#noble

In medieval times, contrary to popular belief, most knights were bandits, mercenaries, lawless brigands, skinners, highwaymen, and thieves. The supposed chivalry of Charlemagne and Roland had as much to do with the majority of medieval knights as the historical Jesus with the temporal riches and hypocrisy of the Catholic Church, or any church for that matter. Generally accompanied by their immoral entourage or servants, priests, and whores, they went from tourney to tourney like a touring rock and roll band, sports team, or gang of South Sea pirates. Court to court, skirmish to skirmish, rape to rape. Fighting as the noble's substitution for work. ↗

— Tod Wodicka

#brigands #catholic-church #charlemagne #chivalry #highwaymen

Pah…commoners, traders." Ergus made a disparaging gesture. Traders with money, Ergus. Money they put at the disposition of young Tanahkos," Lmachdan said in a dry tone. "Money that turns into soldiers. Soldiers who are used to extort tribute from us. Tribute that is turned into more soldiers. The warlord has a good thing going, I'll say that for him. ↗

— Andrew Ashling

#greed #nobles #paying-taxes #power #rich-men

Gratitude is the sign of noble souls. ↗

— Aesop

#noble #sign #souls

To run away from trouble is a form of cowardice and, while it is true that the suicide braves death, he does it not for some noble object but to escape some ill. ↗

— Aristotle

#braves #cowardice #death #does #escape

In my deepest troubles, I frequently would wrench myself from the persons around me and retire to some secluded part of our noble forests. ↗

— John James Audubon

#deepest #forests #frequently #i #me

A noble man compares and estimates himself by an idea which is higher than himself; and a mean man, by one lower than himself. The one produces aspiration; the other ambition, which is the way in which a vulgar man aspires. ↗

— Marcus Aurelius

#aspiration #aspires #compares #estimates #higher

In poverty and other misfortunes of life, true friends are a sure refuge. The young they keep out of mischief; to the old they are a comfort and aid in their weakness, and those in the prime of life they incite to noble deeds. ↗

— Aristotle

#comfort #deeds #friends #incite #keep

It is, alas, chiefly the evil emotions that are able to leave their photographs on surrounding scenes and objects and whoever heard of a place haunted by a noble deed, or of beautiful and lovely ghosts revisiting the glimpses of the moon? ↗

— Algernon H. Blackwood

#alas #beautiful #chiefly #deed #emotions

To attempt the destruction of our passions is the height of folly. What a noble aim is that of the zealot who tortures himself like a madman in order to desire nothing, love nothing, feel nothing, and who, if he succeeded, would end up a complete monster! ↗

— Denis Diderot

#attempt #complete #desire #destruction #end

Applause is the spur of noble minds, the end and aim of weak ones. ↗

— Edmund Burke

#applause #end #minds #noble #ones