Life is an unbroken succession of false situations.

—Thornton Wilder

life perception error change

About Thornton Wilder

Portrait of Thornton Wilder

Thornton Niven Wilder (April 17, 1897 – December 7, 1975) was an American playwright and novelist. He won three Pulitzer Prizes, for the novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey and for the plays Our Town and The Skin of Our Teeth, and a U.S. National Book Award for the...

More quotations from Thornton Wilder

Nature reserves the right to inflict upon her children the most terrifying jests.

—Thornton Wilder

humor children nature jokes

Never support two weaknesses at the same time. It's your combination sinners—your lecherous liars and your miserly drunkards—who dishonor the vices and bring them into bad repute.

—Thornton Wilder

The highest tribute to the dead is not grief, but gratitude.

—Thornton Wilder

The sun rose this morning at 6:32 A.M. This gratifying event was first reported by Mrs. Dorothy Stetson of Freeport, Long Island, who promptly telephoned the mayor. The Society for Affirming the End of the World at once went into a special session and postponed the arrival of that event for twenty-four hours. All honor to Mrs. Stetson for her public spirit.

—Thornton Wilder

world spirit sunrise

Without your wounds where would your power be? The very angels themselves cannot persuade the wretched and blundering children on earth as can one human being broken in the wheels of living. In love's service, only the wounded soldiers can serve.

—Thornton Wilder

love power children hurt angels wounds

More quotations tagged with “change”

The main dangers in this life are the people who want to change everything—or nothing.

life danger change

Starting over can be the scariest thing in the entire world, whether it's leaving a lover, a school, a team, a friend or anything else that feels like a core part of our identity but when your gut is telling you that something here isn't right or feels unsafe, I really want you to listen and trust in that voice.

—Jennifer Elisabeth

safety change faith trust starting over

A lot of people are waiting for Martin Luther King Jr. or Mahatma Gandhi to come back, but they are gone. We are it. It is up to us. It is up to you.

—Marian Wright Edelman

action change effort greatness waiting

I thought it would all fall into place. I've changed my mind. Do nothing, and nothing happens. Life is about decisions. You either make them or they're made for you, but you can't avoid them.

—Mhairi McFarlane in You Had Me At Hello

life change thought inaction decisions serendipity

There are some people out there who don't wait for what comes next. They decide what should come next and they go and make it happen.

—Jonathan Tropper in One Last Thing Before I Go

action change anticipation forcefulness

History

27 Dec 2014 Added