The rhythm of life is intricate but orderly, tenacious but fragile. To keep that in mind is to build the key to survival.
—Shirley Hufstedler (1925–2016) American Lawyer, Jurist
We shall draw from the heart of suffering itself the means of inspiration and survival.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Nobody is stronger, nobody is weaker than someone who came back. There is nothing you can do to such a person because whatever you could do is less than what has already been done to him. We have already paid the price.
—Elie Wiesel (b.1928) Romanian-born American Writer, Professor, Political Activist
Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (b.1935) Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader, Civil Rights Leader, Philosopher, Author
It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.
—Unknown
A population weakened and exhausted by battling against so many obstacles—whose needs are never satisfied and desires never fulfilled—is vulnerable to manipulation and regimentation. The struggle for survival is, above all, an exercise that is hugely time-consuming, absorbing and debilitating. If you create these “anti-conditions,” your rule is guaranteed for a hundred years.
—Ryszard Kapuscinski (1932–2007) Polish Journalist
Self-preservation, nature’s first great law, all the creatures, except man, doth awe.
—Andrew Marvell (1621–78) English Metaphysical Poet
It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory.
—W. Edwards Deming (1900–93) American Engineer, Statistician
Fear is an emotion indispensable for survival.
—Hannah Arendt (1906–75) German-American Philosopher, Political Theorist
Good history is a question of survival. Without any past, we will deprive ourselves of the defining impression of our being.
—Ken Burns (b.1953) American Historical Documentary Filmmaker
It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value.
—Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008) British Scientist, Science-fiction Writer
The notion that one will not survive a particular catastrophe is, in general terms, a comfort since it is equivalent to abolishing the catastrophe.
—Iris Murdoch (1919–99) British Novelist, Playwright, Philosopher