I've been collecting quotes, aphorisms, maxims, and sig lines since junior high (which is more years ago than I care to relate). I read books of quotations. I dog-ear pages in books I'm reading so that I can come back later and copy particularly good bits out. And, more recently, I quickly jot quotes I see down in my Palm so I can have a record of them.

When I first put together a quotations collection (a hard-copy effort, given as a Christmas gift to people who didn't mind something that was cheap if it had the personal touch), I called the collection "WIST" for "Wish I'd Said That."

That name is important because it's not altogether true. This is not just a collection of quotations whose sentiments I agree with. In some cases there are ideas that I disagree with, firmly; in those cases, though, I've included the quote either because I admire the turn of phrase or else I thought it was so absurd, it made me smile just to read it.

But me repeat that in big, bold lettering, so that people don't miss it:

In other words, don't e-mail me a complaint just because I quoted someone saying something you object to.

Now, the fact is, I do agree with most of what I quote here. Hopefully it will become pretty obvious when I don't (or, again, when it isn't a matter of agreement, but just enjoying a particular expression of thought). And, of course, there are some quotations where I agree with them sometimes, disagree with others.

So if I don't always wish I'd said something, why not change the name? Tradition, I suppose, plus it's a handy catch phrase.