WIST Quotations

Gilman, Charlotte -- Herland, ch. 8 (1915)

Dave — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:42:05 +0000

Patriotism, red hot, is compatible with the existence of a neglect of national interests, a dishonesty, a cold indifference to the suffering of millions. Patriotism is largely pride, and very largely combativeness. Patriotism generally has a chip on its shoulder.

Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935) American sociologist, writer, reformer, feminist
Herland, ch. 8 (1915)
(Source)

Hugo, Victor -- Les Misérables, Part 1 “Fantine,” Book 2 “The Fall,” ch. 7 (1.2.7) (1862) [tr. Denny (1976)]

Dave — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 22:54:45 +0000

It is characteristic of this form of punishment, inspired by all that is pitiless, that is to say brutalizing, that gradually, by a process of mindless erosion, it turns a man into an animal, sometimes a ferocious one.

[Le propre des peines de cette nature, dans lesquelles domine ce qui est impitoyable, c’est-à-dire ce qui est abrutissant, c’est de transformer peu à peu, par une sorte de transfiguration stupide, un homme en une bête fauve, quelquefois en une bête féroce.]

Victor Hugo (1802–1885) French writer, journalist, human rights activist, politician
Les Misérables, Part 1 “Fantine,” Book 2 “The Fall,” ch. 7 (1.2.7) (1862) [tr. Denny (1976)]
(Source)

On the degradation of Jean Valjean while serving his hard labor sentence.

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

The peculiarity of punishment of this kind, in which what is pitiless, that is to say, what is brutalising, predominates, is to transform little by little, by a slow stupefaction, a man into an animal, sometimes into a wild beast.
[tr. Wilbour (1862)]

The peculiarity of punishments of this nature, in which naught but what is pitiless, that is to say, brutalizing, prevails, is gradually, and by a species of stupid transfiguration, to transform a man into a wild beast, at times a ferocious beast.
[tr. Wraxall (1862)]

The peculiarity of pains of this nature, in which that which is pitiless -- that is to say, that which is brutalizing -- predominates, is to transform a man, little by little, by a sort of stupid transfiguration, into a wild beast; sometimes into a ferocious beast.
[tr. Hapgood (1887)]

The peculiarity of punishment of this kind, in which the pitiless or brutalizing part predominates, is to transform gradually by a slow numbing process a man into an animal, sometimes into a wild beast.
[tr. Wilbour/Fahnestock/MacAfee (1987)]

It is in the nature of such punishment -- in which what prevails is the pitiless, in other words, the brutalizing -- to transform a man little by little, by a kind of stupid transfiguration, into a wild beast, sometimes a ferocious beast.
[tr. Donougher (2013)]

Shakespeare, William -- Comedy of Errors, Act 2, sc. 1, l. 34ff (2.1.34-37) (1594)

Dave — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 16:42:15 +0000

ADRIANA: A wretched soul bruised with adversity
We bid be quiet when we hear it cry,
But were we burdened with like weight of pain,
As much or more we should ourselves complain.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet
Comedy of Errors, Act 2, sc. 1, l. 34ff (2.1.34-37) (1594)
(Source)

Billings, Josh -- Everybody’s Friend, Or; Josh Billing’s Encyclopedia and Proverbial Philosophy of Wit and Humor, ch. 144 “Affurisms: Gnats” (1874)

Dave — Thu, 16 May 2024 14:15:01 +0000

What a lamentable cuss man iz, he pittys hiz nabors misfortunes, bi calling them judgments from heaven.

[What a lamentable cuss man is: he pities his neighbors’ misfortunes, by calling them judgments from heaven.]

Josh Billings (1818-1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Everybody’s Friend, Or; Josh Billing’s Encyclopedia and Proverbial Philosophy of Wit and Humor, ch. 144 “Affurisms: Gnats” (1874)
(Source)

Yeats, William Butler -- “Easter 1916,” st. 4, ll. 57-59, Michael Robartes and the Dancer (1921)

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

Too long a sacrifice
Can make a stone of the heart.
O when may it suffice?

William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) Irish poet and dramatist
“Easter 1916,” st. 4, ll. 57-59, Michael Robartes and the Dancer (1921)
(Source)

Johnson, Samuel -- The Rambler, #48 (1 Sep 1750)

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

Those who do not feel pain seldom think that it is felt.

Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) English writer, lexicographer, critic
The Rambler, #48 (1 Sep 1750)
(Source)

Talmud -- Babylonian Talmud, Seder Moed, Megillah 10b.26 [Rosten (1972)]

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 18:00:00 +0000

When the Egyptians were drowning in the Red Sea, the angels in heaven began to break forth in songs of jubilation, but the Holy One, blessed be He, silenced them: “My creatures are perishing — and ye are ready to sing!”

בִּקְּשׁוּ מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת לוֹמַר שִׁירָה, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: מַעֲשֵׂה יָדַי טוֹבְעִין בַּיָּם, וְאַתֶּם אוֹמְרִים שִׁירָה

The Talmud (AD 200-500) Collection of Jewish rabbinical writings
Babylonian Talmud, Seder Moed, Megillah 10b.26 [Rosten (1972)]
(Source)

A comment from Rabbi Johanan (d. AD 179), discussing the question whether God rejoices in the downfall of the wicked, referencing the destruction of the pursuing Egyptian army at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-31). Some sources suggest the song to be sung was Isaiah 6:3.

In addition to Megillah 10b, this passage is echoed in Seder Nezikin, Sanhedrin 39b.5:

בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה בִּקְּשׁוּ מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת לוֹמַר שִׁירָה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. אָמַר לָהֶן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: מַעֲשֵׂה יָדַי טוֹבְעִין בַּיָּם וְאַתֶּם אוֹמְרִים שִׁירָה לְפָנַי

(Source (Hebrew; Megillah)). Other translations:

The angels of heaven wanted to sing the usual song, and the Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: My creatures are drowning in the sea, and you want to sing songs!
[tr. Rodkinson / Wise (1896); Megillah 10b]

At that time the angels wanted to sing their song before the Holy One, blessed be He, but He said to them: my creatures are sinking into the sea, and ye want to sing."
[tr. Rodkinson / Wise (1896); Sanhedrin 39b]

When the Egyptian hosts were drowning in the Red Sea, the angels in heaven were about to break forth in songs of jubilation. But the Holy One, blessed be He, silenced them with the words: "My creatures are perishing, and ye are ready to sing!"
[tr. Hertz (1921)]

When the Egyptians were drowning in the Red Sea, the angels in Heaven were about to break forth in songs of jubiliation. God silenced them with the words, My creatures are perishing, and ye are ready to sing!
[tr. Hertz (1935)]

When the Egyptians were drowning, the angels wished to sing. But God said, "My children are dying, and you would sing?"
[comp. Newman (1945); Megillah 10b]

The ministering angels sought to recite a song, [but] the Holy One, Blessed Be He said: The work of My hands is drowning in the sea, and you are reciting a song???
[tr. Steinsaltz (2010), Willam Davidson Talmud; Megillah 10b]

At that time the ministering angels desired to recite a song before the Holy One, Blessed be He. The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to them: My handiwork, i.e., the Egyptians, are drowning in the sea, and you are reciting a song before Me?
[tr. Steinsaltz (2010), Willam Davidson Talmud; Sanhedrin 39b]

The ministering angels wanted to chant their hymns, but the Holy One, blessed be He, said, The work of my hands is being drowned in the sea, and shall you chant hymns?
[Source; Megillah 10b]

In that hour the ministering angels wished to utter the song [of praise] before the Holy One, blessed be He, but He rebuked them, saying: My handiwork [the Egyptians] is drowning in the sea; would ye utter song before me!
[Source; Sanhedrin 39b]

The ministering angels wanted to sing their song, for the angels would sing songs to each other, as it states: “And they called out to each other and said”, but the Holy One, Blessed be He, said: The work of My hands, the Egyptians, are drowning at sea, and you wish to say songs?
[Koren Talmud Bavli; Megillah 10b]

At that time the ministering angels desired to recite a song before the Holy One, Blessed be He. The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to them: My handiwork, i.e., the Egyptians, are drowning in the sea, and you are reciting a song before Me?
[Koren Talmud Bavli; Sanhedrin 39b]