WIST Quotations

Leadbeater, C. W. -- The Masters and the Path, ch. 14 (1925)

Dave — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:16:33 +0000

Sometimes people grieve when they find old age coming upon them, when they find their vehicles not so strong as they used to be. They desire the strength and the faculties that they once had. It is wise for them to repress that desire, to realize that their bodies have done good work, and if they can no longer do the same amount as of yore, they should do gently and peacefully what they can, but not worry themselves over the change. Presently they will have new bodies; and the way to ensure a good vehicle is to make such use as one can of the old one, but in any case to be serene and calm and unruffled. The only way to do that is to forget self, to let all selfish desires cease, and to turn the thought outward to the helping of others as far as one’s capabilities go.

C. W. Leadbeater (1846-1934) English clergyman, theosophist, author [Charles Webster Leadbeater]
The Masters and the Path, ch. 14 (1925)
(Source)

Bulwer-Lytton, Edward George -- The Disowned, ch. 2 [Talbot] (1828)

Dave — Wed, 22 May 2024 15:53:28 +0000

Never get a reputation for a small perfection, if you are trying for fame in a loftier area; the world can only judge by generals, and it sees that those who pay considerable attention to minutiæ, seldom have their minds occupied with great things. There are, it is true, exceptions; but to exceptions the world does not attend.

Edward George Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873) English novelist and politician
The Disowned, ch. 2 [Talbot] (1828)
(Source)

See La Rochefoucauld.

La Rochefoucauld, Francois -- Réflexions ou sentences et maximes morales [Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims], ¶41 (1665-1678) [tr. Kronenberger (1959)]

Dave — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 23:49:16 +0000

People who are too much concerned with little things usually become incapable of big ones.

[Ceux qui s’appliquent trop aux petites choses deviennent ordinairement incapables des grandes.]

François VI, duc de La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680) French epigrammatist, memoirist, noble
Réflexions ou sentences et maximes morales [Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims], ¶41 (1665-1678) [tr. Kronenberger (1959)]
(Source)

Present from the 1665 edition. See here for more discussion (English).

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

They that use to employ their minds too much upon Trifles, commonly make themselves incapable of any thing that is serious or great.
[tr. Stanhope (1694), ¶42]

Those who apply themselves too much to little things, commonly become incapable of great ones.
[pub. Donaldson (1783), ¶38; ed. Lepoittevin-Lacroix (1797), ¶41]]

Those who apply themselves much to little things, commonly become incapable of great ones.
[ed. Carville (1835), ¶35]

Those who bestow too much application on trifling things, become generally incapable of great ones.
[ed. Gowens (1851), ¶42]

Those who apply themselves too closely to little things often become incapable of great things.
[tr. Bund/Friswell (1871)]

Undue attention to details tends to unfit us for greater enterprises.
[tr. Heard (1917)]

Too close attention to trifles generally breeds incapacity in matters of moment.
[tr. Stevens (1939)]

Men too involved in details usually become unable to deal with great matters.
[tr. FitzGibbon (1957)]

People too much taken up with little things usually become incapable of big ones.
[tr. Tancock (1959)]

Those who apply themselves too much to little things, ordinarily become incapable of great ones.
[tr. Whichello (2016)]

Gould, Stephen Jay -- Dinosaur in a Haystack: Reflections in Natural History, Part 5, ch. 18 “Cabinet Museums: Alive, Alive, O!” (1995)

Dave — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 17:27:35 +0000

Elitism is repulsive when based upon external and artificial limitations like race, gender, or social class. Repulsive and utterly false — for that spark of genius is randomly distributed across all cruel barriers of our social prejudice. We therefore must grant access — and encouragement — to everyone; and must be increasingly vigilant, and tirelessly attentive, in providing such opportunities to all children. We will have no justice until this kind of equality can be attained. But if only a small minority respond, and these are our best and brightest of all races, classes, and genders, shall we deny them the pinnacle of their soul’s striving because all their colleagues prefer passivity and flashing lights? Let them lift their eyes to hills of books, and at least a few museums that display the full magic of nature’s variety. What is wrong with this truly democratic form of elitism?

Stephen Jay Gould (1941-2002) American paleontologist, geologist, biologist
Dinosaur in a Haystack: Reflections in Natural History, Part 5, ch. 18 “Cabinet Museums: Alive, Alive, O!” (1995)
(Source)

Schulz, Charles -- Peanuts [Linus] (1981-05-29)

Dave — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 15:54:13 +0000

Life is like a ten-speed bicycle. Most of us have gears that we never use.

Charles Schulz (1922-2000) American cartoonist
Peanuts [Linus] (1981-05-29)
(Source)

The phrase was also used as the title in a Peanuts collection of Linus' wisdom, Life Is Like A Ten-Speed Bicycle (1997), which included this strip.

Bierce, Ambrose -- “Age,” The Cynic’s Word Book (1906)

Dave — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 20:35:20 +0000

AGE, n. That period of life in which we compound for the vices that we still cherish by reviling those that we have no longer the enterprise to commit.

Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914?) American writer and journalist
“Age,” The Cynic’s Word Book (1906)
(Source)

Included in The Devil's Dictionary (1911).

Originally published in the "Devil's Dictionary" column in the San Francisco Wasp (1881-02-12).

Virgil -- Eclogues [Eclogae, Bucolics, Pastorals], No. 8 “Pharmaceutria,” l. 63 (8.63) (42-38 BC) [tr. Mackail (1899)]

Dave — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 19:09:50 +0000

We cannot all do everything.

[Non omnia possumus omnes.]

Virgil (70-19 BC) Roman poet [b. Publius Vergilius Maro; also Vergil]
Eclogues [Eclogae, Bucolics, Pastorals], No. 8 “Pharmaceutria,” l. 63 (8.63) (42-38 BC) [tr. Mackail (1899)]
(Source)

Invoking the Pierian Muses to finish the tale, after the singer has given the first half.

(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:

All cannot all things do.
[tr. Ogilby (1649)]

We cannot all do all things.
[tr. Davidson (1854), Wilkins (1873), Greenough (1895), Day Lewis (1963), @sentantiq (2018)]

Scarce may all do everything.
[tr. Calverley (c. 1871)]

We are not equal all
To every theme.
[tr. Palmer (1883)]

All things are not possible to all.
[tr. Bryce (1897)]

We cannot all do everything.
[tr. Fairclough (Loeb) (1916)]

We are not all sufficient for all things.
[tr. Mackail/Cardew (1908)]

No single singer touches all the chords.
[tr. Williams (1915)]

We cannot all succeed in every task.
[tr. Rieu (1949)]

For none of us all is skilful in all things.
[tr. Johnson (1960)]

We are not all capable of all things.
[tr. Kline (2001)]

Meaker, Marijane -- Gentlehands, ch. 13 [Grandpa Trenker] (1978) [as M. E. Kerr]

Dave — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 14:54:14 +0000

Whatever a man’s confidence, that’s his capacity.

Marijane Meaker (1927-2022) American writer (pen names: Vin Packer, Ann Aldrich, M. E. Kerr)
Gentlehands, ch. 13 [Grandpa Trenker] (1978) [as M. E. Kerr]

Child, Lydia Maria -- Letter to John Fraser (1868)

Dave — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 20:10:48 +0000

All who strive to live for something beyond mere selfish aims find their capacities for doing good very inadequate to their aspirations. They do so much less than they want to do, and so much less than they, at the outset, expected to do, that their lives, viewed retrospectively, inevitably look like failure.

Lydia Maria Child (1802-1880) American abolitionist, activist, journalist, suffragist
Letter to John Fraser (1868)
(Source)

Goodall, Jane -- “The Power of One,” Time Magazine (26 Aug 2002)

Dave — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 17:47:53 +0000

The greatest danger to our future is apathy. We cannot expect those living in poverty and ignorance to worry about saving the world. For those of us able to read this magazine, it is different. We can do something to preserve our planet.

Jane Goodall (b. 1934) English primatologist and anthropologist
“The Power of One,” Time Magazine (26 Aug 2002)
(Source)

Richardson, James -- Vectors: Aphorisms and Ten-Second Essays #124 (2001)

Dave — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 14:33:37 +0000

There are crimes I don’t commit mainly because I don’t want to find out I could.

James Richardson (b. 1950) American poet
Vectors: Aphorisms and Ten-Second Essays #124 (2001)
(Source)

Filkins, Dexter -- “The Moral Logic of Humanitarian Intervention,” New Yorker (16 Sep 2019)

Dave — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 20:37:22 +0000

The moral case for intervention is only as strong as the practicality of the mission itself. There is no moral case for doing something you’re not capable of doing.

Dexter Filkins (b. 1961) American journalist
“The Moral Logic of Humanitarian Intervention,” New Yorker (16 Sep 2019)
(Source)

Friedan, Betty -- The Feminine Mystique (1963)

Dave — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 18:16:39 +0000

To do the work that you are capable of doing is the mark of maturity.

Betty Friedan (1921-2006) American writer, feminist, activist
The Feminine Mystique (1963)
(Source)

Vauvenargues, Luc de -- Reflections and Maxims [Réflexions et maximes], #562 [tr. Stevens] (1746)

Dave — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 14:50:08 +0000

The greatest evil which fortune can inflict on men is to endow them with small talents and great ambition.

Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues (1715-1747) French moralist, essayist, soldier
Reflections and Maxims [Réflexions et maximes], #562 [tr. Stevens] (1746)
(Source)

Einstein, Albert -- (Spurious)

Dave — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 22:32:24 +0000

Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.

Albert Einstein (1879-1955) German-American physicist
(Spurious)

For more discussion about this quote: Quote Origin: Everybody is a Genius. But If You Judge a Fish by Its Ability to Climb a Tree, It Will Live Its Whole Life Believing that It is Stupid – Quote Investigator®.

Verne, Jules -- A Floating City, ch. 8 (1871)

Dave — Sat, 03 Sep 2016 01:21:37 +0000

Everything is possible for an eccentric, especially when he is English.

Jules Verne (1828-1905) French novelist, poet, playwright
A Floating City, ch. 8 (1871)
(Source)

Richardson, James -- Vectors: Aphorisms and Ten-Second Essays (2001)

Dave — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 13:43:38 +0000

Back then I wanted to be right about my estimate of my abilities. Now I want to be wrong.

James Richardson (b. 1950) American poet
Vectors: Aphorisms and Ten-Second Essays (2001)

Swift, Jonathan -- “Thoughts on Various Subjects” (1706)

Dave — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 14:12:42 +0000

Although men are accused of not knowing their own weakness, yet perhaps as few know their own strength. It is in men as in soils, where sometimes there is a vein of gold, which the owner knows not of.

Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) English writer and churchman
“Thoughts on Various Subjects” (1706)
(Source)

Eliot, T. S. -- (Attributed)

Dave — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 15:24:25 +0000

If you aren’t in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?

T. S. Eliot (1888-1965) American-British poet, critic, playwright [Thomas Stearns Eliot]
(Attributed)

Estienne, Henri -- Les Prémices, ou Le I livre Des Proverbes epigrammatizez [The First Fruits, or the First Book of Epigrammatized Proverbs], ch. 4, ep. 4 (1594)

Dave — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:59:50 +0000

If youth knew; if age could.

[O si jeunesse scavoit,
O si vieillesse pouvoit.]

Henri Estienne (1528 or 1531-1598) French printer and classical scholar [a.k.a. Henricus Stephanus]
Les Prémices, ou Le I livre Des Proverbes epigrammatizez [The First Fruits, or the First Book of Epigrammatized Proverbs], ch. 4, ep. 4 (1594)
(Source)

Variants:

If youth only knew; if only age could.
If youth knew; if age could.
If only youth knew; if only age could.

Shaw, George Bernard -- Man and Superman, “Maxims for Revolutionists,” “Education” (1903)

Dave — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:14:56 +0000

He who can, does. He who cannot, teaches.

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Irish playwright and critic
Man and Superman, “Maxims for Revolutionists,” “Education” (1903)
(Source)

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth -- Kavanagh: A Tale, ch. 1 (1849)

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

We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) American poet
Kavanagh: A Tale, ch. 1 (1849)
(Source)

Marcus Aurelius -- Meditations [To Himself; Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν], Book 6, ch. 19 (6.19) (AD 161-180) [tr. Hard (2011 ed.)]

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

Do not suppose that if you personally find that something is hard to achieve, it is therefore beyond human capacity; rather, if something is possible and appropriate for human beings, assume that it must also be within your own reach.

[Μή, εἴ τι αὐτῷ σοὶ δυσκαταπόνητον, τοῦτο ἀνθρώπῳ ἀδύνατον ὑπολαμβάνειν, ἀλλ̓ εἴ τι ἀνθρώπῳ δυνατὸν καὶ οἰκεῖον, τοῦτο καὶ σεαυτῷ ἐφικτὸν νόμιζε.]

Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) Roman emperor (161-180), Stoic philosopher
Meditations [To Himself; Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν], Book 6, ch. 19 (6.19) (AD 161-180) [tr. Hard (2011 ed.)]
(Source)

(Source (Greek)). Alternate translations:

Do not ever conceive anything impossible to man, which by thee cannot, or not without much difficulty be effected; but whatsoever in general thou canst Conceive possible and proper unto any man, think that very possible unto thee also.
[tr. Casaubon (1634), 6.18]

Because you find a Thing very difficult, don't presently conclude that no Man can master it. But whatever you observe proper, and practicable by Another, believe likewise within your own power.
[tr. Collier (1701)]

If any thing seems exceedingly difficult for you to accomplish, don’t conclude it to be impossible to all men: but rather, if you see any thing possible to man, and a part of his proper work, conclude that you also may attain to it.
[tr. Hutcheson/Moor (1742)]

Do not conclude, because you find a thing difficult, that therefore it is beyond the power of man to perform. But, whatever you see practicable by other men, if it be proper to be done, be assured it is in your power to perform.
[tr. Graves (1792), 6.18]

If a thing is difficult to be accomplished by thyself, do not think that it is impossible for man: but if anything is possible for man and conformable to his nature, think that this can be attained by thyself too.
[tr. Long (1862)]

Because you find a thing very difficult, do not at once conclude that no man can master it. But whatever you observe proper and practicable by another, believe likewise within your power.
[tr. Collier/Zimmern (1887)]

Do not think that what is hard for thee to master is impossible for man; but if a thing is possible and proper to man, deem it attainable by thee.
[tr. Morgan (1894)]

Because your own strength is unequal to the task, do not assume that it is beyond the powers of man; but if anything is within the powers and province of man, believe that it is within your own compass also.
[tr. Rendall (1898)]

If a thing seems to you very difficult to accomplish, conclude not that it is beyond human power. But, if you see that anything is within man’s power, and part of his proper work, conclude that you also may attain to it.
[tr. Hutcheson/Chrystal (1902)]

Because thou findest a thing difficult for thyself to accomplish do not conceive it to be impracticable for others; but whatever is possible for a man and in keeping with his nature consider also attainable by thyself.
[tr. Haines (Loeb) (1916)]

Do not because a thing is hard for you yourself to accomplish, imagine that it is humanly impossible: but if a thing is humanly possible and appropriate, consider it also to be within your own reach.
[tr. Farquharson (1944)]

Because a thing is difficult for you, do not therefore suppose it to be beyond mortal power. On the contrary, if anything is possible and proper for men to do, assume that it must fall within your own capacity.
[tr. Staniforth (1964)]

Do not suppose that, if you find something hard to achieve, it is beyond human capacity; rather, if something is possible and appropriate for man, assume that it must also be within your own reach.
[tr. Hard (1997 ed.)]

Not to assume it's impossible because you find it hard. But to recognize that if it's humanly possible, you can do it too.
[tr. Hays (2003)]

Do not imagine that, if something is hard for you to achieve, it is therefore impossible for any man: but rather consider anything that is humanly possible and appropriate to lie within your own reach too.
[tr. Hammond (2006)]

If something is difficult for you to accomplish, do not then think it impossible for any human being; rather, if it is humanly possible and corresponds to human nature, know that it is attainable by you as well.
[tr. Needleman/Piazza (2008)]

If something is exceedingly hard for you to do, don’t suppose that it is impossible for a human, but if it is something possible and suitable for a human, think that it is within your power as well.
[tr. @aleator (2012)]

If something is hard for you to achieve, do not suppose that it is beyond human capacity; rather, if something is possible and suitable for human beings, consider that it is within your reach too.
[tr. Gill (2013)]

Roosevelt, Theodore -- Autobiography, ch. 9 “Outdoors and Indoors” (1913)

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

Do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are.

Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American politician, statesman, conservationist, writer, US President (1901–1909)
Autobiography, ch. 9 “Outdoors and Indoors” (1913)
(Source)

Variants:

"Do what you can where you are with what you've got."
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."

Roosevelt in turn labels it as "a bit of homely philosophy, quoted by Squire Bill Widener, of Widener's Valley, Virginia, which sums up one's duty in life," but the quote is usually attributed to Roosevelt.

Butler, Samuel -- The Note-Books of Samuel Butler (1912)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 19:00:00 +0000

If we attend continually and promptly to the little that we can do, we shall ere long be surprised to find how little remains that we cannot do.

Samuel Butler (1835-1902) English novelist, satirist, scholar
The Note-Books of Samuel Butler (1912)