WIST Quotations

Sagan, Carl -- The Demon-Haunted World, ch. 10 “The Dragon in My Garage” (1995)

Dave — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:53:08 +0000

Claims that cannot be tested, assertions immune to disproof are veridically worthless, whatever value they may have in inspiring us or in exciting our sense of wonder.

Carl Sagan (1934–1996) American scientist and writer
The Demon-Haunted World, ch. 10 “The Dragon in My Garage” (1995)
(Source)

Ingersoll, Robert Green -- Lecture (1877-06-23), “The Ghosts,” Carson Theater, Carson City, Nevada

Dave — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 20:17:45 +0000

A theory that is afraid of investigation is undeserving a place in the human mind.

Robert Green Ingersoll (1833–1899) American lawyer, freethinker, orator
Lecture (1877-06-23), “The Ghosts,” Carson Theater, Carson City, Nevada
(Source)

Collected in The Ghosts, and Other Lectures (1878)

Addison, Joseph -- Essay (1716-06-29), The Freeholder, No. 55

Dave — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 22:41:07 +0000

A good Cause doth not want any Bitterness to support it, as a bad one cannot subsist without it. It is indeed observable, that an Author is scurrilous in proportion as he is dull; and seems rather to be in a Passion, because he cannot find out what to say for his own Opinion, than because he has discovered any pernicious Absurdities in that of his Antagonists.

Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English essayist, poet, statesman
Essay (1716-06-29), The Freeholder, No. 55
(Source)

Hitchens, Christopher -- “Mommie Dearest,” Slate (20 Oct 2003)

Dave — Mon, 17 May 2021 20:54:08 +0000

What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence.

Christopher Hitchens (1949–2011) English intellectual, polemicist, socio-political critic
“Mommie Dearest,” Slate (20 Oct 2003)

Sometimes referred to as Hitchens' Razor. The concept is not new (consider the Latin phrase "Quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur"), but was popularized by Hitchens in discussion of contemporary discussion of religion, including in his work God Is Not Great (2007).

While cited by a number of sources to the 2003 Slate article on the canonization of Mother Teresa, the phrase does not appear in the 2016 reprint of the article at the time she was actually declared a saint.

More information (including the original Slate text): The long history of Hitchens' Razor • Background Probability.

Steele, Richard -- Essay (1711-03-01), The Spectator, No. 2

Dave — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 13:06:43 +0000

It is a civil Cowardice to be backward in asserting what you ought to expect, as it is a military Fear to be slow in attacking when it is your Duty.

Richard Steele (1672–1729) Anglo-Irish writer, journalist, playwright, politician
Essay (1711-03-01), The Spectator, No. 2
(Source)

A comment by "Captain Sentry."

Montaigne, Michel de -- Essays, Book 3, ch. 11 (3.11), “Of Cripples [Des Boyteux]” (1587) [tr. Frame (1943)]

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

He who imposes his argument by bravado and command shows that it is weak in reason.

[Qui establit son discours par braverie et commandement, montre que la raison y est foible.]

Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592) French essayist
Essays, Book 3, ch. 11 (3.11), “Of Cripples [Des Boyteux]” (1587) [tr. Frame (1943)]
(Source)

(Source (French)). Other translations:

He that with braverie and by comaundement will establish his discourse, declareth his reason to be weake.
[tr. Florio (1603), "Of the Lame or Cripple"]

Who will establish his Discourse by Authority and Huffing, discovers his Reason to be very weak.
[tr. Cotton (1686)]

He who will establish this proposition by authority and huffing discovers his reason to be very weak.
[tr. Cotton/Hazlitt (1877), "On the Lame"]

He who establishes his argument by defiance and by command shews that his reasoning is weak.
[tr. Ives (1925)]

Any man who supports his opinion with challenges and commands demonstrates that his reasons for it are weak.
[tr. Screech (1987), "On the Lame"]

He who establishes his argument by noise and command shows that his reason is weak.
[Source]

Joubert, Joseph -- Pensées [Thoughts], ch. 8 “De la Famille et de la Société, etc. [On the Family and Society],” ¶ 71 (1850 ed.) [tr. Attwell (1896), ¶ 115]

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

It is better to debate a question without settling it, than to settle it without debate.

[Il vaut mieux remuer une question sans la décider, que la décider sans la remuer.]

Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French moralist, philosopher, essayist, poet
Pensées [Thoughts], ch. 8 “De la Famille et de la Société, etc. [On the Family and Society],” ¶ 71 (1850 ed.) [tr. Attwell (1896), ¶ 115]
(Source)

(Source (French)). Other translations:

It is better to stir a question without deciding it, than to decide it without stirring it.
[tr. Calvert (1866), ch. 8]

It is better to turn over a question without deciding it, than to decide it without turning it over.
[tr. Lyttelton (1899), ch. 7, ¶ 61]

It is better to stir up a question without deciding it, than to decide it without stirring it up.
[tr. Collins (1928), ch. 7]

It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it.
[Variant]