Langdon Quotes

He thought about all the religions of the world, about their shared origins, about the earliest gods of the sun, moon, sea, and wind. Nature was once the core. For all of us. The unity, of course, had disappeared long ago, splintered into endlessly disparate religions, each proclaiming to be the One Truth. [...] Langdon felt the tiniest of tremors in the earth beneath him, as if a tipping point had been reached...as if religious thought had just traversed the farthest reaches of its orbit and was now circling back, wearied from its long journey, and finally coming home. ~ Dan Brown

Langdon whispered to Vittoria. 'Ever fire anything other than a tranquilizer gun?'
'Don't you trust me?'
'Trust you? I barely know you.'
Vittoria frowned. 'And here I thought we were newly-weds. ~ Dan Brown

Mr John Langdon Davies warns women 'that when children cease to be altogether desirable, women cease to be altogether necessary'. ~ Virginia Woolf

If our ancestors could see us today, surely they would think us gods. ~ Dan Brown

You have every right to be free, Miss Langdon. No one is denying you that. But freedom is only valuable if you use your freedom wisely. ~ Melanie Dickerson

If we are to begin to try and understand life as it will be in 1960,
we must begin by realizing that food, clothing and shelter will cost
as little as air ~ John Langdon-Davies

By 1960 work will be limited to three hours a day. ~ John Langdon-Davies

Dante's poem, Langdon was now reminded, was not so much about the misery of hell as it was about the power of the human spirit to endure any challenge, no matter how daunting. ~ Dan Brown

makeup that Langdon could see, her complexion appeared unusually smooth, the only blemish a tiny beauty mark just above her lips. Her eyes, though a gentle brown, seemed unusually penetrating, as if they had witnessed a profundity of experience rarely encountered by a person her age. 'Dr. Marconi doesn't speak much English,' she said, sitting down beside him, 'and he asked me to fill out your admittance form.' She gave ~ Dan Brown

Langdon, I did not ask if you believe what man says about God. I asked if you believed in God. There is a difference. Holy scripture is stories . . . legends and history of man's quest to understand his own need for meaning. I am not asking you to pass judgment on literature. I am asking if you believe in God. ~ Dan Brown

A photographic portrait needs more collaboration between sitter and artist than a painted portrait. ~ Alvin Langdon Coburn

Democracy will be dead by 1950. ~ John Langdon-Davies

After listing the vast array of famous composers, artists, and authors who had created works based on Dante's epic poem, Langdon scanned the crowd. "So tell me, do we have any authors here tonight?" Nearly one-third of the hands went up. Langdon stared out in shock. Wow, either this is the most accomplished audience on earth, or this e-publishing thing is really taking off. ~ Dan Brown

Robert wondered if any of Harvard's revered Egyptologists had ever knocked on the door of a pyramid and expected an answer. ~ Dan Brown

Later that week, I was bicycling down a pavement in the City of London when I passed a company called DLE, which stands for Davis Langdon & Everest.
Hmm, I thought, as I skidded to a halt.
I took a deep breath and then confidently walked into their ultraclean, ultrasmart reception, and asked to be put through to the CEO's office, saying it was both urgent and confidential.
Once I had the CEO's secretary on the line, I pleaded with her to help me get just two minutes of her boss's time.
Eventually after three attempts, due to a combination of pity and intrigue, she agreed to ask the CEO to see me for "literally two minutes."
Bingo.
I was escorted into a lift and then ushered into the calm of the CEO's top-floor office. I was very nervous.
The two head guys, Paul Morrell and Alastair Collins, came in, looking suspiciously at this scruffy youngster holding a pamphlet. (They later described it as one of the worst-laid-out proposals they had ever seen.)
But they both had the grace to listen.
By some miracle, they caught the dream and my enthusiasm, and for the sake of £10,000 (which to me was the world, but to them was a marketing punt), they agreed to back my attempt to put the DLE flag on top of the world.
I promised an awesome photograph for their boardroom.
We stood up, shook hands, and we have remained great friends ever since.
I love deals like that. ~ Bear Grylls

The First Amendment is important not only to guarantee the rights of alternative religions and of nonreligious persons in society; it is also important in setting the only possible legal and social condition for the creative health of serious religion itself. ~ Langdon Brown Gilkey

I'm somebody who likes codes and ciphers and chases and artwork and architecture, and all the things you find in a Robert Langdon thriller. ~ Dan Brown

It is my hope that photography may fall in line with all the other arts and with her infinite possibilities, do things strange and more fascinating than the most fantastic dreams. ~ Alvin Langdon Coburn

Art pierces opaque subjectivity, the not seeing of conventional life, and discloses reality. ~ Langdon Brown Gilkey

In which year did a Harvard sculler last outrow an Oxford man at Henley?" Langdon had no idea, but he could imagine only one reason the question had been asked. "Surely such a travesty has never occurred. ~ Dan Brown

To argue a moral position convincingly these days requires that one speak to (and not depart from) people's love of material well-being, their fascination with efficiency, or their fear of death. ~ Langdon Winner

-flashed Langdon the thumbs-up
sign. Langdon smiled weakly and returned the gesture, wondering if she knew it was the ancient phallic
symbol for masculine virility. ~ Dan Brown

In ancient mythology," Langdon offered, "a hero in denial is the ultimate manifestation of hubris and pride. No man is more prideful than he who believes himself immune to the dangers of the world. ~ Dan Brown

Religion is not the place where the problem of man's egotism is automatically solved. Rather, it is there that the ultimate battle between human pride and God's grace takes place. Human pride may win the battle, and then religion can and does become one more instrument of human sin. But if there the self does meet God and His grace, and so surrenders to something beyond its self-interest, then Christian faith can prove to be the needed and rare release from human self-concern. ~ Langdon Brown Gilkey

Mal'akh was dragging Langdon across the living room when the congregation declared, "Amen!" Amon, Mal'akh corrected. Egypt is the cradle of your religion. The god Amon was the prototype for Zeus ... for Jupiter ... and for every modern face of God. To this day, every religion on earth shouted out a variation of his name. Amen! Amin! Aum! ~ Dan Brown

ABC," one woman offered. "Assure, Believe, Convert." "Correct," Langdon said. "Religions assure salvation; religions believe in a perecise theology; and religions convert nonbelievers. ~ Dan Brown

Enforced religion breeds precisely what it most fears: rebellion against religion, cynicism about religion, skepticism about its claims, and, as a consequence, indifference at best or outright antipathy at worst. ~ Langdon Brown Gilkey

Kierkegaard was once asked, 'What is a poet?' He answered that a poet was an unhappy man whose moans and cries of anguish were transformed into ravishing music. ~ Langdon Brown Gilkey

Langdon suddenly wondered if ~ Dan Brown

A formal invitation had just been delivered. Someone was summoning Langdon to unlock a mystical portal that would unveil a world of ancient mysteries and hidden knowledge. ~ Dan Brown

Scientists and spiritualists often use different vocabularies to describe the exact same mysteries of the universe. The conflicts are frequently over semantics, not substance. - Robert Langdon ~ Dan Brown

Despite the headmaster's romantic claims that the origin of the cravat went back to the silk fascalia worn by Roman orators to warm their vocal cords, Langdon knew that, etymologically, "cravat" actually derived from a ruthless band of Croat mercenaries who donned knotted neckerchiefs before they stormed into battle. To this day, this ancient battle garb was donned by modern office warriors hoping to intimidate their enemies in daily boardroom battles. ~ Dan Brown

If I had a Volkswagon Beetle. I'd paint the front to resemble Glenn Langdon in War Of The Colossal Beast. Why? Two words: The Ladies. ~ Dana Gould

Art has a prophetic role, denouncing the culture it lays bare. ~ Langdon Brown Gilkey

dan brownThe televangelist began quoting verses from the Bible describing hierarchy of angels, demons, and spirits that ruled in heaven and hell. "Protect your souls from evil forces!" He warned them. "Lift your hearts in prayer! God and his angels will hear you!" He's right, Mal'akh knew. But so will the demons. ~ Dan Brown

Ah, yes" Langdon said with a knowing smile. "Who better than a bunch of celibate octogeneraians to tell the world how to have sex?"
Sinskey was liking the professor more and more every second. ~ Dan Brown

Ironically, this same code had been a plot twist in a mediocre thriller Langdon had read years ago. ~ Dan Brown

Langdon was impressed. "You know Latin." "I grew up Catholic. I know sin. ~ Dan Brown

The closest Western Civilization has come to unity since the Congress of Vienna in 1815 was the week the Sgt. Pepper album was released ... At the time I happened to be driving across country on Interstate 80. In each city where I stopped for gas or food - Laramie, Ogallala, Moline, South Bend - the melodies wafted in from some far-off transistor radio or portable hi-fi. It was the most amazing thing I've ever heard. For a brief while the irreparable fragmented consciousness of the West was unified, at least in the minds of the young. ~ Langdon Winner

As both a fine artist and a graphic designer, I specialize in the visual presentation of words. ~ John Langdon

Mr. Langdon, I did not ask if you believe what man says about God. I asked if you believed in God. There is a difference. Holy scripture is stories ... legends and history of man's quest to understand his own need for meaning. I am not asking you to pass judgment on literature. I am asking if you believe in God. When you lie out under the stars, do you sense the divine? Do you feel in your gut that you are staring up at the work of God's hands? ~ Dan Brown

Remember death. Even for those who wield great power, life is brief. There is only one way to triumph over death, and that is by making our lives masterpieces. We must seize every opportunity to show kindness and to love fully. ~ Dan Brown

Language, philosophy, and science are interwoven into the design of words, which are manipulated to create surprising illusions. ~ John Langdon

Why half the schools in your country are not allowed to teach evolution. Ask yourself why the U.S. Christian Coalition is the most influential lobby against scientific progress in the world. The battle between science and religion is still raging, Mr. Langdon. It has moved from the battlefields to the boardrooms, but it is still raging. ~ Dan Brown

While lying in traction in the hospital the next day, I informed Jerry that he could promptly take his cake, hideous football photo and smelly socks and fuck off out of my apartment. ~ Kate Langdon

Let us adopt a symbologist approach to our subjects and see whether there are any invisible connections buried just beneath the surface. One anagram of "Herman Melville, Moby Dick" would be "Hmm-- a credible milky novel." Shuffle the letters of "Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code", and we uncover this message: "B. was a contrived, hidden con." And rearranging "Andy Miller-- The Year of Reading Dangerously" proves what we have suspected for a while: "I am only a greying fatheaded Surrey nerd-- LOL."
Dr. Langdon may be onto something. ~ Andy Miller

As he flushed, an unexpected realization hit him. This is the Pope's toilet, he thought. I just took a leak in the Pope's toilet. He had to chuckle. The Holy Throne. ~ Dan Brown

He had also forgotten that iron brands, just like rubber stamps, never looked like their imprints. They were in reverse. Langdon had been looking at the brand's negative. ~ Dan Brown

Making. Langdon suspected, however, that the actual reason ~ Dan Brown

You're the only light I've ever known. ~ Tate Langdon

Modern American marriage is like a wire fence. The woman's the wire -the posts are the husband's. ~ Langdon Elwyn Mitchell

[Langdon] thought about all the religions of the world, about their shared origins, about the earliest gods of the sun, moon, sea and wind. Nature was once the core. For all of us.' - p. 456 ~ Dan Brown

Peter tells Langdon that the Masons believe that the Bible is an esoteric allegory written by humanity, and that, like most religious texts around the globe, it contains veiled instructions for harnessing humanity's natural God-like qualities and is not meant to be interpreted as the commands of an all-powerful deity. This interpretation has been lost amid centuries of scientific skepticism and fundamentalist zealotry. The Masons have (metaphorically) buried it, believing that, when the time is right, its rediscovery will usher in a new era of human enlightenment. ~ The Lost Symbol Wikipedia

The roads to salvation are many.
Forgiveness is not the only path. ~ Dan Brown

If we cannot be decent, let us endeavor to be graceful. If we can't be moral, at least we can avoid being vulgar. ~ Langdon Elwyn Mitchell

I'm proud of my carefree behaviour [...] I am boisterous, when I choose to be, and simply because I don't behave like a wan and fainting female who has not a thought in her head except try to attract an eligible suitor [...] I shall not conform to how you or anyone else tells me I should behave. I am answerable only to God. ~ Melanie Dickerson

Mark Twain married the daughter of one of New York State's leading Abolitionists, Jervis Langdon, who helped Frederick Douglass who became the great Negro leader to escape from slavery. ~ Hal Holbrook

Mr. Langdon, all questions were once spiritual. Since the beginning of time, spirituality and religion have been called on to fill in the gaps that science did not understand. The rising and setting of the sun was once attributed to Helios and a flaming chariot. Earthquakes and tidal waves were the wrath of Poseidon. Science has now proven those gods to be false idols. Soon all Gods will be proven to be false idols. Science has now provided answers to almost every question man can ask. There are only a few questions left, and they are the esoteric ones. Where do we come from? What are we doing here? What is the meaning of life and the universe?" Langdon was amazed. "And these are questions CERN is trying to answer?" "Correction. These are questions we are answering." Langdon ~ Dan Brown

It is a messy process for a culture to abandon its dieties. Sprititual beliefs are etched deeply on our psyches at a young age by those we love and trust most --- our parents, our teachers, our religious leaders. Therefore, any religious shifts occur over generations, and not without great angst, and often bloodshed. - Robert Langdon ~ Dan Brown

Technologies are not merely aids to human activity, but also powerful forces acting to reshape that activity and its meaning. ~ Langdon Winner

It's the age-old battle between mind and heart, which seldom want the same thing. ~ Dan Brown

Codes and patterns are very different from each other," Langdon said. "And a lot of people confuse the two. In my field, it's crucial to understand their fundamental difference."
"That being?"
Langdon stopped walking and turned to her. "A pattern is any distinctly organized sequence. Patterns occur everywhere in nature - the spiraling seeds of a sunflower, the hexagonal cells of a honeycomb, the circular ripples on a pond when a fish jumps, et cetera."
"Okay. And codes?"
"Codes are special," Langdon said, his tone rising. "Codes, by definition, must carry information. They must do more than simply form a pattern - codes must transmit data and convey meaning. Examples of codes include written language, musical notation, mathematical equations, computer language, and even simple symbols like the crucifix. All of these examples can transmit meaning or information in a way that spiraling sunflowers cannot. ~ Dan Brown

The carved stone sign in front read Building C.
Imaginative title, Langdon thought ~ Dan Brown

What really matters is what you believe. ~ Dan Brown

On the back of the Trike, Langdon looked ahead and immediately shared her apprehension. ~ Dan Brown

Dr. Jacobus, I am walking out your doors right now. I need clothes. I am going to Vatican City. One does not go to Vatican City with ones ass hanging out. Do I make myself clear? ~ Dan Brown

Relax," Langdon whispered. "Do your piranha thing. ~ Dan Brown

Life by life and love by love
We passed through the cycles strange,
And breath by breath and death by death
We followed the chain of change.
Till there came a time in the law of life
When over the nursing sod
The shadows broke and the soul awoke
In a strange, dim dream of God. ~ Langdon Smith

Transmogrification," Langdon said. "The vestiges of pagan religion in Christian symbology are undeniable. Egyptian sun disks became the halos of Catholic saints. Pictograms of Isis nursing her miraculously conceived son Horus became the blueprint for our modern images of the Virgin Mary nursing Baby Jesus. And virtually all the elements of the Catholic ritual - the miter, the altar, the doxology, and communion, the act of "God-eating" - were taken directly from earlier pagan mystery religions. ~ Dan Brown

Langdon decided not to say another word all evening. Sophie Neveu was clearly a hell of a lot smarter than he was. ~ Dan Brown

Santi was a behemoth in the art world, and being known solely by one's first name was a level of fame achieved only by an elite few... people like Napoleon, Galileo, and Jesus... and, of course, the demigods Langdon now heard blaring from Harvard dormitories - Sting, Madonna, Jewel, and the artist formerly known as Prince, who had changed his name to the symbol ?, causing Langdon to dub him 'The Tau Cross With Intersecting Hermaphroditic Ankh. ~ Dan Brown

Leonardo believed his research had the
potential to convert millions to a more spiritual life. Last year he categorically proved the existence of
an energy force that unites us all. He actually demonstrated that we are all physically connected ... that
the molecules in your body are intertwined with the molecules in mine ... that there is a single force
moving within all of us." Langdon felt disconcerted. And the power of God shall unite us all. "Mr. Vetra actually found a way
to demonstrate that particles are connected?"
"Conclusive evidence. A recent Scientific American article hailed New Physics as a surer path to God
than religion itself. ~ Dan Brown

As the soul becomes enlightened ... it takes the beautiful shape of the dove. Langdon ~ Dan Brown

I don't go to restaurants, I go to tables. ~ Langdon Winner

Now a 'funnyman' can get a laugh before opening his mouth - looking funny. Lou Costello was one of your great funnymen. Harry Langdon, Larry Semon; they were all funnymen - they looked funny. W.C. Fields was never a comedian. Slim Summerville was a comedian, yet looked funny. Now if you have both attributes, you are in good shape. ~ Milton Berle

Widespread acceptance of an idea is not proof if its validity. -Robert Langdon ~ Dan Brown

Katherine stopped abruptly and looked at Langdon. "Robert, Melencolia I is here in Washington. It hangs in the National Gallery."
"Yes," he said with a smile, "and something tells me that's not a coincidence. The gallery is closed at this hour, but I know the curator and - "
"Forget it, Robert, I know what happens when you go to museums." Katherine headed off into a nearby alcove, where she saw a desk with a computer.
Langdon followed, looking unhappy. ~ Dan Brown

Only the most passionate, forthright kind of love would ever induce her to enter the confining state of matrimony. ~ Melanie Dickerson

There is not the slightest indication that nuclear energy will ever be obtainable. ~ John Langdon-Davies

I'm sure you despise me," she sobbed, looking up at him through tearful eyes.
"Despise you?!" Langdon exclaimed. "I don't have the slightest idea who you are! All you've done is lie to me!"
"I know," she said softly. "I'm sorry. I've been trying to do the right thing. ~ Dan Brown

Who says that actors are cattle? Show me a cow who can earn a million dollars a film. ~ Langdon Winner

Vittoria slipped off her robe. 'You've never been to bed with a yoga master, have you? ~ Dan Brown

I affirm that any sort of photograph is superior to any sort of painting aiming at the same result. ~ Alvin Langdon Coburn

Sophie stopped the taxi at an imposing gate that blocked the bank's driveway - a cement-lined ramp that descended beneath the building. A video camera overhead was aimed directly at them, and Langdon had the feeling that this camera, unlike those at the Louvre, was authentic. Sophie rolled down the window and surveyed the electronic podium on the driver's side. An LCD screen provided directions in seven languages. Topping the list was English. ~ Dan Brown