John Calvin (1509-1564)

John Calvin

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Again, it is certain that man never achieves clear knowledge of himself unless he has first looked upon God's face, and then transcends from contemplating him to scrutinize himself  Institutes I, I, 1-2, (Reformed Online, Basic Course Lesson 3). Added 12/15/2014

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Our prayer must not be self-centered. It must arise not only because we feel our own need as a burden we must lay upon God, but also because we are so bound up in love for our fellow men that we feel their need as acutely as our own. To make intercession for men is the most powerful and practical way in which we can express our love for them (Protestant Reformers: John Calvin). Added 5/20/2012

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Photo: The photo in this post is in the Public Domain in the United States because the copyright has expired.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900-1944)

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It is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye (The Little Prince). Added 12/14/2013

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The photo of Antoine de Saint-Exupery is in the Public Domain.

Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)

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Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much (Source). Added 7/21/2013

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The photo of Blaise Pascal is in the Public Domain.

Francois Mauriac (1885-1970)

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To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others (Source). Added 4/2/2013

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The photo in this post is in the Wikipedia Commons.

Pierre Bayle (1647-1706)

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There is not less wit nor less invention in applying rightly a thought one finds in a book, than in being the first author of that thought (Source). Added 11/30/2012

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The photo of Pierre Bayle is in the Public Domain as it is more than 70 years old.

Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859)

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A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years (Source). Added 11/7/2012

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For more information on Alexis de Tocqueville visit the website http://www.tocqueville.org/.

The photo of Alexis de Tocqueville is in the Public Domain on Wikipedia.

Georges Clemenceau (1841-1929)

A man's life is interesting primarily when he has failed -- I well know. For it's a sign that he tried to surpass himself [(Wikiquote Source) From Conversation with Jean Martet (1 June 1928), Ch. 30].-- Added 8/26/2012


Photo: The photo in this post is in the Public Domain.