WIST Quotations

Billings, Josh -- Josh Billings’ Trump Kards, ch. 8 “Lager Beer and Spruce Gum” (1874)

Dave — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 18:14:37 +0000

It iz very eazy to manage our nabors bizzness, but our own sumtimes bothers us.

[It is very easy to manage our neighbors’ business, but our own sometimes bothers us.]

Josh Billings (1818-1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Josh Billings’ Trump Kards, ch. 8 “Lager Beer and Spruce Gum” (1874)
(Source)

Holland, Barbara -- Endangered Pleasures, “Wearing Fur”(1995)

Dave — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 15:20:53 +0000

Of course, there are those who don’t eat lamb chops, for moral reasons. There are also those who rise before daybreak and leap into a cold shower in February; those hwo disapprove of idleness, gin rummy, slang, dancing, unauthorized sex, naps, socialism, and Jacuzzis for moral reasons. They enjoy it; moral indignation is a pleasure, often the only pleasure, in many lives. It’s also one of the few pleasures people feel obliged to force on other people.

Barbara Holland (1933-2010) American author
Endangered Pleasures, “Wearing Fur”(1995)
(Source)

Fry, Stephen -- “Trefusis Blasphemes,” Loose Ends, BBC Radio 4 (1986)

Dave — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 17:40:05 +0000

‘But people, the ordinary faithful, are offended by crude comic blasphemies,’ voices are raised to tell me. Yes indeed. But what of my religion? I am a lover of truth, a worshipper of freedom, a celebrant at the altar of language and purity and tolerance. That is my religion, and every day I am sorely, grossly, heinously and deeply offended, wounded, mortified and injured by a thousand different blasphemies against it. When the fundamental canons of truth, honesty, compassion and decency are hourly assaulted by fatuous bishops, pompous, illiberal and ignorant priests, politicians and prelates, sanctimonious censors, self-appointed moralists and busy-bodies, what recourse of ancient laws have I? None whatever. Nor would I ask for any. For unlike these blistering imbeciles my belief in my religion is strong and I know that lies will always fail and indecency and intolerance will always perish.

Stephen Fry (b. 1957) British actor, writer, comedian
“Trefusis Blasphemes,” Loose Ends, BBC Radio 4 (1986)
(Source)

Reprinted in Paperweight (1992).

Ericsson, Graham -- Journal (2013-10-21)

Dave — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 20:44:50 +0000

Too many moral busy-bodies have confused impertinent with important.

Graham Ericsson (b. 1961) American technologist, writer, aphorist
Journal (2013-10-21)

Hoffer, Eric -- True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements, Part 1, ch. 2, § 10 (1951)

Dave — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:21:29 +0000

A man is likely to mind his own business when it is worth minding. When it is not, he takes his mind off his own meaningless affairs by minding other people’s business.

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements, Part 1, ch. 2, § 10 (1951)
(Source)

Franklin, Benjamin -- Poor Richard (1743 ed.)

Dave — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:35:07 +0000

The World is full of fools and faint hearts; and yet every one has courage enough to bear the misfortunes, and wisdom enough to manage the Affairs of his neighbour.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1743 ed.)
(Source)