AtomicQuote

Ferdinand de Lesseps Quote

Since 1849 I have studied incessantly, under all its aspects, a question which was already in my mind since 1832. I confess that my scheme is still a mere dream, and I do not shut my eyes to the fact that so long as I alone believe it to be possible, it is virtually impossible. ... The scheme in question is the cutting of a canal through the Isthmus of Suez. This has been thought of from the earliest historical times, and for that very reason is looked upon as impracticable. Geographical dictionaries inform us indeed that the project would have been executed long ago but for insurmountable obstacles. [On his inspiration for the Suez Canal.]

Ferdinand de Lesseps

Since 1849 I have studied incessantly, under all its aspects, a question which was already in my mind since 1832. I confess that my scheme is still a mere dream, and I do not shut my eyes to the fact that so long as I alone believe it to be possible, it is virtually impossible. ... The scheme in question is the cutting of a canal through the Isthmus of Suez. This has been thought of from the earliest historical times, and for that very reason is looked upon as impracticable. Geographical dictionaries inform us indeed that the project would have been executed long ago but for insurmountable obstacles. [On his inspiration for the Suez Canal.]

Tags: belief, canal, confession, dream, eyes, mind, obstacles, possibility, question, scheme

Related Quotes

Grow your courage by remembering each day is a gift.

Auliq Ice

Grow your courage by remembering each day is a gift.

Tags: behavior, belief, change, confidence, courage, faith, forgiveness, freedom, friends, happiness

Belief is a wonderful way to pass the time until the facts come in.

Carl R White

Belief is a wonderful way to pass the time until the facts come in.

Tags: aetheism, agnostic, agnostic atheism, agnostic theism, agnosticism, agnostics, allah, almighty, angels, arguments

Living life without a goal is like sailing the sea without a compass.

Auliq Ice

Living life without a goal is like sailing the sea without a compass.

Tags: aim, belief, change, confidence, courage, faith, goal, goals in life, happiness, inspirational

The problem with a philosophy or a belief is that you soon start changing the facts to fit it.

Ashavan

The problem with a philosophy or a belief is that you soon start changing the facts to fit it.

Tags: belief, beliefs, facts, philosophy

Nothing is going to work out unless you step up and make it happen.

Auliq Ice

Nothing is going to work out unless you step up and make it happen.

Tags: actions speak louder than words, belief, courage, dreams, faith, hard work, trust

One can talk good and shower down roses, but it's the receiver that has to walk through the thorns, and all its false expectations.

Anthony Liccione

One can talk good and shower down roses, but it's the receiver that has to walk through the thorns, and all its false expectations.

Tags: abeyance, anticipation, assurance, auspices, belief, broken promises, confidence, contemplation, curiosity, destiny

Change your thought, change your mind.Change your belief, change your action.

Lailah Gifty Akita

Change your thought, change your mind.Change your belief, change your action.

Tags: action, action over thought, actions, belief in self, belief, mind, mind in control, mind power, mindset, thought

Most reject the more repugnant or indefensible dogmas while still holding onto some core belief. Many believers will proudly describe themselves as "reasonable" or "rational" based on how little of th...

Aron Ra

Most reject the more repugnant or indefensible dogmas while still holding onto some core belief. Many believers will proudly describe themselves as "reasonable" or "rational" based on how little of th...

Tags: atheism, atheists, belief, dogma, faith, god, logic, rationality, reason, religion

Believing there is a bridge from where you are to where you want to go is 99% of the battle. The other 1% is to cross it.

Richie Norton

Believing there is a bridge from where you are to where you want to go is 99% of the battle. The other 1% is to cross it.

Tags: 1, 99, battle, belief, believe, believing, bridge, bridge the gap, cross, gap

For the most part, people strenuously resist any redefinition of morality, because it shakes them to the very core of their being to think that in pursuing virtue they may have been feeding vice, or i...

Stefan Molyneux

For the most part, people strenuously resist any redefinition of morality, because it shakes them to the very core of their being to think that in pursuing virtue they may have been feeding vice, or i...

Tags: anarchy, ancap, belief, brainwashing, coercion, critical thinking, dangerous, education, ethics, evidence
About Ferdinand de Lesseps

Ferdinand Marie, Comte de Lesseps (French: [də lesɛps]; 19 November 1805 – 7 December 1894) was a French diplomat and later developer of the Suez Canal, which in 1869 joined the Mediterranean and Red Seas, substantially reducing sailing distances and times between Europe and East Asia.
He attempted to repeat this success with an effort to build a Panama Canal at sea level during the 1880s, but the project was devastated by epidemics of malaria and yellow fever in the area, as well as beset by financial problems, and the planned Lesseps Panama Canal was never completed. Eventually, the project was bought out by the United States, which solved the medical problems and changed the design to a non-sea level canal with locks. It was completed in 1914.