WIST Quotations

Commager, Henry Steele -- Essay (1965-12-18), “The Problem of Dissent,” Saturday Review

Dave — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 23:47:22 +0000

We do not need to fear ideas, but the censorship of ideas. We do not need to fear criticism, but the silencing of criticism. We do not need to fear excitement or agitation in the academic community, but timidity and apathy. We do not need to fear resistance to political leaders, but unquestioning acquiescence in whatever policies those leaders adopt.

Henry Steele Commager (1902–1998) American historian, writer, activist
Essay (1965-12-18), “The Problem of Dissent,” Saturday Review
(Source)

Reprinted in Freedom and Order, Part 6 (1966).

Banksy -- Wall and Piece, “Rats” (2005)

Dave — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 16:46:07 +0000

The human race is an unfair and stupid competition. A lot of the runners don’t even get decent sneakers or clean drinking water.
Some runners are born with a massive head start, every possible help along the way and still the referees seem to be on their side.
It’s not surprising a lot of people have given up competing altogether and gone to sit in the grandstand, eat junk food and shout abuse.
What we need in this race is a lot more streakers.

Banksy (b. 1974?) England-based pseudonymous street artist, political activist, film director
Wall and Piece, “Rats” (2005)
(Source)

Aristotle -- (Spurious)

Dave — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 15:01:09 +0000

Tolerance and apathy are the last virtues of a dying society.

Aristotle (384–322 BC) Greek philosopher
(Spurious)

Not found in the writings of Aristotle, or, with variation, anywhere early than the 19th Century. More discussion of this quotation's origins and misuses:

Goodall, Jane -- “The Power of One,” Time Magazine (26 Aug 2002)

Dave — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 17:47:53 +0000

The greatest danger to our future is apathy. We cannot expect those living in poverty and ignorance to worry about saving the world. For those of us able to read this magazine, it is different. We can do something to preserve our planet.

Jane Goodall (b. 1934) English primatologist and anthropologist
“The Power of One,” Time Magazine (26 Aug 2002)
(Source)

Wallace, David Foster -- McCain’s Promise (2006)

Dave — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 15:50:44 +0000

If you are bored and disgusted by politics and don’t bother to vote, you are in effect voting for the entrenched Establishments of the two major parties, who please rest assured are not dumb, and who are keenly aware that it is in their interests to keep you disgusted and bored and cynical and to give you every possible psychological reason to stay at home doing one-hitters and watching MTV on primary day. By all means stay home if you want, but don’t bullshit yourself that you’re not voting. In reality, there is no such thing as not voting: you either vote by voting, or you vote by staying home and tacitly doubling the value of some Diehard’s vote.

David Foster Wallace (1962–2008) American author, academic
McCain’s Promise (2006)
(Source)

Straczynski, J. Michael "Joe" -- Babylon 5, 3×20 “And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place” (14 Oct 1996)

Dave — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 17:01:31 +0000

LONDO: Big concerns grow from small concerns. You plant them, water them with tears, fertilize them with unconcern. If you ignore them, they grow.

J. Michael (Joe) Straczynski (b. 1954) American screenwriter, producer, author [a/k/a "JMS"]
Babylon 5, 3×20 “And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place” (14 Oct 1996)

Nietzsche, Friedrich -- Thus Spoke Zarathustra [Also Sprach Zarathustra], Part 2, “Of the Compassionate [Von den Mitleidigen]” (1892) [tr. Hollingdale (1961)]

Dave — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 19:21:50 +0000

We are the most unfair, not towards him whom we do not like, but toward him for whom we feel nothing at all.

Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German philosopher and poet
Thus Spoke Zarathustra [Also Sprach Zarathustra], Part 2, “Of the Compassionate [Von den Mitleidigen]” (1892) [tr. Hollingdale (1961)]
(Source)

Baldwin, James -- “Notes for a Hypothetical Novel,” speech, San Francisco College (22 Oct 1960)

Dave — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 21:32:29 +0000

Let me point out to you that freedom is not something that anybody can be given; freedom is something people take and people are as free as they want to be. One hasn’t got to have an enormous military in order to be unfree when it’s simpler to be asleep, when it’s simpler to be apathetic, when it’s simpler, in fact, not to want to be free, to think that something else is more important.

James Baldwin (1924–1987) American novelist, playwright, activist
“Notes for a Hypothetical Novel,” speech, San Francisco College (22 Oct 1960)
(Source)

Later published in Nobody Knows My Name (1961).

James, William -- (Attributed)

Dave — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 00:20:05 +0000

When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that is in itself a choice.

William James (1842–1910) American psychologist and philosopher
(Attributed)

Mitchell, Margaret -- Gone with the Wind, ch. 57 [Rhett] (1936)

Dave — Tue, 10 May 2016 13:23:19 +0000

“Scarlett, I was never one to patiently pick up broken fragments and glue them together and tell myself that the mended whole was as good as new. What is broken is broken — and I’d rather remember it as it was at its best than mend it and see the broken places as long as I lived. Perhaps if I were younger–” he sighed. “But I’m too old to believe in such sentimentalities as clean slates and starting all over. I’m too old to shoulder the burden of constant lies that go with living in polite disillusionment. I couldn’t live with you and lie to you and I certainly couldn’t lie to myself. I can’t even lie to you now. I wish I could care what you do or where you go, but I can’t.”

He drew a short breath and said lightly but softly:

“My dear, I don’t give a damn.”

Margaret Mitchell (1900–1949) American author and journalist.
Gone with the Wind, ch. 57 [Rhett] (1936)
(Source)

Seuss, Dr. -- The Lorax (1971)

Dave — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 13:48:52 +0000

Unless someone like you
cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better.
It’s not.

Dr. Seuss (1904–1991) American author, illustrator [pseud. of Theodor Geisel]
The Lorax (1971)

Bulwer-Lytton, Edward George -- Devereux, Book 2, ch. 1 (1829)

Dave — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 13:16:54 +0000

Emotion, whether of ridicule, anger, or sorrow, — whether raised at a puppet show, a funeral, or a battle, — is your grandest of levelers. The man who would be always superior should be always apathetic.

Edward George Bulwer-Lytton (1803–1873) English novelist and politician
Devereux, Book 2, ch. 1 (1829)

Mill, John Stuart -- On Liberty, ch. 3 “Of Individuality, as One of the Elements of Well-Being” (1859)

Dave — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 16:52:17 +0000

There is one characteristic of the present direction of public opinion peculiarly calculated to make it intolerant of any marked demonstration of individuality. The general average of mankind are not only moderate in intellect, but also moderate in inclinations; they have no tastes or wishes strong enough to incline them to do anything unusual, and they consequently do not understand those who have, and class all such with the wild and intemperate whom they are accustomed to look down upon.

John Stuart Mill (1806–1873) English philosopher and economist
On Liberty, ch. 3 “Of Individuality, as One of the Elements of Well-Being” (1859)

Wiman, George -- Google+ (15 May 2015)

Dave — Tue, 19 May 2015 12:11:45 +0000

Any sufficiently advanced indifference is indistinguishable from evil.

George Wiman (contemp.) American blogger, computer technician
Google+ (15 May 2015)
(Source)

See Clarke.

Hughes, Langston -- “Beaumont to Detroit: 1943”

Dave — Thu, 14 May 2015 13:10:54 +0000

Looky here, America
What you done done —
Let things drift
Until the riots come.

Langston Hughes (1902–1967) American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright
“Beaumont to Detroit: 1943”
(Source)

Taft, William -- (Attributed)

Dave — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 19:24:57 +0000

Too many people don’t care what happens so long as it doesn’t happen to them.

William Howard Taft (1857–1930) US President (1909–13) and Chief Justice (1921–1930)
(Attributed)

Shevchenko, Taras -- “The Days Go By”, l. 21 (21 Dec 1845)

Dave — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 15:12:29 +0000

It’s terrible to lie in chains,
To rot in dungeon deep,
But it’s still worse, when you are free
To sleep, and sleep, and sleep.

Taras Shevchenko (1814–1861) Ukrainian poet and artist [a/k/a "Kobzar"]
“The Days Go By”, l. 21 (21 Dec 1845)

Ford, Gerald R. -- Speech, Profiles in Courage Award Acceptance, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library (2001)

Dave — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 15:38:15 +0000

If there is distrust out there — and there is — perhaps it is because there is so much partisan jockeying for advantage at the expense of public policy. At times it feels as if American politics consists largely of candidates without ideas, hiring consultants without convictions, to stage campaigns without content. Increasingly the result is elections without voters.

Gerald R. Ford (1913–2006) American politician, US President (1974–77) [b. Leslie Lynch King, Jr.]
Speech, Profiles in Courage Award Acceptance, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library (2001)
(Source)

Leonardo da Vinci -- Note-books (1508-1518)

Dave — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 15:34:43 +0000

He who does not punish evil commends it to be done.

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) Italian artist, engineer, scientist, polymath
Note-books (1508-1518)
(Source)

In some versions, this is translated as "commands it to be done."

Hutchins, Robert M. -- Great Books: The Foundation of a Liberal Education (1954)

Dave — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 14:11:23 +0000

The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment.

Robert M. Hutchins (1899–1977) American educator and educational philosopher
Great Books: The Foundation of a Liberal Education (1954)
(Source)

Keller, Helen -- My Religion, ch. 6 (1927)

Dave — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 15:46:10 +0000

Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all — the apathy of human beings.

Helen Keller (1880–1968) American author and lecturer
My Religion, ch. 6 (1927)
(Source)

Malcolm X -- Malcolm X Speaks, ch. 9 “With Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer” (1965)

Dave — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 12:02:58 +0000

Usually when people are sad, they don’t do anything. They just cry over their condition. But when they get angry, they bring about a change.

Malcolm X (1925–1965) American revolutionary, religious leader [b. Malcolm Little]
Malcolm X Speaks, ch. 9 “With Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer” (1965)

Mill, John Stuart -- “On Education,” Address on installation as rector, University of St Andrews, Scotland (1 Feb 1867)

Dave — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:07:04 +0000

Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends than that good men should look on and do nothing.

John Stuart Mill (1806–1873) English philosopher and economist
“On Education,” Address on installation as rector, University of St Andrews, Scotland (1 Feb 1867)

See Burke and King.

King, Martin Luther -- Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? (1967)

Dave — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:50:24 +0000

To ignore evil is to become an accomplice to it.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968) American clergyman, civil rights leader, social activist, preacher
Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? (1967)
(Source)

Sagan, Carl -- Billions and Billions ch. 14 “The Common Enemy” (1997)

Dave — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 09:14:25 +0000

Widespread intellectual and moral docility may be convenient for leaders in the short term, but it is suicidal for nations in the long term. One of the criteria for national leadership should therefore be a talent for understanding, encouraging, and making constructive use of vigorous criticism.

Carl Sagan (1934–1996) American scientist and writer
Billions and Billions ch. 14 “The Common Enemy” (1997)

Murrow, Edward R. -- See It Now (7 Mar 1954)

Dave — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 11:00:58 +0000

No one man can terrorize a whole nation, unless we are all his accomplices.

Edward R. Murrow (1908–1965) American journalist
See It Now (7 Mar 1954)
(Source)

Comment to the production team before the episode on Senator Joseph R McCarthy’s Communist witch hunt.

Roosevelt, Franklin Delano -- Speech (1944-10-05), Radio Broadcast

Dave — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:43:13 +0000

Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves — and the only way they could do this is by not voting.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882–1945) American lawyer, politician, statesman, US President (1933–1945)
Speech (1944-10-05), Radio Broadcast
(Source)

King, Martin Luther -- “The Christian Way of Life in Human Relations,” speech, General Assembly fo the National Council of Churches, St Louis (4 Dec 1957)

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

It may well be that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition is not the glaring noisiness of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people. It may be that our generation will have repent not only for the diabolical actions and vitriolic words of the children of darkness, but also for the crippling fears and tragic apathy of the children of light.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968) American clergyman, civil rights leader, social activist, preacher
“The Christian Way of Life in Human Relations,” speech, General Assembly fo the National Council of Churches, St Louis (4 Dec 1957)
(Source)

Often paraphrased: "We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people." See also here.

Nathan, George Jean -- (Attributed)

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

Bad officials are elected by good people who do not vote.

George Jean Nathan (1892–1958) American editor and critic
(Attributed)

Quoted in Clifton Fadiman, ed., The American Treasury, 1455—1955 (1955), but not found in any of Nathan's writings.

Plato -- Republic, Book 1, 347c

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

The punishment which the wise suffer who refuse to take part in the government is to live under the government of worse men.

Plato (c.428–347 BC) Greek philosopher
Republic, Book 1, 347c

In Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Eloquence," Society and Solitude (1870).

Other translations:

"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics, is that you end up being governed by your inferiors."
The Constitution Party (1952-68) used on their letterhead the variant, "The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men."
"The price of apathy is to be ruled by evil men."
"Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber."

More discussion here.

In context (Plato in Twelve Volumes, Vols. 5 & 6 [tr. Shorey (1969)]):

[346e] "Then, Thrasymachus, is not this immediately apparent, that no art or office provides what is beneficial for itself -- but as we said long ago it provides and enjoins what is beneficial to its subject, considering the advantage of that, the weaker, and not the advantage the stronger? That was why, friend Thrasymachus, I was just now saying that no one of his own will chooses to hold rule and office and take other people's troubles in hand to straighten them out, but everybody expects pay for that, [347a] because he who is to exercise the art rightly never does what is best for himself or enjoins it when he gives commands according to the art, but what is best for the subject. That is the reason, it seems, why pay must be provided for those who are to consent to rule, either in form of money or honor or a penalty if they refuse." "What do you mean by that, Socrates?" said Glaucon. "The two wages I recognize, but the penalty you speak of and described as a form of wage I don't understand." "Then," said I, "you don't understand the wages of the best men [347b] for the sake of which the finest spirits hold office and rule when they consent to do so. Don't you know that to be covetous of honor and covetous of money is said to be and is a reproach?" "I do," he said. "Well, then," said I, "that is why the good are not willing to rule either for the sake of money or of honor. They do not wish to collect pay openly for their service of rule and be styled hirelings nor to take it by stealth from their office and be called thieves, nor yet for the sake of honor, [347c] for they are not covetous of honor. So there must be imposed some compulsion and penalty to constrain them to rule if they are to consent to hold office. That is perhaps why to seek office oneself and not await compulsion is thought disgraceful. But the chief penalty is to be governed by someone worse if a man will not himself hold office and rule. It is from fear of this, as it appears to me, that the better sort hold office when they do, and then they go to it not in the expectation of enjoyment nor as to a good thing, but as to a necessary evil and because they are unable to turn it over to better men than themselves [347d] or to their like. For we may venture to say that, if there should be a city of good men only, immunity from office-holding would be as eagerly contended for as office is now, and there it would be made plain that in very truth the true ruler does not naturally seek his own advantage but that of the ruled; so that every man of understanding would rather choose to be benefited by another than to be bothered with benefiting him. "

Montesquieu -- Considerations on the Causes of the Greatness of the Romans and their Decline [Considérations sur les causes de la grandeur des Romains et de leur décadence], ch. 4 (1734, 1748 ed.) [tr. Baker (1882)]

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

A kingdom is not brought nearer to ruin by the tyranny of the sovereign than is a republic by indifference to the common welfare.

[La tyrannie d’un prince ne met pas un État plus près de sa ruine que l’indifférence pour le bien commun n’y met une république.]

Charles-Lewis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu (1689–1755) French political philosopher
Considerations on the Causes of the Greatness of the Romans and their Decline [Considérations sur les causes de la grandeur des Romains et de leur décadence], ch. 4 (1734, 1748 ed.) [tr. Baker (1882)]
(Source)

(Source (French)). Other translations:

A monarchy is not dragged nearer to the brink of ruin by the tyranny of a prince, than a commonwealth by a lukewarmness and indifference for the general good.
[tr. B--- (1734)]

The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not so dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy.
[E.g. (1926)]

The tyranny of a prince does no more to ruin a state than does indifference to the common good to ruin a republic.
[tr. Lowenthal (1965)]

Rickover, Hyman -- Speech (1981-11-05), “Doing a Job,” Egleston Medal Award Dinner, Columbia School of Engineering and Applied Science, New York

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

Good ideas are not adopted automatically. They must be driven into practice with courageous impatience. Once implemented they can be easily overturned or subverted through apathy or lack of follow-up, so a continuous effort is required. Too often, important problems are recognized but no one is willing to sustain the effort needed to solve them.

Hyman Rickover (1900–1986) Polish-American naval engineer, admiral [b. Chaim Gdala Rykower]
Speech (1981-11-05), “Doing a Job,” Egleston Medal Award Dinner, Columbia School of Engineering and Applied Science, New York
(Source)

Arendt, Hannah -- Life of the Mind, Vol. 1 “Thinking,” Part 3, ch. 18 “The two-in-one” (1977)

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

The sad truth of the matter is that most evil is done by people who never made up their minds to be or do either evil or good.

Hannah Arendt (1906–1975) German-American philosopher, political theorist
Life of the Mind, Vol. 1 “Thinking,” Part 3, ch. 18 “The two-in-one” (1977)
(Source)

Sometimes shortened as: "The sad truth is that most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be good or evil."

Originally printed as an essay (1977-11-28), "Thinking -- III," The New Yorker (1977-12-05). That version is slightly longer:

The sad truth of the matter is that most evil is done by people who never made up their minds to be either good or bad or to do either good or evil.

May, Rollo -- (Attributed)

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

Hate is not the opposite of love; apathy is.

Rollo May (1909–1994) American psychotherapist
(Attributed)

See also Nietzsche.