Born in 1884 – Robert J. Flaherty, American director and producer.

Above: Allakariallak as Nanook in Flaherty’s 1922 film, Nanook of the North.

In 1859, Oregon was admitted as the 33rd U.S. state.

Born in 1866 – Lev Shestov, Russian philosopher.

“The very moment man ate from the forbidden fruit he gained knowledge and lost his freedom. That man needs to know, to ask, to beg questions, to require proofs, answers, means that he is not free. To know means to know necessity. Knowledge means that man is not free.”

Born in 1926 – Leslie Nielsen, Canadian-American actor and producer.

Above: Nielsen as as Dr. Rumack in the 1980 film, Airplane!

Born in 1890 – Boris Pasternak, Russian poet, novelist.

“…the reign of numbers was at an end….Individual human life became the life story of God and its contents filled the vast expanse of the universe." 

–from Dr. Zhivago

Born in 1932 – Gerhard Richter, German painter and photographer.

Above: Richter’s 1982 painting, Two Candles.

Born in 1867 – Laura Ingalls Wilder, American author.

“We who live in quiet places have the opportunity to become acquainted with ourselves, to think our own thoughts and live our own lives in a way that is not possible for those keeping up with the crowd.” 

Born in 1932 – François Truffaut, French director, producer, screenwriter, and actor.

Above: Still from Truffaut’s 1959 film, The 400 Blows.

Born in 1914 – William S. Burroughs, American author and painter.

“We must all face the fact that our leaders are certifiably insane, or worse.”

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Born in 1906 – Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German pastor and theologian, imprisoned and executed in 1945 for anti-Nazi activities.

“

Politics are not the task of a Christian.”