Every life is a profession of faith, and exercises an inevitable and silent propaganda. As far as lies in its power, it tends to transform the universe and humanity into its own image.
Henri-Frédéric Amiel (1821-1881) Swiss philosopher, poet, critic
Journal (2 May 1852) [tr. Ward (1887)]
Do thou thy best, and leave to God the rest.
James Howell (c. 1594 - 1666) British historian and writer
“Divers Centuries of New Sayings,” Paroimiographia (1659)
Education consists mainly in what we have unlearned.
Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
Note (4 Jul 1898), Mark Twain’s Notebook, [ed. A. Paine] (1935)
He who slings mud generally loses ground.
Adlai Ewing Stevenson (1900-1965) American politician
Quoted in news summaries (11 Jan 1954)
No man was ever taken to hell by a woman unless he already had a ticket in his pocket or at least had been fooling around with timetables.
Rex Stout (1886-1975) American writer
Some Buried Caesar, ch. 3 [Archie] (1939)
Man gives every reason for his conduct save one, every excuse for his crimes savone, every plea for his safety save one; and that one is his cowardice.
George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) British playwright and critic
Man and Superman, ch. 3 (1903)
It ain’t bragging if you can do it.
Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean (1910-1974) American baseball pitcher
(Attributed)
Self-confidence adds more to conversation than wit.
François VI, duc de La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680) French epigrammist, memoirist, noble
Maxims, #421 (1665) [tr. Kronenberger (1959)]
Conduct is three-fourths of our life and its largest concern.
Matthew Arnold (1822-1888) English poet and critic
Literature and Dogma, ch. 1 (1873)
As an atheist, I believe that all life is unspeakably precious, because it’s only here for a brief moment, a flare against the dark, and then it’s gone forever. No afterlives, no second chances, no backsies. So there can be nothing crueler than the abuse, destruction or wanton taking of a life. It is a crime no less than burning the Mona Lisa, for there is always just one of each. So I cannot forgive. Which makes the notion of writing a character who CAN forgive momentarily attractive … because it allows me to explore in great detail something of which I am utterly incapable.
J. Michael (Joe) Straczynski (b. 1954) American screenwriter, producer, author
“Gesthemene Questions,” rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5 (5 Dec 1995)
Quoted in Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5, "Passing Through Gethsemane : jms speaks." Full text.
If you watch a game, it’s fun. If you play at it, it’s recreation. If you work at it, it’s golf.
Bob Hope (1903-2003) American comedian, actor, humanitarian (b. Leslie Townes Hope)
(Attributed)
It is the spirit of the age to believe that any fact, no matter how suspect, is superior to any imaginative exercise, no matter how true.
Gore Vidal (b. 1925) American novelist, dramatist, critic
“French Letters: Theories of the New Novel,” Encounter (Dec 1967)
In enthusiasm we undulate to the divine spiritus — as the lake to the wind.
Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American philosopher and writer
Journal (16 Dec 1840)
Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterward looks for victory.
Sun-Tzu (fl. 6th C. AD) Chinese general and philosopher [a.k.a. Sun Wu]
The Art of War
Can you think that whatever made us — would stop trying?
John Steinbeck (1902-1968) American writer
East of Eden (1952)
I’ve added a search plug-in for WIST to the Mycroft Project, which hosts search engine plug-ins for Firefox and for IE.
The plug-in does a quotation text search. That means it won’t search for author info — a side effect of the way I’ve implemented the authors as categories in WordPress.
You can find the plug-in here. Enjoy!
The expert has his constituency — those who have a vested interest in commonly held opinions; elaborating and defining its consensus at a high level has, after all, made him an expert.
Henry Kissinger (b. 1923) German-American diplomat
American Foreign Policy, 1.3 (1969)
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? then is he impotent. Is he able, but not willing? then is he malevolent. Is he both able and willing? whence then is evil?
Epicurus (341-270 BC) Greek philosopher
(Attributed)
"Epicurus' old riddle," in David Hume (1711-1776), Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, Part X (1779). Full text. It is not found in Epicurus' surviving works. Discussion.Variants:
- "Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot; Or he can, but does not want to; Or he cannot and does not want to. If he wants to, but cannot, he is impotent. If he can, but does not want to, he is wicked. But, if God both can and wants to abolish evil, then how come evil is in the world?"
- "Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?"
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles.
Other Authors and Sources
Bible, Proverbs 24:17
It is in disputes as in armies, where the weaker side sets up false lights, and makes a great noise, to make the enemy believe them more numerous and strong than they really are.
Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) English writer and churchman
“Thoughts on Various Subjects” (1706)
Full text.
About suffering they were never wrong,
W. H. Auden (1907-1973) American poet [Wystan Hugh Auden]
The Old Masters; how well, they understood
Its human position; how it takes place
While someone else is eating or opening a window or just walking dully along.
“Musée des Beaux Arts” (1940)
Full text.
The greatest step forward in human evolution was made when society began to help the weak and the poor, instead of oppressing and despising them.
Maria Montessori (1870-1952) Italian educator, philosopher, educator, physician
The Absorbent Mind, ch. 22 (1949) [tr. Claremont (1969)]
I like to think of my behavior in the sixties as a “learning experience.” Then again, I like to think of anything stupid I’ve done as a “learning experience.” It makes me feel less stupid.
P.J. O'Rourke (b. 1947) American humorist, editor
“Second Thoughts about the Sixties,” speech, Second Thoughts Conference, Washington (1987); Give War a Chance (1992)
Every time a friend succeeds, I die a little.
Gore Vidal (b. 1925) American novelist, dramatist, critic
(Attributed)
In Wilfrid Sheed, "Writer as Wretch and Rat," New York Times Book Review (4 Feb 1973)
The least pain in our little finger gives us more concern and uneasiness, than the destruction of millions of our fellow-beings.
William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
“American Literature — Dr. Channing,” Edinburgh Review (Oct 1829)
“And then she woke up.” I suppose there are worse endings.
Neil Gaiman (b. 1960) British fabulist
The Sandman, Vol. 2, The Doll’s House, “Lost Hearts” [Rose Walker] (#16) (1990)
In the relations of man with the animals, with the flowers, with the objects of creation, there is a great ethic, scarcely perceived as yet, which will at length break forth into light.
Victor Hugo (1802-1885) French writer
(Attributed)
Unfortunately, too many of our citizens have lost faith that our biggest institutions –- our corporations, our media, and yes, our government –- still reflect these same values. Each of these institutions are full of honorable men and women doing important work that helps our country prosper. But each time a CEO rewards himself for failure, or a banker puts the rest of us at risk for his own selfish gain, people’s doubts grow. Each time lobbyists game the system or politicians tear each other down instead of lifting this country up, we lose faith. The more that TV pundits reduce serious debates into silly arguments, and big issues into sound bites, our citizens turn away. No wonder there’s so much cynicism out there. No wonder there’s so much disappointment.
Barack Obama (b. 1961) American politician, US President (2009- )
State of the Union Address (27 Jan 2010)
If the object were to make pupils think, rather than to make them accept certain conclusions, education would be conducted quite differently; there would be less … instruction and more discussion.
Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) English mathematician and philosopher
Principles of Social Reconstruction, ch. 5 (1916)
Though progress may be slow, it may be steady and sure. A wise man does not try to hurry history. Many wars have been avoided by patience and many have been precipitated by reckless haste.
Adlai Ewing Stevenson (1900-1965) American politician
Campaign Speech (1952)
To me the relationship of host and guest is sacred. The guest is a jewel resting on the cushion of hospitality.
Rex Stout (1886-1975) American writer
Too Many Cooks, ch. 6 [Wolfe] (1938)
Much less evil would be done on earth if evil could not be done in the name of good.
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916) Austrian writer
Aphorisms (1905) [tr. Scrase & Mieder (1994)]
She had some experience of the world, and the capacity for reflection that makes such experience profitable.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) French philosopher and writer
Confessions, ch. 3 “1731-1732″ (1781) [tr. Cohen (1953)]
In a conversation, keep in mind that you’re more interested in what you have to say than anyone else is.
Andy Rooney (b. 1919) American journalist, commentator, author
“A Penny Saved Is a Waste of Time,” Pieces of My Mind (1984)
Below the surface stream, shallow and light,
Matthew Arnold (1822-1888) English poet and critic
Of what we say and feel — below the stream,
As light, of what we think we feel, there flows
With noiseless current, strong, obscure and deep,
The central stream of what we feel indeed.
St. Paul and Protestantism (1870)
We are not powerless. We have tremendous potential for good or ill. How we choose to use that power is up to us; but first we must choose to use it. We’re told every day, “You can’t change the world.” But the world is changing every day. Only question is … who’s doing it? You or somebody else?
J. Michael (Joe) Straczynski (b. 1954) American screenwriter, producer, author
“At The Midpoint (Spoilers for everything),” rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated (7 Apr 1995)
Full text.
Experience of the world may be looked upon as a kind of text, to which reflection and knowledge form the commentary.
Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) German philosopher
“Counsels and Maxims” (2.8), Essays of Arthur Schopenhauer [tr. Saunders (1851)]
What frustrates the American people is a Washington where every day is Election Day. We cannot wage a perpetual campaign where the only goal is to see who can get the most embarrassing headlines about their opponent — a belief that if you lose, I win.
Barack Obama (b. 1961) American politician, US President (2009- )
State of the Union Address (27 Jan 2010)
Enthusiasm is the glory and hope of the world.
Amos Bronson Alcott (1799-1888) American transcendentalist, teacher, writer
“Orphic Sayings” (2), The Dial (Jul 1840)
Opportunities multiply as they are seized.
Sun-Tzu (fl. 6th C. AD) Chinese general and philosopher [a.k.a. Sun Wu]
The Art of War
I am incomparably, incredibly, overwhelmingly glad to be home. I’ve never been so goddam lonesome in my life.
John Steinbeck (1902-1968) American writer
East of Eden (1952)
The desire of the esteem of others is as real a want of nature as hunger — and the neglect and contempt of the world as severe a pain as the gout or stone.
John Adams (1735-1826) US President (1797-1801)
Discourses on Davila (1790)
Full text.
Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.
Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) American clergyman and reformer
(Attributed)
Variant: "Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."
If two men claim thy help, and one is thy enemy, help him first.
Other Authors and Sources
Talmud
In Louis I. Newman (comp.), The Talmudic Anthology, #136 (1945)
The power of fortune is confessed only by the miserable; for the happy impute all their success to prudence or merit.
Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) English writer and churchman
“Thoughts on Various Subjects” (1706)
Full text.
Acts of injustice done
W. H. Auden (1907-1973) American poet [Wystan Hugh Auden]
Between the setting and the rising sun
In history lie like bones, each one.
The Ascent of F6, Act II, sc. v [with Christpher Isherwood] (1936)
If you consult enough experts, you can confirm any opinion.
Other Authors and Sources
“Hiram’s Law,” in Arthur Bloch, comp., Murphy’s Law: Book Three, “Expertsmanship” (1962)
Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
Franklin P. Jones (1881-1960) American journalist
(Attributed)
Variant: "Experience enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again."
In conversation, remember two principles: Think before speak; stop talking before they say, “Enough.”
Sa'adi (1184-1283/1291?) Persian poet [a.k.a. Sa'di, Moslih Eddin Sa'adi, Mushrif-ud-Din Abdullah, Muslih-ud-Din Mushrif ibn Abdullah, Mosleh al-Din Saadi Shirazi, Shaikh Mosslehedin Saadi Shir
The Maxims of Sa’di, ch. 1 [tr. Nakosteen (1977)]
We have an obligation to one another, responsibilities and trusts. That does not mean we must be pigeons, that we must be exploited. But it does mean that we should look out for one another when and as much as we can; and that we have a personal responsibility for our behavior; and that our behavior has consequences of a very real and profound nature.
J. Michael (Joe) Straczynski (b. 1954) American screenwriter, producer, author
“At The Midpoint (Spoilers for everything),” rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated (7 Apr 1995)
Full text.
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