WIST Quotations

Aristotle -- Economics [Οἰκονομικά, Œconomica], Book 1, ch. 6 (1345a, l. 16) [tr. Walford (1853)]

Dave — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 02:27:49 +0000

It is likewise well to rise before daybreak; for this contributes to health, wealth, and wisdom.

[τό τε διανίστασθαι νύκτωρ: τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ πρὸς ὑγίειαν καὶ οἰκονομίαν καὶ φιλοσοφίαν χρήσιμον.]

Aristotle (384-322 BC) Greek philosopher
Economics [Οἰκονομικά, Œconomica], Book 1, ch. 6 (1345a, l. 16) [tr. Walford (1853)]
(Source)

While this resembles Franklin's Poor Richard proverb ("... makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise"), it only refers to being "early to rise." Only a few sentences before this it recommends, rather than "early to bed," that the master of the house should stay up later than the servants and slaves:

And since it is good for the formation of character and useful in the interests of economy, masters ought to rise earlier than their slaves and retire to rest later.

(Source (Greek)). Alternate translations:

There are occasions when a master should rise while it is still night; for this helps to make a man healthy and wealthy and wise.
[tr. Forester (1920)]

Rising before daylight is also to be commended; it is a healthy habit, and gives more time for the management of the household as well as for liberal studies.
[tr. Armstrong (1935)]

It is well to be up before daybreak, for such habits contribute to health, wealth and wisdom.
[Common Usage]

Doyle, Arthur Conan -- Journal of Arctic voyage (11 Jul 1880)

Dave — Wed, 26 May 2021 21:06:40 +0000

Got up late and would have liked to have got up later, which is a sad moral state to be in.

Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) British writer and physician
Journal of Arctic voyage (11 Jul 1880)
(Source)

Johnson, Samuel -- Comment (14 Sep 1773), in James Boswell, Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides (1785)

Dave — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:41:23 +0000

No man practises so well as he writes. I have, all my life long, been lying till noon; yet I tell all young men, and tell them with great sincerity, that nobody who does not rise early will ever do any good.

Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) English writer, lexicographer, critic
Comment (14 Sep 1773), in James Boswell, Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides (1785)
(Source)