...whom would you choose? It doesn't matter whether the quotes are serious or comical, profound or simply delightful, as long as they bear significance, to those who might hear the speaker or to you personally.
For me, those would be Stephen Fry and Neil deGrasse Tyson. The former has put up a significant effort to defend the decency of humanity (his blog post on the Charlie Hebdo terror act alone puts him high on a ladder, in my book), while the latter did the same for curiosity, discovery, truth and science as opposed to ignorance.
Probably Johannes Brahms. He was both well spoken, and also a snarky bastard.Without craftsmanship, inspiration is a mere reed shaken in the wind.
If there is anyone here whom I have not insulted, I beg his pardon.
For some reason, the Brahms "Snark" hasn't pervaded internet quote sites. "Life and Works: Johannes Brahms" by Jeremy Siepmann is a good source for quotes. I have it on audiobook. He's the kind of guy who would receive an honorary doctorate, and as a "thank you", wrote an overture filled with school drinking songs. the finale is "Gaudeamus igitur" While we are young. After a pleasant youth After a troubling old age The earth will have us.Let us rejoice, therefore,
Hunter S Thompson. I am not a tremendous fan of his work - Campaign Trail aside - but his are the sort of books you could turn to any page on and find a damn good quote on.
He's quite capable of putting a good word on a page. I remember reading a letter written by him on being yourself and doing what you truly desire doing: it was on point, precise and succinct. Thank for you reminding me of him: I'll save the Wikiquote page of him to read later.