Famous quotes containing the words straight line, straight and/or line:
“Mathematics ... would certainly have not come into existence if one had known from the beginning that there was in nature no exactly straight line, no actual circle, no absolute magnitude.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (18441900)
“... the truth is hidden from us. Even if a mere piece of luck brings us straight to it, we shall have no grounded conviction of our success; there are so many similar objects, all claiming to be the real thing.”
—Lucian (c. 120c. 180)
“Michelangelo said to Pope Julius II, Self negation is noble, self-culture is beneficent, self-possession is manly, but to the truly great and inspiring soul they are poor and tame compared to self-abuse. Mr. Brown, here, in one of his latest and most graceful poems refers to it in an eloquent line which is destined to live to the end of timeNone know it but to love it, None name it but to praise.”
—Mark Twain [Samuel Langhorne Clemens] (18351910)