WIST Quotations

Montaigne, Michel de -- Essays, Book 1, ch. 30 (1.30), “Of Cannibals [Des Cannibales]” (1578) [tr. Screech (1987), 1.31]

Dave — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 22:36:22 +0000

Every man calls barbarous anything he is not accustomed to.

[Chacun appelle barbarie, ce qui n’est pas de son usage.]

Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) French essayist
Essays, Book 1, ch. 30 (1.30), “Of Cannibals [Des Cannibales]” (1578) [tr. Screech (1987), 1.31]
(Source)

Some translators use the 1588 sequence of chapters, not the 1595, and so identify this as ch. 31.

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

Men call that barbarisme which is not common to them.
[tr. Florio (1603)]

Every one gives the title of barbarism to everything that is not in use in his own country.
[tr. Cotton (1686)]

Everyone gives the denomination of barbarism to what is not the custom of his country.
[tr. Friswell (1868)]

Every one gives the title of barbarism to everything that is not in use in his own country.
[tr. Cotton/Hazlitt (1877)]

Every one calls "barbarism" whatever he is not accustomed to.
[tr. Ives (1925), 1.31]

Each man calls barbarism whatever is not his own practice.
[tr. Frame (1943)]

Everyone calls barbarism what is not customary to him.
[ed. Rat (1958), 1.31]

Everyone calls what he is not accustomed to barbarity.
[tr. Atkinson/Sices (2012)]

Key, Ellen -- War, Peace, and the Future, ch. 6 (1916) [tr. Norberg]

Dave — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 04:25:03 +0000

The worst barbarity of war is that it forces men collectively to commit acts against which individually they would revolt with their whole being.

Ellen Key (1849-1926) Swedish feminist and writer
War, Peace, and the Future, ch. 6 (1916) [tr. Norberg]
(Source)

Lec, Stanislaw -- Unkempt Thoughts [Myśli nieuczesane] (1957) [tr. Gałązka (1962)]

Dave — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 22:00:47 +0000

Is it progress if a cannibal uses knife and fork?

[Czy jeżeli ludożerca je widelcem i nożem to postęp?]

Stanislaw Lec (1909-1966) Polish aphorist, poet, satirist
Unkempt Thoughts [Myśli nieuczesane] (1957) [tr. Gałązka (1962)]
(Source)

Emerson, Ralph Waldo -- Journal (1831)

Dave — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 21:07:02 +0000

There is a capacity of virtue in us, and there is a capacity of vice to make your blood creep.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American essayist, lecturer, poet
Journal (1831)