here, a push there, and you bring back the reign of Saturn.
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The world was arrogant and self-satisfied, but behind all this confidence there was an uneasy sense of impending disaster. The old creeds, both religious and political, were largely in the process of dissolution, but we did not realise the fact, and therefore did not look for new foundations.
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[W]ithout humour you cannot run a sweetie-shop, let alone a nation.
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Most true points are fine points. There never was a dispute between mortals where both sides hadn't a bit of right.
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Wise men never grow up indeed, they grow younger, for they lose the appalling worldly wisdom of youth.
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