WIST Quotations

Rogers, Will -- Article (1931-03-22), “Letter of a Self-Made Diplomat to His President,” Saturday Evening Post

Dave — Tue, 07 May 2024 15:07:55 +0000

History ain’t what it is; it’s what some Writer wanted it to be.

Will Rogers (1879-1935) American humorist
Article (1931-03-22), “Letter of a Self-Made Diplomat to His President,” Saturday Evening Post
(Source)

Collected in More Letters of a Self-Made Diplomat to His President (1928) [ed. Steven Gragert].

Blume, Judy -- “Judy Blume Talks about Censorship,” judyblume.com

Dave — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 21:05:09 +0000

Censors don’t want children exposed to ideas different from their own. If every individual with an agenda had his/her way, the shelves in the school library would be close to empty.

Judy Blume (b. 1938) American writer
“Judy Blume Talks about Censorship,” judyblume.com
(Source)

Fish, Stanley -- “Conspiracy Theories 101,” New York Times (23 Jul 2006)

Dave — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 18:50:39 +0000

The distinction I am making — between studying astrology and proselytizing for it — is crucial and can be generalized; it shows us where the line between the responsible and irresponsible practice of academic freedom should always be drawn. Any idea can be brought into the classroom if the point is to inquire into its structure, history, influence and so forth. But no idea belongs in the classroom if the point of introducing it is to recruit your students for the political agenda it may be thought to imply.

Stanley Fish (b. 1938) American literary theorist, legal scholar, author
“Conspiracy Theories 101,” New York Times (23 Jul 2006)
(Source)

Brown, Rita Mae -- (Attributed)

Dave — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 17:44:47 +0000

A life of reaction is a life of slavery, intellectually and spiritually. One must fight for a life of action, not reaction.

Rita Mae Brown (b. 1944) American author, playwright
(Attributed)

Johnson, Lyndon -- Speech (1964-05-22), Graduation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Dave — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:30:48 +0000

Your imagination, your initiative, and your indignation will determine whether we build a society where progress is the servant of our needs, or a society where old values and new visions are buried under unbridled growth. For in your time we have the opportunity to move not only toward the rich society and the powerful society, but upward to the Great Society.

Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973) American politician, educator, US President (1963-69)
Speech (1964-05-22), Graduation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
(Source)

Johnson had been awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law. This speech was the first formal presentation of his new domestic agenda, the Great Society.

Stewart, Jon -- Stand-up comedy performance at RIT (2005)

Dave — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:47:08 +0000

What is the fear of the “gay agenda” that has so upset people? Do people think that if gay people are given a place at the table, they’ll be so convincing we’ll all end up blowing them? What is the issue? “You know, I’m straight, but you’ve made such a convincing argument …”

Jon Stewart (b. 1962) American satirist, comedian, and television host. [b. Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz]
Stand-up comedy performance at RIT (2005)

Watterson, Bill -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

CALVIN: God put me on Earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now I am so far behind I will never die.

Bill Watterson (b. 1958) American cartoonist
(Attributed)

Widely attributed to the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip, but searches for the actual comic have come up empty. For more information on references to this quote, see: "God put me on this earth to accomplish a certain…".