WIST Quotations

Harris, Thomas -- The Silence of the Lambs, film (1990) [with Ted Tally]

Dave — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 15:21:16 +0000

A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.

Thomas Harris (b. 1940) American writer
The Silence of the Lambs, film (1990) [with Ted Tally]
(Source)

(Source (Video); dialog verified). As spoken by Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lector.

Tally modified the lines Harris wrote in his 1988 novel, which in ch. 3 read: "A census taker tried to quantify me once. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a big Amarone."

Emerson, Ralph Waldo -- Journal (1841-02-12)

Dave — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 16:12:14 +0000

In the Feejee islands, it appears, cannibalism is now familiar. They eat their own wives and children. We only devour widows’ houses, & great merchants outwit & absorb the substance of small ones and every man feeds on his neighbor’s labor if he can. It is a milder form of cannibalism.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American essayist, lecturer, poet
Journal (1841-02-12)
(Source)

Bierce, Ambrose -- San Francisco News-Letter, “Town Crier” column (c. 1870)

Dave — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 19:03:31 +0000

The fact that boys are allowed to exist at all is evidence of remarkable Christian forbearance among men — were it not for a mawkish humanitarianism, coupled with imperfect digestive powers, we should devour our young, as Nature intended.

Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914?) American writer and journalist
San Francisco News-Letter, “Town Crier” column (c. 1870)