WIST Quotations

Orwell, George -- Diary Entry (1941-05-18), “First War-Time Diary”

Dave — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:08:59 +0000

If there is a wrong thing to do, it will be done, infallibly. One has come to believe in that as if it were a law of nature.

George Orwell (1903–1950) English journalist, essayist, writer [pseud. of Eric Arthur Blair]
Diary Entry (1941-05-18), “First War-Time Diary”
(Source)

In context, Orwell is complaining about what he considers squandered opportunities by Britain to occupy Vichy French territories, such as Syria, before Germany could make use of them.

See Murphy's Law.

Watterson, Bill -- Calvin and Hobbes (1987-09-22)

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

CALVIN: My life needs a rewind/erase button.

HOBBES: … And a volume control.

Bill Watterson (b. 1958) American cartoonist
Calvin and Hobbes (1987-09-22)
(Source)

Coleridge, Samuel Taylor -- Comment (1830-10-05), “Table Talk”

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

In politics, what begins in fear usually ends in folly.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English poet and critic
Comment (1830-10-05), “Table Talk”
(Source)