WIST Quotations

Thoreau, Henry David -- Walden; or, Life in the Woods, ch. 1 “Economy” (1854)

Dave — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 23:17:01 +0000

There is no odor so bad as that which arises from goodness tainted. It is human, it is divine, carrion.

Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862) American philosopher and writer
Walden; or, Life in the Woods, ch. 1 “Economy” (1854)
(Source)

~Other -- Episcopal Church of the United States, The Book of Common Prayer, “Prayers,” “For Every Man in His Work” (1928 ed.)

Dave — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 18:52:42 +0000

Deliver us, we beseech thee, in our several callings, from the service of mammon, that we may do the work which thou givest us to do, in truth, in beauty, and in righteousness, with singleness of heart as thy servants, and to the benefit of our fellow men.

(Other Authors and Sources)
Episcopal Church of the United States, The Book of Common Prayer, “Prayers,” “For Every Man in His Work” (1928 ed.)
(Source)

Addison, Joseph -- Essay (1711-12-08), The Spectator, No. 243

Dave — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 16:44:41 +0000

Temperance and abstinence, faith and devotion, are in themselves perhaps as laudable as any other virtues; but those which make a man popular and beloved are justice, charity, munificence, and, in short, all the good qualities which render us beneficial to each other.

Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English essayist, poet, statesman
Essay (1711-12-08), The Spectator, No. 243
(Source)

Franklin, Benjamin -- Letter to the Abbé Morallet, Postscript (1779)

Dave — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 21:15:15 +0000

To confirm still more your piety and gratitude to Divine Providence, reflect upon the situation which it has given to the elbow. You see in animals, who are intended to drink the waters that flow upon the earth, that if they have long legs, they have also a long neck, so that they can get at their drink without kneeling down. But man, who was destined to drink wine, is framed in a manner that he may rise the glass to his mouth. If the elbow had been placed nearer the hand, the part in advance would have been too short to bring the glass up to the mouth; and if it had been nearer the shoulder, that part would have been so long that when it attempted to carry the wine to the mouth it would have overshot the mark, and gone beyond the head; thus, either way, we should have been in the case of Tantalus. But from the actual situation of the elbow, we are enabled to drink at our ease, the glass going directly to the mouth. Let us, then, with glass in hand, adore this benevolent wisdom; — let us adore and drink!

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Letter to the Abbé Morallet, Postscript (1779)
(Source)

Wilcox, Ella Wheeler -- Poem (1892), “Insight,” An Erring Woman’s Love

Dave — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 16:43:51 +0000

And however dark the skies may appear,
And however souls may blunder,
I tell you it all will work out clear,
For good lies over and under.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850–1919) American author, poet, temperance advocate, spiritualist
Poem (1892), “Insight,” An Erring Woman’s Love
(Source)

Emerson, Ralph Waldo -- Journal (1838-08-27)

Dave — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 03:05:48 +0000

The meaning of good & bad, of better & worse, is simply helping or hurting.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) American essayist, lecturer, poet
Journal (1838-08-27)
(Source)

Adams, John -- Letter (1816-02-02) to Thomas Jefferson

Dave — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 12:14:56 +0000

Power always Sincerely, conscientiously, de très bon Foi, believes itself Right. Power always thinks it has a great Soul and vast Views, beyond the Comprehension of the Weak; and that it is doing God Service when it is violating all his Laws.

John Adams (1735–1826) American lawyer, Founding Father, statesman, US President (1797–1801)
Letter (1816-02-02) to Thomas Jefferson
(Source)

De très bon foi = "very candidly."

Johnson, Samuel -- Essay (1754-01-19), The Adventurer, No. 126

Dave — Fri, 02 May 2014 12:51:06 +0000

Piety practised in solitude, like the flower that blooms in the desert, may give its fragrance to the winds of Heaven, and delight those unbodied spirits that survey the works of God and the actions of men; but it bestows no assistance upon earthly beings, and however free from taints of impurity, yet wants the sacred splendour of beneficence.

Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) English writer, lexicographer, critic
Essay (1754-01-19), The Adventurer, No. 126
(Source)

Franklin, Benjamin -- Letter to Abbé Morallet (1779)

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

We hear of the conversion of water into wine at the marriage in Cana, as of a miracle. But this conversion is, through the goodness of God, made every day before our eyes. Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards, and which incorporates itself with the grapes to be changed into wine; a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy!

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Letter to Abbé Morallet (1779)
(Source)

Apparent origin of the misquote: "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."