WIST

Criticism … makes very little dent upon me, unless I think there is some real justification and something should be done.

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) First Lady of the US (1933-45) [Anna Eleanor Roosevelt]
Letter to Carrie Chapman (18 Apr 1936)

Death and sleep make us all alike, rich and poor, high and low.

Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616) Spanish novelist
Don Quixote, 2.4.43 (1615) [tr. Motteux and Ozell (1743)]

Eloquence may exist without a proportionable degree of wisdom.

Edmund Burke (1729-1797) Anglo-Irish statesman, orator, philosopher
Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790)
Full text.

All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

Sun-Tzu (fl. 6th C. AD) Chinese general and philosopher [a.k.a. Sun Wu]
The Art of War, ch. 1
Alt trans.: "A military operation involves deception. Even though you are competent, appear to be incompetent. Though effective, appear to be ineffective."

It takes great courage to back truth unacceptable to our times. There’s punishment for it, and it’s usually crucifixion.

John Steinbeck (1902-1968) American writer
East of Eden (1952)