GK Quotations

Julius Caesar reportedly wrote 'Veni, vidi, vici' (I came, I saw, I conquered) in a letter to the Roman Senate after his decisive victory at the Battle of Zela in 47 BC. The phrase has become one of history's most famous declarations of swift victory.

Lord Nelson sent the signal 'England expects that every man will do his duty' to his fleet before the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

Napoleon Bonaparte is credited with the quote, 'Give me good mothers and I shall give you a good nation,' emphasizing the importance of education and upbringing.

Winston Churchill delivered this famous speech to the House of Commons on May 13, 1940, shortly after becoming Prime Minister during World War II.

William Wordsworth wrote this line in his poem 'Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey' (1798). The poem reflects on nature's spiritual power and its ability to nurture the human soul, central themes in Romantic poetry and Wordsworth's work.

This famous line concludes John Keats's 'Ode on a Grecian Urn,' representing his aesthetic philosophy.

This line appears in Shakespeare's play 'King Lear' (Act 1, Scene 4), spoken by Lear himself. The metaphor expresses the pain of ingratitude from one's own children, a central theme in the tragedy. King Lear's relationship with his daughters drives the plot.

William Wordsworth wrote this paradoxical line in his poem 'My Heart Leaps Up' (1802). The phrase suggests that our childhood shapes our adulthood, and the child within us influences the person we become. This concept is central to Wordsworth's philosophy about childhood and nature.

The phrase 'Knowledge is power' is most famously associated with the philosopher Francis Bacon (often attributed to Thomas Hobbes in some contexts, but Bacon is the primary source). Given the options, Hobbes is the intended answer in many competitive exams.

This is the Socratic paradox, where Socrates claims that the only thing he knows is that he knows nothing, emphasizing the importance of intellectual humility.

Samuel Johnson made this statement in 1775, referring to false patriotism used for selfish ends. Johnson, a noted English writer and lexicographer, was criticizing the use of patriotism as a cover for questionable motives. The quote has become widely cited in political discourse.

This quote is from George Bernard Shaw's play 'Man and Superman,' reflecting his witty and often cynical style.

These lines are from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,' describing the crew's plight at sea.

This is a famous line from Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, delivered during the American Civil War.

The phrase 'Vox populi, vox Dei' (The voice of the people is the voice of God) is attributed to the English scholar Alcuin of York.

The Latin phrase 'Virtus est sua merces' (Virtue is its own reward) is attributed to the Roman orator Cicero.

Mahatma Gandhi is said to have uttered 'Hey Ram' as his final words after being shot in 1948.

This famous quote is from Francis Bacon's essay Of Studies. It highlights the different ways one should approach various types of literature.

Jawaharlal Nehru delivered this iconic speech, Tryst with Destiny, on the eve of India's independence on August 14, 1947.

This line is from the poem Pippa Passes by Robert Browning. It reflects a sense of optimism and divine order.

This famous proverb (normally 'variety is THE spice of life') is attributed to William Cowper, an English poet. It means that diversity and change make life interesting and enjoyable.

This line is from Alexander Pope's An Essay on Criticism. It is a well-known idiom regarding reckless behavior.

Knowledge is Power is a famous aphorism attributed to Sir Francis Bacon. It appears in his Meditationes Sacrae.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee added 'Jai Vigyan' to the existing slogans 'Jai Jawan' and 'Jai Kisan' to emphasize the importance of science.

This is the opening line of John Keats's poem Endymion. It is one of the most famous lines in English romantic poetry.