"There is nothing so absurd but some philosopher has said it."

Cicero
(01/03/0106 BC – 12/07/0043 BC)
Roman writer

"High birth is an accident, not a virtue."

Pietro Metastasio
(01/03/1698 – 04/12/1782)
Italian writer

"The world has never yet seen a truly great and virtuous nation because in the degradation of woman the very fountains of life are poisoned at their source."

Lucretia Coffin Mott
(01/03/1793 – 11/11/1880)
US social reformer

"If I were a grave-digger, or even a hangman, there are some people I could work for with a great deal of enjoyment."

Douglas Jerrold
(01/03/1803 – 06/08/1857)
English writer

"Democracy means government by discussion, but it is only effective if you can stop people talking."

Clement Atlee
(01/03/1883 – 10/08/1967)
British PM (42) (see other British PMs)

"Playing Shakespeare is very tiring. You never get to sit down unless you're a king."

Josephine Hull
(01/03/1884 – 03/12/1957)
US actor

"Although one may fail to find happiness in theatrical life, one never wishes to give it up after having once tasted its fruits."

Anna Pavlova
(01/03/1885 – 01/23/1931)
Russian dancer

"I am told that I talk in shorthand and then smudge it."

J. R. R. Tolkien
(01/03/1892 – 09/02/1973)
English writer

"Al, why don't you get a haircut?"

Marion Davies
(01/03/1897 – 09/22/1961)
US actor (LTR with William Randolph Hearst) , to Albert Einstein

"I was what they called a feature player, never a star. They say I was in 500 films, everything but the newsreels."

ZaSu Pitts
(01/03/1898 – 06/07/1963)
US actor

"The quality of debate [in the House of Lords] is pretty high—and it is, I think, good evidence of life after death."

Rev. Donald Soper
(01/03/1903 – 12/22/1998)
English clergy

"The difference between a violin and a viola is that a viola burns longer."

Victor Borge
(01/03/1909 – 12/23/2000)
Danish entertainer

"Certain phrases stick in the throat, even if they offer nothing that is analytically improbable. 'A dashing Swiss officer' is one such. Another is 'the beautiful Law Courts.'"

John Russell
(01/03/1921 – 01/19/1991)
US actor

"The receivers are an integral part of the passing game."

Hank Stram
(01/03/1923 – 07/04/2005)
US football coach

"That's all very well, but two blacks don't make a white."

Michael Barratt
(01/03/1928 – )
English television presenter

"One thing the blues ain't, is funny."

Stephen Stills
(01/03/1945 – )
US singer-songwriter (Buffalo Springfield, CSNY) (photo by Ernie at Acclaim Photo)

"Women who buy perfume and flowers for themselves because their men won't do it are called 'self basting.'"

Adair Lara
(01/03/1952 – )
US writer

"I mean, it's a great story. It's got some great things in it. I mean there's something like eight violent deaths."

Mel Gibson
(01/03/1956 – )
Australian actor , on reasons to like "Hamlet"