A certain businessman, renowned for his ruthlessness, once made a vow in Mark Twain's presence. "Before I die," he declared, "I mean to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. I will climb Mount Sinai and read the Ten Commandments aloud at the top." "I have a better idea," Twain replied. "You could stay home in Boston and keep them.

—Bartlett's Book of Anecdotes

business home travel

More quotations from Bartlett's Book of Anecdotes

In the latter part of his career, Spanish violinist Pablo de Sarasate received a visit from a famous music critic who acclaimed him as a genius.… "A genius!" Sarasate said. "For thirty-seven years I've practiced fourteen hours a day, and now they call me a genius!

—Bartlett's Book of Anecdotes

As she lay dying, Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour—the official chief mistress of Louis XV, King of France—summoned her last strength and called to God, "Wait a second," as she dabbed her cheeks with rouge.

—Bartlett's Book of Anecdotes

beauty death vanity royalty France

During the contest for the 1960 Democratic presidential nomination, John F. Kennedy visited a mine in West Virginia. "Is it true you're the son of one of our wealthiest men?" asked one of the miners there. Kennedy admitted that this was true. "Is it true that you've never wanted for anything and had everything you wanted?" "I guess so," Kennedy replied. "Is it true you've never done a day's work with your hands all your life?" Kennedy nodded. "Well, let me tell you this," said the miner. "You haven't missed a thing.

—Bartlett's Book of Anecdotes

A visitor to Niels Bohr's country cottage, noticing a horseshoe hanging on the wall, teased the eminent scientist about this ancient superstition. "Can it be that you, of all people, believe it will bring you luck?" "Of course not," replied Bohr, "but I understand it brings you luck whether you believe or not.

—Bartlett's Book of Anecdotes

Among the sages whom [Ralph Waldo] Emerson sought out on his visit to Europe was the notoriously reticent and difficult Thomas Carlyle. He called on Carlyle one evening and was given a pipe, while his host took one himself. They sat together smoking in perfect silence until bedtime, and on parting shook hands most cordially, congratulating each other on the fruitful time they had enjoyed together.

—Bartlett's Book of Anecdotes

More quotations tagged with “travel”

People travel to faraway places to watch in fascination the kind of people they ignore at home.

—Dagobert D. Runes

ignorance people perception curiosity distance travel

Too often travel, instead of broadening the mind, merely lengthens the conversation.

—Elizabeth Drew

experience conversation travel broad-mindedness

If you come to a fork in the road, take it.

I travel a lot; I hate having my life disrupted by routine.

—Caskie Stinnett

life travel routine

Traveling is the great true love of my life. I have always felt, ever since I was sixteen years old and first went to Russia with my saved-up babysitting money, that to travel is worth any cost or sacrifice. I am loyal and constant in my love for travel, as I have not always been loyal and constant in my other loves. I feel about travel the way a happy new mother feels about her impossible, colicky, restless, newborn baby—I just don't care what it puts me through.

—Elizabeth Gilbert in Love

love life sacrifice travel

History

9 Feb 2015 Added