WIST Quotations

Kerr, Jean -- Essay (1958-07), “Hand Me My Dark Glasses,” McCall’s Magazine

Dave — Tue, 12 May 2026 14:34:15 +0000

I make mistakes — I’ll be the second to admit it.

Jean Kerr (1922–2003) American author and playwright [b. Bridget Jean Collins]
Essay (1958-07), “Hand Me My Dark Glasses,” McCall’s Magazine
(Source)

Collected in her The Snake Has All the Lines (1960) as "I Was a Sand Crab."

The original in McCall's has what I suspect is an incorrect "correction" from an editor, reading "I'll be the first to admit it," which is not particularly funny. The "second" text appears in the book.

Bernard, Claude -- Cahier de Notes (1860) [tr. Hoff / Guillemin / Guillemin (1967)]

Dave — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 17:27:36 +0000

You need not hesitate to say aloud that my adversary is wrong and that he is an imbecile.

[Vous ne devez pas hésiter à dire hautement que mon adversaire a tort et que c’est un imbécile.]

Claude Bernard (1813–1878) French physiologist, scientist
Cahier de Notes (1860) [tr. Hoff / Guillemin / Guillemin (1967)]
(Source)

(Source (French))

Moliere -- Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite [Le Tartuffe, ou L’Imposteur], Act 4, sc. 5 (1669) [tr. Wilbur (1963)]

Dave — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 22:40:12 +0000

ELMIRE: However high the passion which inflames us,
Still, to confess its power somehow shames us.

[Quelque raison qu’on trouve à l’amour qui nous dompte,
On trouve à l’avouer toujours un peu de honte.]

Molière (1622–1673) French playwright, actor [stage name for Jean-Baptiste Poquelin]
Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite [Le Tartuffe, ou L’Imposteur], Act 4, sc. 5 (1669) [tr. Wilbur (1963)]
(Source)

On women modestly protesting against the advances of lovers.

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

Whatever Reason we may find for the Passion that subdues us, we shall always be a little ashm'd to own it.
[tr. Clitandre (1672)]

Whatever reason we may find for the passion that subdues us, we always feel some shame in owning it.
[tr. Van Laun (1876)]

Whatever reasons we may find to justify the love that conquers us, there is always a certain shame attached to the avowal of it.
[tr. Wall (1879)]

Whatever gratification we may find for the passion that subdues us, we shall always be rather ashamed to own it.
[tr. Mathew (1890). 4.4]

Whatever reasons we may find for the love which conquers us, there is always a little shame in the avowal of it.
[tr. Waller (1903)]

Whatever cause we find to justify
The love that masters us, we still must feel
Some little shame in owning it.
[tr. Page (1909)]

Even though overmastered by our feelings,
We always find it shameful to admit them.
[tr. Bishop (1957)]

However strong and justified our flame,
We never can admit it without shame.
[tr. Frame (1967)]

No matter how much love persuades us,
we always feel a tiny bit of shame.
[tr. Steiner (2008)]

Fuller, Thomas (1654) -- Introductio ad Prudentiam, Vol. 1, # 84 (1725)

Dave — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 15:08:19 +0000

If thou wilt be cured of thy Ignorance, confess it.

Thomas Fuller (1654–1734) English physician, preacher, aphorist, writer
Introductio ad Prudentiam, Vol. 1, # 84 (1725)
(Source)

Hogan, Robert -- Quoted in Jeffrey Kluger, The Narcissist Next Door, ch. 6 (2014)

Dave — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 21:41:21 +0000

There’s a reason narcissists don’t learn from mistakes and that’s because they never get past the first step, which is admitting that they made one. It’s always an assistant’s fault, an adviser’s fault, a lawyer’s fault. Ask them to account for a mistake any other way and they’ll say, “What mistake?”

Robert Hogan (b. 1937) American psychologist
Quoted in Jeffrey Kluger, The Narcissist Next Door, ch. 6 (2014)
(Source)

Dubay, Thomas -- Authenticity: A Biblical Theology of Discernment, Part 2, ch. 6 (1977)

Dave — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 19:50:26 +0000

A candid admission of a blunder is refreshing and not often heard in human affairs. It is the saint alone who is large-minded enough to think and speak in this way. This is part of his authenticity.

Thomas Dubay (1921–2020) American Catholic priest, author, spiritual director
Authenticity: A Biblical Theology of Discernment, Part 2, ch. 6 (1977)
(Source)

Ennius -- Annales, Fragment 485

Dave — Thu, 12 Mar 2020 16:26:12 +0000

He who has conquered is not conqueror
Unless the conquered one confesses it.

[Qui vincit non est victor nisi victus fatetur.]

Ennius (239–169 BC) Roman poet, writer [Quintus Ennius]
Annales, Fragment 485
(Source)

Quoted by Marcus Servius Honoratus, Commentaries on the Poems of Virgil [In Vergilii Carmina Comentarii], Book 11. Other translations:

"He who conquers is not the conqueror unless the conquered admits it." [Source, 493 (Vahlen)]
"He who conquers is no conqueror unless the conquered admits it." [Source, 513]
"The victor is not victorious if the vanquished does not consider himself so." [Source]

Nicoll, James -- “Proposal for a new FAQ or two,” rec.arts.sf.written, Usenet (10 Jun 2005)

Dave — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 15:00:26 +0000

That’s not a nuts thing, that’s a “humans hate to admit error even as they stand there, black and smoldering, with the stub of a cigarette in one hand, in the middle of a wide crater containing them and the remains of a sign that once read ‘DANGER: VOLATILE EXPLOSIVES'” thing. It’s pretty universal.

James Nicoll (b. 1961) Canadian reviewer, editor
“Proposal for a new FAQ or two,” rec.arts.sf.written, Usenet (10 Jun 2005)
(Source)

Franklin, Benjamin -- Poor Richard (1738 ed.)

Dave — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 16:40:52 +0000

None but the well-bred man knows how to confess a fault, or acknowledge himself in error.

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1738 ed.)
(Source)

Chesterton, Gilbert Keith -- Illustrated London News (25 April 1931)

Dave — Wed, 13 May 2015 12:23:03 +0000

There is something to be said for every error; but, whatever may be said for it, the most important thing to be said about it is that it is erroneous.

Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874–1936) English journalist and writer
Illustrated London News (25 April 1931)

Twain, Mark -- In More Maxims of Mark [ed. M. Johnson (1925)]

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 19:00:00 +0000

Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more.

Mark Twain (1835–1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
In More Maxims of Mark [ed. M. Johnson (1925)]