Lithuanian Nobility/after Partitions of The Polish%e2%80%93lithuanian Commonwealth

Famous quotes containing the words nobility, partitions and/or commonwealth:

    “The cloud was so dark that it needed all the bright lights that could be turned upon it. But for four years there was a contagion of nobility in the land, and the best blood North and South poured itself out a libation to propitiate the deities of Truth and Justice. The great sin of slavery was washed out, but at what a cost!”
    —M. E. W. Sherwood (1826–1903)

    “Great wits are sure to madness near allied,
    And thin partitions do their bounds divide.”
    —John Dryden (1631–1700)

    “The commonwealth of Athens is become a forest of beasts.”
    —William Shakespeare (1564–1616)