Birthdays occurring on December, 17

1770

Ludwig van Beethoven was born on December 17, 1770 German composer the predominant musical figure in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic era. 1770-1827 I despise a world which does not feel that music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy More quotations from Ludwig van Beethoven

1778

Humphrey Davy was born on December 17, 1778 English chemist 1778-1829 Life is made up, not of great sacrifices or duties, but of little things, in which smiles, and kindnesses, and small obligations, given habitually, are what win and preserve the heart and secure comfort More quotations from Humphrey Davy

1796

Thomas C. Haliburton was born on December 17, 1796 Canadian writer, 1796-1865 Every woman is wrong until she cries, and then she is right, instantly More quotations from Thomas C. Haliburton

1807

John Greenleaf Whittier was born on December 17, 1807 American writer, 1807-1892 For all sad words of tongue and pen, The saddest are these, 'It might have been'. More quotations from John Greenleaf Whittier

1851

Henry Drummond was born on December 17, 1851 Canadian poet 1851-1860 You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have really lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love. More quotations from Henry Drummond

Deaths occurring on December, 17

1273

Jalal ad-Din Rumi died on December 17, 1273 Persian poet and mystic, 1207-1273 The minute I heard my first love story I started looking for you, not knowing how blind that was. Lovers don't finally meet somewhere. They're in each other all along. More quotations from Jalal ad-Din Rumi

1957

Dorothy L. Sayers died on December 17, 1957 British writer, 1893-1957 In the world it is called Tolerance, but in hell it is called Despair, the sin that believes in nothing, cares for nothing, seeks to know nothing, interferes with nothing, enjoys nothing, hates nothing, finds purpose in nothing, lives for nothing, and remains alive because there is nothing for which it will die. More quotations from Dorothy L. Sayers