Collection of Quotes Trivia Quiz

Answer: Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (1926-2004) was born in Switzerland - one of triplets. Lovely in theory, but spare a thought for the mother. After the Second World War, she studied medicine, against the wishes of her father. He wanted her to become a secretary or a maid instead. The nerve of it! Ignoring those wishes, she initially worked to save enough money to live on, then studied hard and graduated as a doctor from the University of Zurich in 1957. Marrying in 1958, she moved with her husband to the US where she pursued further studies in psychiatry. She had two children (no multiples) and, after twenty years of marriage, her husband divorced her in 1979.

During her studies in psychiatry, Elisabeth found herself constantly horrified at the treatment given to dying patients in hospital. There were no guidelines given for their psychological needs or those of their families, but merely the basic practice of nursing until the bitter end. It was as though the person had disappeared under the trappings of approaching death. From this experience, she began lecturing widely, and writing, on death and dying. The above quote is from one of her works. In dedicating the rest of her life to this, she brought to the medical profession the very real need to deal with these issues in a much more compassionate and understanding manner than was currently the case. She identified, for example, the now commonly accepted stages a dying person passes through - something that was very controversial at the time. These are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. In spite of this, the subject of death, and what happens before and after, are, at the beginning of the 21st century, still considered controversial subjects by most authorities in the medical profession.

Answer: Nikola Tesla

Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) was a brilliant Serbian-American inventor and far sighted thinker, who is best known for his contributions to the development of the AC electricity supply system. An electrical and mechanical engineer by trade, Tesla's other futuristic concepts, largely undeveloped, earned him the nickname of the "mad scientist" among his contemporaries. Because he conceived of so many remarkable things, it's impossible to elaborate on these further in a quiz about quotes, but readings you may do on this troubled, astonishing genius will reveal some extremely startling facts. He was a truly remarkable thinker.

Crystals are formed from the cooling of a molten mineral state, when this liquid begins to solidify. The initial nucleus or seed of the crystal takes a long time to form. From then however, and providing there is enough space, the next stage is relatively rapid as the components begin to adhere to one another. Forms of crystals can be grown in laboratories, or even at home, following certain steps. Seeing this formation taking place with time lapse photography is breathtaking, particularly when the second stage of the formation begins to occur. To liken this process to the agonisingly lengthy strivings for world peace, a goal which seems impossible at times, but could one day happen in a relatively short space of time, is a perfect comparison.

Answer: Leo Tolstoy

Tolstoy (1828-1910) was a Russian writer, reformer and political philosopher who is noted for his realistic style of writing, his two great novels of "War and Peace" (1869) and "Anna Karenina" (1877), and his many short stories. He is looked upon today as one of the world's greatest novelists. Personally though, I find reading his works is like ploughing through mud. They're also frightfully depressing for the most part. Realism is all very well and good, but not an overdose of it.

Tolstoy's comment about history though is rather amusing, for, to a degree, he is right. In matters of war and conquest, for example, victors (usually) write the historical perspective. In fact, any historical event, unless it's backed up with first hand evidence and reliable evidence, leads itself wide open to be challenged. The questions that should always be asked - and verified - are (1) When did it happen? (2) Where did it happen? (3) What were the events that lead to it? (4) How did it unfold? (5) What was the aftermath?

Answer: Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) was a Roman general, statesman and Consul who played a large part in what would eventually result in the dismantling of the old Roman Republic (509-27 BC), and its metamorphosis into the Roman Empire (27 BC-476 AD in the west and 330-1453 in the east). Because of his amazing victories on the many battlefields during the era of the Republic, Caesar gained enormous military powers, and quite possibly a giant ego to match. When ordered by the Senate back in Rome to return home, he refused, and marched on Rome instead. What a cheek! The civil war which followed saw him emerge victorious, and he subsequently became the leader of Rome. The many reforms he put in place didn't sit too well with his enemies however and in 44 BC, he was assassinated. During the civil unrest and internal wars which followed, his heir Octavian (who became known as Augustus) took over leadership of Rome - and the Roman Empire was on its way.

Caesar's perceptive quote on man's inclination to believe what he wishes to believe is interesting, not only for its undoubted truth, but also because it reveals a side to Caesar's nature that explains why he rose to become such a great leader. He knew and understood the inherent nature of people. To have this ability is to have the power to manipulate, mould and direct events to one's own choosing, either for personal gain, or, in the hands of a great leader, for the good of the people ruled. So then, was Caesar a great leader? Who knows? History would indeed "be an excellent thing if only it were true" but people, rightly or wrongly, will continue to "willingly believe what they wish".

Answer: Bertrand Russell

British born Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) was a man who wore many hats. He was a philosopher, social critic and activist, mathematician, logician and historian, who, at various times in his life, wandered between being a liberal, a socialist and a pacifist. Further reading reveals he led a revolt against idealism at one stage of his very long life, went to prison for his pacifist views during the First World War, campaigned against both Hitler and Stalin in the Second World War, attacked United States intervention in Vietnam during the Vietnam war, and was a fervent supporter of nuclear disarmament. Along the way, he also picked up a Nobel Prize in Literature. That was for his many writings on "humanitarian ideals and freedom of thought".

Oh but wait, there's more. Bertie, who, incidentally, was born into the British aristocracy, also maintained a lifelong interest in, and wrote and spoke widely on, ethics, the nature of knowledge, metaphysics, history, language cognition, the nature of the mind and consciousness, the nature of perception, theology (in spite of being agnostic), and science. How absolutely fascinating would he have been in conversation, if indeed, one talked at all. Given his extraordinary talents, it would have been far more interesting perhaps to just listen. Comically so, he grew up somewhat terrified of his grandmother who took in and reared him and his two siblings after the early death of their parents. Not because she was cruel, but because she was an emotionally repressed and deeply religious woman, who, at the same time was a rather stern feminist who supported Darwinism and higher education for women. How confusing! Additionally, she threw her weight behind Irish Home Rule and all aspects of social justice. He admired her deeply though and her philosophy in life became his. That was "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil" from Exodus 23:2. He amusingly qualified this by saying "I would never die for my beliefs, however. I could be wrong".

Bertrand Russell was an extremely witty man in between all his interests. On inheriting the title of the 3rd Earl Russell upon the death of his elder brother, he said of it that it "was primarily useful for securing hotel rooms". He also had the morals of a tomcat when it came to his many affairs of the heart. His influence today is more than evident in all those areas that interested him, with many of his lectures still broadcast on the BBC well into the 21st century. No wonder then that this fascinating man was less than impressed with those who just didn't...think. Yet he must be allowed the last word. On his 80th birthday, he summed up his life thus: "I have lived in the pursuit of a vision, both personal and social. Personal: to care for what is noble, for what is beautiful, for what is gentle; to allow moments of insight to give wisdom at more mundane times. Social: to see in imagination the society that is to be created, where individuals grow freely, and where hate and greed and envy die because there is nothing to nourish them. These things I believe, and the world, for all its horrors, has left me unshaken".

Answer: Walt Kelly

The American born Walt Kelly (1913-1973) was an animator and cartoonist who used his most well known comic Strip "Pogo" as a vehicle for making political, philosophical and social comments. Born in Philadelphia, he began his animation career at the Walt Disney Studios where he contributed to such famous films as the 1937 "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". An example of his animation skills can be seen in the 1940 film "Pinnochio" where Gepetto, trapped inside the whale, Monstro, is glumly fishing. Kelly left the Disney studios following the 1941 animators strike and began working at Dell Comics, where his skills and special touches at cartooning soon became well known and recognisable. While there, he began to co-write much of the dialogue for the characters as well, and, by the 1950s his reputation as a top animator and cartoonist was set in concrete. His most famous character, Pogo, who appeared in 26 newspapers and ran from 1948 to 1978, earned him the Reuben Award in 1951. Kelly was also President of the National Cartoonists Society for several years, and his skill was such that he was the first cartoonist invited to contribute his work to the US Library of Congress.

Pogo, a furry possum, lived in the Okefenokee Swamp in the south of the US. His friends were Albert the alligator, Churchy LaFemme the turtle, Howland the owl, Beauregard the houndog, Porkypine the porcupine, and Mamzelle Hepzibah the skunk - French of course, but it seems with a touch of Jewish ancestry. This group entertained their readers for years with political and social commentary combined with wit, "allegory, Irish poetry, literary whimsy, puns and wordplay, lushly detailed artwork and broad burlesque humor". Following Kelly's death in 1973 after a life long battle with diabetes, "Pogo" was continued by his wife and her assistants for several years. The character, Porkypine, via Walt Kelly, gave readers the thought provoking quote used in this question, on a day when the group of swampy friends were discussing the possibility of extraterrestrial life out there in the universe.

Answer: Joseph Michael Straczynski

Joseph Michael Straczynski was born in New Jersey in 1954. This talented writer and producer has achievements in many fields, including film, television, comics, novels, short stories, radio plays and journalism. His television creations, for example, include the sci-fi space series "Babylon 5" which is set in the 23rd century and built around the tales of a unified earth dealing with other spacefaring races. Another of his well known achievements was his seven year stint as head writer for the Marvel Comics series, "The Amazing Spider-Man". His life in fact is a perfect example of the quote used in this question.

"The Amazing Spider-Man" comic book series commenced in 1963 and was still going strong in 2014. Originally created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, the superhero Spider-Man is the alter ego of teenager Peter Parker who was bitten by a radioactive spider at a science fair. He subsequently develops the amazing powers and strength of a spider (shudder) and over the years that follow, he fights villains in every shape and form, falls in love, marries, lay eggs, dies, is re-born, eats a few flies, is trod on occasionally and so on - just your average super-hero life really. When Spider-Man first appeared, he wasn't appreciated by everyone however. In 1965, for example, he was described by journalist Sally Kempton as having "a terrible identity problem, a marked inferiority complex, and a fear of women. He is anti-social, castration-ridden, racked with Oedipal guilt, and an accident-prone ... functioning neurotic". How unkind. Just because he climbs the wall now and then.

Answer: Oprah Winfrey

Born in Mississippi in 1954, Oprah Winfrey is a famous television host (1986-2011), actress, writer, publisher, media proprietor and producer. This has earned her the nickname of the "Queen of All Media". Considered one of the richest African-Americans in history, Oprah is also the most generous with her philanthropic works. She has donated more than $400 million to various worthy charitable organisations, but most notably those dealing with educating the under-privileged to give them a leg up in life. She really is one remarkable woman and has achieved and given far more than can be listed in this short summary.

Through all this, her rise from a poverty stricken childhood where she often had to wear dresses made out of potato sacks, to become one of the most influential and wealthiest women in history.

Answer: Otto von Bismarck

Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898) was a remarkable Prussian statesman who was a big player on the field of European politics for thirty years. He was the force behind the unification of the individual German states which became the mighty German Empire in 1871. From that time, and in spite of having instigated a series of wars in order to achieve this goal, Bismarck devoted the rest of his life to maintaining peace. In this regard he has been described by one of Britain's top historians, Eric John Ernest Hobsbawm, CH, FBA, FRSL (1917-2012) in his 1987 work "The Age of Empire" as the man who "remained undisputed world champion at the game of multilateral diplomatic chess for almost twenty years after 1871, (and who) devoted himself exclusively, and successfully, to maintaining peace between the powers".

Long before it eventuated Bismarck saw the possibility of a European war that would drag the world into unimaginable bloodshed, one that would involve Germany fighting on two fronts, and in which part of the world this war would begin. In this regard, he warned his fellow country men many times about becoming involved in any dispute in the Balkans. Bismarck steered Germany safely through its formative years towards the dawn of a new century, but already before his death in 1898, the hounds of war were unleashed. Just before he passed away, forced into retirement by the glory-hungry Wilhelm II, Bismarck said that the collapse of Germany "will come twenty years after my departure if things go on like this". In 1918 this remarkable prophecy was fulfilled.

Answer: Jesus

The mighty Jesus Christ, in this brief sentence, has given us the answer to everything. Oh, if only the world would pay heed.