#vinci

[Dan] Brown states that five million women were killed by the Church as witches. In fact, modern research has shown that the witch hunts began in the sixteenth century in Europe and that between 30,000 and 50,000 men and women were burned to death for the crime of witchcraft. However, 90 per cent of those trials took place before secular tribunals in countries such as Germany and France where by the 1500s the Church had lost most of its influence in judicial matters. Indeed, it was precisely in countries like Spain and Italy where the Catholic Church still had influence that there were almost no witchcraft trials. ↗

— Michael Coren

#the-burning-times #the-da-vinci-code #witchcraft #death

When you know your enemy is invincible, run and hide, or may do business with him. ↗

— Toba Beta

#invincible #strategy #business

In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer. ↗

— Albert Camus

#depth #finally #i #invincible #learned

What is at a peak is certain to decline. He who shows his hand will surely be defeated. He who can prevail in battle by taking advantage of his enemy's doubts is invincible. ↗

— Cao Cao

#battle #certain #decline #defeated #doubts

I always admired Wonder Woman and the Incredible Hulk - but I don't know if I'd be a very convincing hulk. ↗

— Lucy Liu

#always #convincing #hulk #i #i always

Insurrection by means of guerrilla bands is the true method of warfare for all nations desirous of emancipating themselves from a foreign yoke. It is invincible, indestructible. ↗

— Giuseppe Mazzini

#bands #desirous #foreign #guerrilla #indestructible

Religious freedom is too sacred a right to be restricted or prohibited in any degree without convincing proof that a legitimate interest of the state is in grave danger. ↗

— Frank Murphy

#convincing #danger #degree #freedom #grave

President Bush has consistently used rhetoric, and that is not convincing given his past record. ↗

— Grace Napolitano

#consistently #convincing #given #his #past

Leonardo Da Vinci combined art and science and aesthetics and engineering, that kind of unity is needed once again. ↗

— Ben Shneiderman

#art #combined #engineering #kind #leonardo

No one is adequate to comprehending the misery of my lot! Fate obliges me to be constantly in movement: I am not permitted to pass more than a fortnight in the same place. I have no Friend in the world, and from the restlessness of my destiny I never can acquire one. Fain would I lay down my miserable life, for I envy those who enjoy the quiet of the Grave: But Death eludes me, and flies from my embrace. In vain do I throw myself in the way of danger. I plunge into the Ocean; The Waves throw me back with abhorrence upon the shore: I rush into fire; The flames recoil at my approach: I oppose myself to the fury of Banditti; Their swords become blunted, and break against my breast: The hungry Tiger shudders at my approach, and the Alligator flies from a Monster more horrible than itself. God has set his seal upon me, and all his Creatures respect this fatal mark! ↗

— Matthew Gregory Lewis

#fate #frustration #good-fortune #grief #immortality