Friedrich Nietzsche

A thinker sees his own actions as experiments and questions--as attempts to find out something. Success and failure are for him answers above all.

― Friedrich Nietzsche

Intelligence, Mind, and More: Woodrow Wilson

I not only use all the brains that I have, but all I can borrow.

― Woodrow Wilson

Edgar Allan Poe

Men have called me mad; but the question is not yet settled, whether madness is or is not the loftiest intelligence– whether much that is glorious– whether all that is profound– does not spring from disease of thought– from moods of mind exalted at the expense of the general intellect.

― Edgar Allan Poe, Complete Tales and Poems

Intelligence, Mind, and More: Friedrich Nietzsche

The man of knowledge must be able not only to love his enemies but also to hate his friends.

― Friedrich Nietzsche

Today in History : April 20

• 1303 – The Sapienza University of Rome is instituted by Pope Boniface VIII.
• 1453 – The last naval battle in Byzantine history occurs, as three Genoese galleys escorting a Byzantine transport fight their way through the huge Ottoman blockade fleet and into the Golden Horn.
• 1534 – Jacques Cartier begins the voyage during which he discovers Canada and Labrador.
• 1535 – The Sun dog phenomenon observed over Stockholm and depicted in the famous painting Vädersolstavlan.
• 1653 – Oliver Cromwell dissolves the Rump Parliament.
• 1657 – Admiral Robert Blake destroys a Spanish silver fleet under heavy fire at the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
• 1657 – Freedom of religion is granted to the Jews of New Amsterdam (later New York City).

Today in History : April 19

• 65 – The freedman Milichus betrayed Piso's plot to kill the Emperor Nero and all the conspirators are arrested.
• 531 – Battle of Callinicum: A Byzantine army under Belisarius is defeated by the Persian at Ar-Raqqah (northern Syria).
• 1012 – Martyrdom of Ælfheah in Greenwich, London.
• 1529 – Beginning of the Protestant Reformation: The Second Diet of Speyer bans Lutheranism; a group of rulers (German: Fürst) and independent cities (German: Reichsstadt) protests the reinstatement of the Edict of Worms.
• 1539 – Charles V and Protestants signs Treaty of Frankfurt.

Today in History : April 18

• 1025 – Bolesław Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland.
• 1506 – The cornerstone of the current St. Peter's Basilica is laid.
• 1518 – Bona Sforza is crowned as queen consort of Poland.
• 1521 – Trial of Martin Luther begins its second day during the assembly of the Diet of Worms. He refuses to recant his teachings despite the risk of excommunication.
• 1689 – Bostonians rise up in rebellion against Sir Edmund Andros.
• 1738 – Real Academia de la Historia ("Royal Academy of History") is founded in Madrid.

Intelligence, Mind, and More: Nelson Mandela

A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.

― Nelson Mandela

Today in History : April 17

• 69 – After the First Battle of Bedriacum, Vitellius becomes Roman Emperor.
• 1080 – The King of Denmark Harald III dies and is succeeded by Canute IV, who would later be the first Dane to be canonized.
• 1349 – Fall of the Bavand dynasty, and rise of the Afrasiyab dynasty.
• 1397 – Geoffrey Chaucer tells the Canterbury Tales for the first time at the court of Richard II. Chaucer scholars have also identified this date (in 1387) as the start of the book's pilgrimage to Canterbury.
• 1492 – Spain and Christopher Columbus sign the Capitulations of Santa Fe for his voyage to Asia to acquire spices.
• 1521 – Trial of Martin Luther over his teachings begins during the assembly of the Diet of Worms. Initially intimidated, he asks for time to reflect before answering and is given a stay of one day.

Today in History : April 16

• 1457 BC – Likely date of the Battle of Megiddo between Thutmose III and a large Canaanite coalition under the King of Kadesh, the first battle to have been recorded in what is accepted as relatively reliable detail.
• 73 – Masada, a Jewish fortress, falls to the Romans after several months of siege, ending the Great Jewish Revolt.
• 1346 – Dušan the Mighty is proclaimed Emperor, with the Serbian Empire occupying much of the Balkans.
• 1520 – The Revolt of the Comuneros begins in Spain against the rule of Charles V.
• 1521 – Martin Luther's first appearance before the Diet of Worms to be examined by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and the other estates of theempire.