Simone Signoret died today – 22 years ago

German actress Simone Signoret was born as Simone Henriette Charlotte Kaminker on March 25, 1921 in Wiesbaden, Germany. She said, “Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads, which sew people together through the years." [Enough to make a fine garment.]... Ms. Signoret died in 1985 in Auteuil-Anthouillet, France.

Edgar Bergen died today – 29 years ago

U.S. comic and ventriloquist Edgar John Bergen was born on February 16, 1903 in Chicago, Illinois. He had a puppet named Charlie McCarthy. He said, “Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?" [Oh, yeah!]... Mr. Bergen died in 1978 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

James Dean died today – 52 years ago

U.S. actor James Byron Dean was born on February 8, 1931 in Marion, Indiana. He said, “I want to be a Texan 24 hours a day." [Then live in Texas.]... Mr. Dean died in 1955 in Cholame, California.

Madalyn Murray O'Hair died today – 12 years ago

Madalyn Murray O'Hair was born as Madalyn Mays on April 13, 1919 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She said, “I feel that everyone who wants to say anything, do anything, should be able to say anything or do anything, within the limits of not hurting another person." [Sounds like part of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.]... Ms. O’Hair died in 1995 in Austin, Texas.

French novelist Emile Zola was born on April 2, 1840 in Paris, France. He said, “If I cannot overwhelm with my quality, I will overwhelm with my quantity." [Works for some.]... Mr. Zola died in 1902 in Paris, France.

French writer Alphonse Jean-baptiste Karr was born on November 24, 1808 in Paris, France. He said, “Every man has three characters—that which he exhibits, that which he has, and that which he thinks he has." [Sounds right.]... Mr. Karr died in 1890 in Saint-Raphaël, France.

Harpo Marx died today – 43 years ago

U.S. comic actor Harpo Marx was born as Adolph Arthur Marx on November 23, 1888 in New York City, New York. He said, “I was the same kind of father as I was a harpist - I played by ear." [Oh, well.]... Mr. Marx died in 1964 in Los Angeles, California.

U.S. novelist John Rodrigo Dos Passos was born on January 14, 1896 in Chicago, Illinois. He said, “Marxism has not only failed to promote human freedom, it has failed to produce food." [It’s built on faulty premises?]... Mr. Dos Passos died in 1970 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau was born as Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau on October 18, 1919 in Montreal, Quebec. He said, “Canada is a country whose main exports are hockey players and cold fronts. Our main imports are baseball players and acid rain." [Oh, there must be more.]... Mr. Trudeau died in 2000 in Montreal, Quebec.

U.S. tennis player Althea Gibson was born on August 25, 1927 in Silver, South Carolina. He said, “No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helped you." [Amen.]... Ms. Gibson died in 2003 in East Orange, New Jersey.

Filmmaker Elia Kazan was born on September 7, 1909 in Istanbul, Ottoman Sultanate (now Istanbul, Turkey). He said, “I truly believe that all power corrupts. Such is probably the thinking behind every political film ever made in Hollywood." [View ‘em.]... Mr. Kazan died in 2003 in Manhattan, New York City, New York.

Louis Pasteur died today – 112 years ago

French scientist Louis Pasteur was born on December 27, 1822 in Dole, Jura, France. He said, “Do not let yourself be tainted with a barren skepticism." [Keep it well watered and growing.]... Mr. Pasteur died in 1895 in Marnes-la-Coquette, France.

Herman Melville died today – 116 years ago

U.S. writer Herman Melville was born on August 1, 1819 in New York City, New York. He said, “It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation." [Welllll,... OK.]... Mr. Melville died in 1891 in New York City, New York.

Donald O’Connor died today – 4 years ago

U.S. entertainer Donald O’Connor was born on August 28, 1925 in Chicago, Illinois. He said, “I'd like to thank the Academy for my lifetime achievement award that I will eventually get." [Ditto.]... Mr. O’Connor died in 2003 in Calabasas, California.

Babe Didrikson Zaharias died today – 51 years ago

U.S. golf pro Babe Didrikson Zaharias was born as Mildred Ella Didriksen on June 26, 1914 in Port Arthur, Texas. She said, “That little white ball won't move until you hit it, and there's nothing you can do after it has gone." [I guess you could cry.]... Ms. Zaharias died in 1956 in Galveston, Texas.

Edgar Degas died today – 90 years ago

French painter Edgar Degas was born as Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas on July 19, 1834 in Paris, France. He said, “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see." [I see.]... Mr. Degas died in 1917 in Paris, France.

George Plimpton died today – 4 years ago

English actor George Plimpton was born on March 18, 1927 in New York City, New York. He said, “The smaller the ball used in the sport, the better the book.” [So let's create a sport using dust balls.]... Mr. Plimpton died in 2003 in New York City, New York.

George Santayana died today – 55 years ago

Spanish philosopher and writer George Santayana was born as Jorge Agustín Nicolás Ruiz de Santayana on December 16, 1863 in Madrid, Spain. He said, “Almost every wise saying has an opposite one, no less wise, to balance it." [So, does nearly every stupid saying have an opposite one, no less stupid, to balance it?]... Mr. Santayana died in 1952 in Rome, Italy.

Bessie Smith died today – 70 years ago

U.S. singer Bessie Smith was born in July, 1892 (according to IMDb in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She said, “It's a long old road, but I know I'm gonna find the end." [Unless you’re on a loop.]... Ms. Smith died in 1937 in Clarksdale, Mississippi... Gail Jarvis has written an interesting article about Ms. Smith entitled “Remembering Bessie Smith”.

Daniel Boone died today – 187 years ago

U.S. explorer Daniel Boone was born on about October 22, 1734 in Oley Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. He said, “I have never been lost, but I will admit to being confused for several weeks." [That’s my story, too.]... Mr. Boone died in 1820 in Defiance, Missouri.

Don Adams died today – 2 years ago

U.S. actor Don Adams was born on April 13, 1923 in New York City, New York. He said, “I had a wonderful experience on the golf course today. I had a hole in nothing. Missed the ball and sank the divot." [Way to go!]... Mr. Adams died in 2005 in Beverly Hills, California.

Emily Post died today – 47 years ago

U.S. etiquettist Emily Post was born as Emily Price on October 27, 1872 in Baltimore, Maryland. She said, “Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use." [That’s right.]... Ms. Post died in 1960 in New York City, New York.

U.S. actress Mary Astor was born on May 3, 1906 in Quincy, Illinois. She said, “A painter paints, a musician plays, a writer writes—but a movie actor waits." [And waits and waits and waits...]... Ms. Astor died in 1987 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Theodore Seuss Geisel died today – 16 years ago

U.S. writer and illustrator Dr. Theodore Seuss Geisel was born on March 2, 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts. He said, “Adults are obsolete children." [Hmmm.]... Dr. Seuss died in 1991 in La Jolla, California.

Mime silenced... Is that possible?

French mime Marcel Marceau was born as Marcel Mangel on March 22, 1923 in Strasbourg, France. He said (believe it or not), "It's good to shut up sometimes." (He practiced what he preached... a lot!)... He died yesterday, September 22, 2007, in Paris, France.

Bob Fosse died today – 20 years ago

U.S. choreographer Bob Fosse was born on June 23, 1927 in Chicago, Illinois. He said, “I would never discriminate against someone's talent because they showed the poor taste to like me." [OK.]... Mr. Fosse died in 1987 in Washington, D.C.

Charlie Weaver died today – 33 years ago

U.S. actor and comedian and pianist Charlie Weaver was born as Cliff Arquette on December 28, 1905 in Toledo, Ohio. He was the grandfather of Rosanna, Patricia, and David Arquette. Mr. Weaver said a lot of clever lines, but I'm not sure if they were original to him... Mr. Weaver died in 1974 in Burbank, California.

Sigmund Freud died today – 68 years ago

Austrian psychiatrist Sigmund Freud was born as Sigismund Schlomo Freud on May 6, 1856 in Freiberg, Moravia, Austrian Empire. He said, “A belligerent state permits itself every such misdeed, every such act of violence, as would disgrace the individual." [Amen.]... Mr. Freud died in 1939 in London, England.

Isaac Stern died today – 6 years ago

Russian-U.S. musician Isaac Stern was born on July 21, 1920 in Kremenets, Russia (now in Ukraine). He said, “Mozart's music is like an X-ray of your soul - it shows what is there, and what isn't.” [So, the next time I go to the doctor, I'll ask for some Mozart.]... Mr. Stern died in 2001 in New York City, New York.

Dorothy Lamour died today – 11 years ago

U.S. actress Dorothy Lamour was born on December 10, 1914 in New Orleans, Louisiana. She said, “Glamour is just sex that got civilized." [Hmmm.]... Ms. Lamour died in 1996 in Los Angles, California.

Irving Berlin died today – 18 years ago

U.S. composer Irving Berlin was born on May 11, 1888 in Mogilyov, Russia (now in Belarus). He said, “There is an element of truth in every idea that lasts long enough to be called corny." [OK.]... Mr. Berlin died in 1989 in New York City, New York.

Marion Davies died today – 46 years ago

U.S. actress Marion Davies was born as Marion Cecelia Douras on January 3, 1897 in Brooklyn, New York. She said, “Somebody told me I should put a pebble in my mouth to cure my stuttering. Well, I tried it, and during a scene I swallowed the pebble and that was the end of that." [Was that the stuttering or the pebble?]... Ms. Davies died in 1961 in Hollywood, California.

Dogen died today – 754 years ago

Japanese religious leader (Zen Buddhist) Dogen was born on January 19, 1200 in Kyoto, Japan. He said, “Do not arouse disdainful mind when you prepare a broth of wild grasses; do not arouse joyful mind when you prepare a fine cream soup." [Perhaps it lost something in translation.]... Dogen died in 1253 in Kyoto, Japan.

Florence Griffith-Joyner died today – 9 years ago

U.S. runner Florence Griffith-Joyner was born as Delorez Florence Griffith on December 21, 1959 in Los Angeles, California. She said, “When anyone tells me I can't do anything... I'm just not listening any more." [Amen. Amen.]... Ms. Griffith-Joyner died in 1998 in Mission Viejo, California.

Jacqueline Susann died today – 33 years ago

U.S. writer Jacqueline Susann was born on August 20, 1918 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She wrote something about dolls and a valley. She said, “As a writer no one's gonna tell me how to write, I'm gonna write the way I wanna write!" [But please use good grammar.]... Ms. Susann died in 1974 in New York City, New York.

Arthur Schopenhauer died today – 147 years ago

German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer was born on February 22, 1788 in Stutthof, Kingdom of Prussia (now Sztutowo, Poland). He said, “A man's face as a rule says more, and more interesting things, than his mouth, for it is a compendium of everything his mouth will ever say, in that it is the monogram of all this man's thoughts and aspirations. " [Check out this photo... and hair.]... Mr. Schopenhauer died in 1860 in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany.

Virgil died today – 2,026 years ago

Roman writer Virgil was born on October 15, 70 BC in Andes, North Italy. He said, “All our sweetest hours fly fastest." [I guess this was later rephrased, “Time flies when you’re having fun.”]... Virgil died in 19 BC in Brindisi, Italy.

Jean Sibelius died today – 50 years ago

Finnish composer Jean Sibelius was born on December 8, 1865 in Hämeenlinna, Finland. He said, “I do not think of a symphony only as music in this or that number of bars, but rather as an expression of a spiritual creed, a phase in one's inner life." [I haven’t written a symphony yet. Perhaps I could string together a few songs.]... Mr. Sibelius died in 1957 in Järvenpää, Finland.

Hungarian mathematician Paul Erdős was born on March 26, 1913 in Budapest, Hungary. He said, “A mathematician is a machine for turning coffee into theorems." [Oh, I get it.]... Mr. Erdős died in 1996 in Warsaw, Poland.

Will Cuppy died today – 58 years ago

U.S. writer and humorist Will Cuppy was born as William Jacob Cuppy on August 23, 1884 in Auburn, Indiana. He said, “Aristotle was famous for knowing everything. He taught that the brain exists merely to cool the blood and is not involved in the process of thinking. This is true only of certain persons." [Hmmmm!]... Mr. Cuppy died in 1949 in New York City, New York.

English cartoonist David Alexander Cecil Low was born on April 7, 1891 in Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand. He said, “I have learned from experience that, in the bluff and counterbluff of world politics, to draw a hostile war lord as a horrible monster is to play his game. What he doesn't like is being shown as a silly ass." [Hmmmmm! Again.]... Mr. Low died in 1963 in London, England.

Jimi Hendrix died today – 37 years ago

U.S. guitarist, singer, and songwriter Jimi Hendrix was born as James Marshall Hendrix on November 27, 1942 in Seattle, Washington. He said, “It's funny the way most people love the dead. Once you're dead, you're made for life." [Hmmm.]... Mr. Hendrix died in 1970 in London, England.

Dag Hammarskjöld died today – 46 years ago

Swedish diplomat Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöld was born on July 29, 1905 in Jönköping, Sweden. He said, “The myths have always condemned those who 'looked back.' Condemned them, whatever the paradise may have been which they were leaving. Hence this shadow over each departure from your decision." [What?]... Mr. Hammarskjöld died in 1961 in Ndola, Northern Rhodesia.

Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler was born on April 15, 1707 in Basel, Switzerland. He said, “Mathematicians have tried in vain to this day to discover some order in the sequence of prime numbers, and we have reason to believe that it is a mystery into which the human mind will never penetrate." [Never say never. You might want to consider the Ulam spiral.]... Mr. Euler died in 1783 in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Red Skelton died today – 10 years ago

U.S. comedian Red Skelton was born as Richard Bernard Skelton on July 18, 1913 in Vincennes, Indiana. He said, “Live by this credo: have a little laugh at life and look around you for happiness instead of sadness. Laughter has always brought me out of unhappy situations." [And so he did.]... Mr. Skelton died in 1997 in Palm Springs, California.

Spiros Anagnostopoulos died today – 11 years ago

U.S. Vice President (1969-1973) Spiro Theodore Agnew was born as Spiros Anagnostopoulos on November 9, 1918 in Towson, Maryland. He said, “In the United States today, we have more than our share of nattering nabobs of negativism." [Oh, really?]... Mr. Agnew died in 1996 in Berlin, Maryland.

Scottish writer Tobias Smollett was born on March 19, 1721 at Dalquhurn, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. He said, “I think for my part one half of the nation is mad—and the other not very sound." [My, my, my!]... Mr. Smollett died in 1771 in Livorno, Italy.

U.S. writer Gelett Burgess was born on January 30, 1866 in Boston, Massachusetts. He said, “If in the last few years you haven't discarded a major opinion or acquired a new one, check your pulse. You may be dead." [Oh, my!]... Mr. Burgess died in 1951 in Carmel, California.

Sheb Wooley died today – 4 years ago

U.S. actor, singer, and songwriter Sheb Wooley was born on April 10, 1921 in Erick, Oklahoma. He wrote the 1958 hit song “Flying Purple People Eater”. He said, “The space age was upon us. Everyone was thinking about rockets and wondering if maybe we would find people up there. I still wonder if we will. People (heard the song) and imagined some kind of beings." [They’re still imagining.]... Mr. Wooley died in 2003 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Maria Callas died today – 30 years ago

Greek soprano Maria Callas was born as Sophia Cecelia Kalos on December 2, 1923 in Manhattan, New York City, New York. She said, “When music fails to agree to the ear, to soothe the ear and the heart and the senses, then it has missed the point." [Amen.]... Ms. Callas died in 1977 in Paris, France.

English physicist James Hopwood Jeans was born on September 11, 1877 in London, England. He said, “The universe begins to look more like a great thought than a great machine." [Hmmmm.]... Mr. Jeans died in 1946 in Dorking, Surrey, England.

Thomas Wolfe died today – 69 years ago

U.S. writer Thomas Clayton Wolfe was born on October 3, 1900 in Asheville, North Carolina. He said, “A liberal is a conservative who has been arrested." [Is that the voice of experience?]... Mr. Wolfe died in 1938 in Baltimore, Maryland.

English writer Thomas Overbury was born on June 18, 1581 at Compton Scorpion, Warwickshire, England. He said, “The man who has nothing to boast of but his illustrious ancestry is like the potato - the best part under ground." [O-K!]... Mr. Overbury died in 1613 in London, England.

U.S. writer Robert Penn Warren was born on April 24, 1905 in Guthrie, Kentucky. He said, “I think the greatest curse of American society has been the idea of an easy millennialism—that some new drug, or the next election or the latest in social engineering will solve everything." [It takes work.]... Mr. Warren died in 1989 in Stratton, Vermont.

Grace Kelly died today – 25 years ago

U.S. actress Grace Kelly was born on November 12, 1929 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She said, “Hollywood amuses me. Holier-than-thou for the public and unholier-than-the-devil in reality." [Very clever, don't you think?]... Ms. Kelly died in 1982 in Monacoville, Monaco.

Isadora Duncan died today – 80 years ago

U.S. dancer Isadora Duncan was born as Dora Angela Duncan on May 26, 1877 (according to imdb) in San Francisco, California. She said, “Most human beings today waste some 25 to 30 years of their lives before they break through the actual and conventional lies which surround them." [Hmmm.]... Ms. Duncan died in 1927 in Nice, France.

Dante Alighieri died today – 686 years ago

Italian writer Dante Alighieri was born between May 18 and June 17 in 1265 in Florence, Italy. He said, “From a little spark may burst a flame." [It depends upon the material with which it has to work.]... Mr. Alighieri died in 1321 in Ravenna, Italy.

U.S. President (25th, 1897-1901) William McKinley was born on January 29, 1843 in Niles, Ohio. He said, “Our differences are politics, our agreements principles." [Oh, really?]... Mr. McKinley died in 1901 in Buffalo, New York.

Ann Richards died today – 1 year ago

U.S. Governor (Texas, 1991-1995) Ann Richards was born as Dorothy Ann Willis Richards on September 1, 1933 in Lakeview, Texas. She said, “Let me tell you, sisters, seeing dried egg on a plate in the morning is a lot dirtier than anything I've had to deal with in politics." [Oh, really?]... Ms. Richards died in 2006 in Austin, Texas.

U.S. Governor (Alabama, 1963-1967, 1971-1979, 1983-1987) George Wallace was born as George Corley Wallace Jr. on August 25, 1919 in Clio, Alabama. He said, “I've read about foreign policy and studied—I know the number of continents." [That’s probably better than some of them nowadays.]... Mr. Wallace died in 1998 in Montgomery, Alabama.

Johnny Cash died yesterday – 4 years ago

U.S. singer and songwriter Johnny Cash was born as J.R. Cash on February 26, 1932 in Kingsland, Arkansas. He said, “You know what a big fun day for me is now? It's when June gets up and we're both feeling good and we want to go shopping. We'll go to Wal-Mart and I'll get one of those electric carts and just race through the aisles. Imagine that being the highlight of your day." [Oh, yeah!]... Mr. Cash died in 2003 in Nashville, Tennessee.

U.S. actor Anthony Perkins was born on April 4, 1932 in New York City, New York. Mr. Perkins died on September 12, 1992 in Hollywood, California.

John Ritter died today – 4 years ago

U.S. actor John Ritter was born as Johnathan Southworth Ritter on September 17, 1948 in Burbank, California. He said, “Three's Company was originally called Three Companies, about a trio of pharmaceutical companies. It was 10 times funnier." [Interesting. Very interesting.]... Mr. Ritter died in 2003 in Burbank, California.

Kim Hunter died today – 5 years ago

U.S. actress Kim Hunter was born as Janet Cole on November 12, 1922 in Detroit, Michigan. She said, “Kazan deserved the Oscar. It was for his work not his politics. It was a lifetime achievement award, and I believe his work was worthy of that." [Think about it.]... Ms. Hunter died in 2002 in New York City, New York.

Jessica Tandy died today – 13 years ago

U.S. actress Jessica Tandy was born on June 7, 1909 in London, England. She was married to Hume Cronyn. She said, “I must say, if I had known at the beginning of my life that this is where I would get to, I would have said, 'Not possible. Not possible.'" [O-K.]... Ms. Tandy died in 1994 in Easton, Connecticut.

Nikita Krushchev died today – 36 years ago

Soviet leader Nikita Krushchev was born on April 17, 1894 in Kalinovka, Russian Empire. He said, “I once said, ‘We will bury you,’ and I got into trouble with it. Of course we will not bury you with a shovel. Your own working class will bury you." [A lot of people nowadays are buried in debt.]... Mr. Krushchev died in 1971 in Moscow, USSR.

Huey Long died today – 72 years ago

Louisiana Governor (1928-1932) and U.S. senator (Louisiana, 1932-1935) Huey Long was born as Huey Pierce Long, Jr. on August 30, 1893 in Winnfield, Louisiana. He said, “The time has come for all good men to rise above principle." [It sounds clever, but it’s really, REALLY bad advice.]... Mr. Long died in 1935 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

U.S. writer Dalton Trumbo was born as James Dalton Trumbo on December 9, 1905 in Montrose, Colorado. He said, “A good businessman never makes a contract unless he's sure he can carry it through, yet every fool on earth is perfectly willing to sign a marriage contract without considering whether he can live up to it or not." [Hmmmm!]... Mr. Trumbo died in 1976 in Los Angeles, California.

Mao Tse-Tung died today – 31 years ago

Chinese political leader Mao Tse-Tung was born on December 26, 1893 in Shaoshan, Hunan Province, China. He said, “Let a hundred flowers bloom, let a hundred schools of thought contend." [Did he practice what he preached?]... Mr. Tse-Tung died in 1976 in Beijing, China.

U.S. playwright Samuel Nathaniel Behrman was born on June 9, 1893 in Worcester, Massachusetts. He said, “A wonderful discovery, psychoanalysis. Makes quite simple people feel they're complex." [I was already complex.]... Mr. Behrman died in 1973 in New York City, New York.

Roy Wilkins died today – 26 years ago

U.S. civil rights activist Roy Wilkins was born on August 30, 1901 in St. Louis, Missouri. He said, “The players in this drama of frustration and indignity are not commas or semicolons in a legislative thesis; they are people, human beings, citizens of the United States of America." [Where have we heard that “comma” reference lately?]... Mr. Wilkins died in 1981 in New York City, New York.

Jean Seberg died today – 28 years ago

U.S. actress Jean Seberg was born on November 13, 1938 in Marshalltown, Iowa. She said, “Money doesn't buy happiness. But happiness isn't everything." [But it feels so good to be happy.]... Ms. Seberg died in 1979 in Paris, France.

Zero Mostel died today – 30 years ago

U.S. actor Zero Mostel was born as Samuel Joel Mostel on February 28, 1915 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. He said, “The freedom of any society varies proportionately with the volume of its laughter." [Very interesting.]... Mr. Mostel died in 1977 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Richard Strauss died today – 58 years ago

German composer Richard Strauss was born on June 11, 1864 in Munich, Germany. He said, “Never look at the trombones. You'll only encourage them." [Is that what it is?]... Mr. Strauss died in 1949 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

English bishop and satirist Joseph Hall was born on July 1, 1574 at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, England. He said, “Our body is a well-set clock, which keeps good time, but if it be too much or indiscreetly tampered with, the alarm runs out before the hour." [And at what minute are you?]... Mr. Hall died in 1656 in Higham, Norfolk, England.

John Greenleaf Whittier died today – 115 years ago

U.S. writer John Greenleaf Whittier was born on December 17, 1807 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. He said, “For all sad words of tongue and pen, The saddest are these, 'It might have been'." [But for this or that or the other.]... Mr. Whittier died in 1892 in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire.

English writer Hannah More was born on February 2, 1745 in Fishponds, England. She said, “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal." [Amen!]... Ms. More died in 1833 in Bristol, England.

U.S. senator (Illinois) Everett Dirksen was born on January 4, 1896 in Pekin, Illinois. He said, “A billion here, a billion there—pretty soon it adds up to real money." [Has this been revised to a trillion?]... Mr. Dirksen died in 1969 in Washington, D.C.

English historian A.J.P. Taylor was born on March 25, 1906 in Birkdale, England. He said, “Like most of those who study history, he [Napoleon III] learned from the mistakes of the past how to make new ones." [Fill in the blank.]... Mr. Taylor died in 1990 in London, England.

Margaret Sanger died today – 41 years ago

U.S. nurse Margaret Higgins Sanger was born on September 14, 1879 in Corning, New York. She said, “When motherhood becomes the fruit of a deep yearning, not the result of ignorance or accident, its children will become the foundation of a new race." [Amen!]... Ms. Sanger died in 1966 in Tucson, Arizona.

Mother Teresa died today – 10 years ago

Humanitarian Mother Teresa was born as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on August 26, 1910 in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. She said, “It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home. Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start." [Amen.]... She died in 1997 in Kolkata, India.

U.S. actor Heywood Hale Broun was born on March 10, 1918 in New York City, New York. He said, “Posterity is as likely to be wrong as anybody else." [Ha! Ha!]... Mr. Broun died in 2001 in Kingston, New York.

Steve Irwin died today – 1 year ago

Australian “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin was born as Stephen Robert Irwin on February 22, 1962 in Essendon, Victoria, Australia. He said, “If something ever happens to me, people are gonna be like 'we knew a croc would get him!'" [Well, he missed that one.]... Mr. Irwin died in 2006 on Batt Reef, Queensland, Australia.

Albert Schweitzer died today – 42 years ago

Philosopher and physician – and generally all-around great guy - Albert Schweitzer was born on January 14, 1875 in Kaisersberg, Alsace-Lorraine. He said, “There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." [I LOVE them both!]... Mr. Schweitzer died in 1965 in Lambaréné, Gabon, Africa.

French writer Marcel Achard was born as Marcel-Auguste Ferréol on July 5, 1899 in Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon, France. He said, “The bedfellows politics made are never strange. It only seems that way to those who have not watched the courtship." [Interesting theory.]... Mr. Achard died in 1974 in Paris, France.

German-born economist E.F. Schumacher was born as Ernst Friedrich Schumacher on August 16, 1911 in Bonn, Germany. He said, “Many people love in themselves what they hate in others." [You can’t have too much of a good thing. (Watch how you interpret that.)]... Mr. Schumacher died in 1977 in Switzerland.

E.E. Cummings died today – 45 years ago

U.S. poet E.E. Cummings was born as Edward Estlin Cummings on October 14, 1894 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He said, “I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach ten thousand stars how not to dance." [Huh?]... Mr. Cummings died in 1962 North Conway, New Hampshire.

English Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell was born on April 25, 1599 in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England. He said, “Nature can do more than physicians." [Think about it.]... Mr. Cromwell died in 1658 in Whitehall, London, England.

U.S. football coach Vince Lombardi was born on June 11, 1913 in New York City, New York. He said, “A school without football is in danger of deteriorating into a medieval study hall." [You think he had a vested interest?]... Mr. Lombardi died in 1970 Washington, D.C.

U.S. film director Frank Capra was born on May 18, 1897 in Bisacquino, Sicily, Italy. He said, “Film is one of the three universal languages, the other two: mathematics and music." [Hmmm.]... Mr. Capra died in 1991 in La Quinta California.

Bob Denver died today – 2 years ago

U.S. actor Bob Denver was born on January 9, 1935 in New Rochelle, New York. He is perhaps best known for being on “Gilligan’s Island”. He said, “Dawn Wells, who is Mary-Ann, has a cookbook out, which is really a lot of fun. It's got thirteen coconut cream pie recipes." [That’s all?]... Mr. Denver died in 2005 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Christiaan Barnard died today – 6 years ago

South African surgeon Christiaan Neethling Barnard was born on November 8, 1922 in Beaufort West, South Africa. He said, “I don't believe medical discoveries are doing much to advance human life. As fast as we create ways to extend it, we are inventing ways to shorten it." [Give me twenty examples – but I’ll settle for two.]... Mr. Barnard died in 2001 in Paphos, Cyprus.

Viktor Frankl died today – 10 years ago

Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Emil Frankl was born on March 26, 1905 in Vienna, Austria. He said, “Since Auschwitz we know what man is capable of. And since Hiroshima we know what is at stake." [Amen.]... Mr. Frankl died in 1997 in Vienna, Austria.

J.R.R. Tolkien died today – 34 years ago

English writer J.R.R. Tolkien was born as John Ronald Reuel Tolkien on January 3, 1892 in Bloemfontein, Orange Free State, South Africa. He said, “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." [Amen. Especially for those songs.]... Mr. Tolkien died in 1973 in Bournemouth, England.

Charles A. Beard died today – 59 years ago

U.S. historian Charles Austin Beard was born on November 27, 1874 in Knightstown, Indiana. He said, “You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in their struggle for independence." [Think about it... Really think about it.]... Mr. Beard died in 1948 in New Haven, Connecticut.

French monarch Louis XIV, baptised as Louis-Dieudonné, was born on September 5, 1638 in Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France. He said, “Has God forgotten all I have done for Him?" [And how often have you heard that one?]... Mr. XIV died in 1715 in Château de Versailles, Versailles, France.

French writer François Charles Mauriac was born on October 11, 1885 in Bordeaux, France. He said, “Men resemble great deserted palaces: the owner occupies only a few rooms and has closed-off wings where he never ventures." [Ain’t that the truth.]... Mr. Mauriac died in 1970 in Paris, France.