WIST Quotations

Watterson, Bill -- Calvin and Hobbes (1993-01-02)

Dave — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 21:36:41 +0000

CALVIN: I’ve decided to stop caring about things. If you care, you just get disappointed all the time. If you don’t care, nothing matters, so you’re never upset. From now on, my rallying cry is, “So what?!”

HOBBES: That’s a tough cry to rally around.

CALVIN: So what?!

Bill Watterson (b. 1958) American cartoonist
Calvin and Hobbes (1993-01-02)

Schweitzer, Albert -- Speech (1935-12-03), Silcoates School, Wakefield, England

Dave — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 18:21:38 +0000

And when I answer such letters I add something else: “Seek a humble sort of thing.” Our hearts often look for something very big, something wanting a lot of sacrifice, and often our heart does not see the humble things. At first you must learn to do the humble things and often they are the most difficult to do.
In those humble things, be busy about helping someone who has need of you. You see somebody alone — try and be with him, try to give him some of the hours which you might take for yourself and in that way learn to serve: and then only will you begin to find true happiness.
I don’t know what your destiny will be. Some of you will perhaps occupy remarkable positions. Perhaps some of you will become famous by your pens, or as artists. But I know one thing: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.

Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) Alsatian philosopher, physician, philanthropist, polymath
Speech (1935-12-03), Silcoates School, Wakefield, England

Speaking of when he receives letters from people asking how to find a worthwhile cause to pursue. Translated from French by his interpreter.

Recorded in The Silcoatian, No. 25 (1935-12).

Often paraphrased down to: "Those of you who will be truly happy are those who have sought, and found, how to serve."

Franklin, Benjamin -- Poor Richard (1739 ed.)

Dave — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 15:21:29 +0000

Kings and Bears often worry their Keepers.

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1739 ed.)

Orwell, George -- Essay (1939), “Charles Dickens,” sec. 6, Inside the Whale (1940-03-11)

Dave — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 17:45:15 +0000

The thing that drove Dickens forward into a form of art for which he was not really suited, and at the same time caused us to remember him, was simply the fact that he was a moralist, the consciousness of “having something to say.” He is always preaching a sermon, and that is the final secret of his inventiveness. For you can only create if you can care.

George Orwell (1903–1950) English journalist, essayist, writer [pseud. of Eric Arthur Blair]
Essay (1939), “Charles Dickens,” sec. 6, Inside the Whale (1940-03-11)

Kennedy, John F. -- “Special Message to the Congress on the Needs of the Nation’s Senior Citizens” (1963-02-21)

Dave — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 16:20:37 +0000

This increase in the life span and in the number of our senior citizens presents this Nation with increased opportunities: the opportunity to draw upon their skill and sagacity — and the opportunity to provide the respect and recognition they have earned. It is not enough for a great nation merely to have added new years to life — our objective must also be to add new life to those years.

John F. Kennedy (1917–1963) American politician, author, journalist, US President (1961–63)
“Special Message to the Congress on the Needs of the Nation’s Senior Citizens” (1963-02-21)

Silverman, Sarah -- The Daily Show (15 Feb 2023)

Dave — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 18:48:50 +0000

I think we’re just communicating wrong, because, like, what I know “woke” to mean is, like, learning new things about people or the world, and then acting accordingly. Like, basic kindness. Maybe a gesture of care to people who are more vulnerable than you. You know what, actually, you wouldn’t like it. It’s Jesus stuff.

Sarah Silverman (b. 1970) American stand-up comedian, actress, writer
The Daily Show (15 Feb 2023)

Viorst, Judith -- Yes, Married (1972)

Dave — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 18:07:44 +0000

Not listening is probably the commonest unkindness of married life, and one that creates — more devastatingly than an eternity of forgotten birthdays and misguided Christmas gifts — an atmosphere of not loving and not caring.

Judith Viorst (b. 1931) American writer, journalist, psychoanalysis researcher
Yes, Married (1972)

Shain, Merle -- Some Men are More Perfect Than Others (1973)

Dave — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 17:22:19 +0000

Loving can cost a lot but not loving always costs more, and those who fear to love often find that want of love is an emptiness that robs the joy from life.

Merle Shain (1935–1989) Canadian journalist and author
Some Men are More Perfect Than Others (1973)

In When Lovers Are Friends (1978), Shain wrote it as "Caring can cost a lot, but not caring always costs more."

Roosevelt, Eleanor -- Eleanor Roosevelt’s Book of Common Sense Etiquette, ch. 2 (1962)

Dave — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 19:57:14 +0000

Too many of us stay walled up because we are afraid of being hurt. We are afraid to care too much, for fear that the other person does not care at all.

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American politician, diplomat, activist; First Lady of the US (1933–45)
Eleanor Roosevelt’s Book of Common Sense Etiquette, ch. 2 (1962)

De Vries, Peter -- Let Me Count the Ways (1965)

Dave — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 21:20:56 +0000

We’re here to use our intelligence, yes, but that ain’t everything. It’s our duty to see through things, but also to see things through. Or I’ll put it another way. We’re not primarily put on this earth to see through one another, but to see one another through.

Peter De Vries (1910–1993) American editor, novelist, satirist
Let Me Count the Ways (1965)

Christie, Agatha -- Sad Cypress, ch. 2 (1940)

Dave — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 18:45:44 +0000

To care passionately for another human creature brings always more sorrow than joy; but all the same … one would not be without that experience. Anyone who has never really loved has never really lived.

Agatha Christie (1890–1976) English writer
Sad Cypress, ch. 2 (1940)

Brown, Rita Mae -- Bingo, ch. 38 (1988)

Dave — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 18:32:21 +0000

People who care for you inevitably become beautiful.

Rita Mae Brown (b. 1944) American author, playwright
Bingo, ch. 38 (1988)

Angelou, Maya -- In Jeffrey M. Elliot, “Maya Angelou Raps,” Sepia (Oct 1977)

Dave — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 18:00:10 +0000

One must learn to care for oneself first, so that one can then dare to care for someone else. That’s what it takes to make the caged bird sing.

Maya Angelou (1928–2014) American poet, memoirist, activist [b. Marguerite Ann Johnson]
In Jeffrey M. Elliot, “Maya Angelou Raps,” Sepia (Oct 1977)

Keller, Helen -- “Try Democracy,” The Home Magazine, Vol. 11, # 4 (Apr 1935)

Dave — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 01:21:20 +0000

The test of a democracy is not the magnificence of buildings or the speed of automobiles or the efficiency of air transportation, but rather the care given to the welfare of all the people.

Helen Keller (1880–1968) American author and lecturer
“Try Democracy,” The Home Magazine, Vol. 11, # 4 (Apr 1935)

Brault, Robert -- (Attributed)

Dave — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 14:50:30 +0000

To find someone who will love you for no reason, and to shower that person with reasons, that is the ultimate happiness.

Robert Brault (b. c. 1945) American aphorist, programmer
(Attributed)

Drucker, Peter F. -- (Attributed)

Dave — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 21:52:01 +0000

Never push loyal people to the point where they don’t give a damn.

Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
(Attributed)

A close variant, sometimes identified with Drucker: "Never push a loyal person to the point where they no longer care."

Gervais, Ricky -- Interview with Chris Heath, GQ (15 May 2013)

Dave — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 03:44:57 +0000

GERVAIS: Whenever I do a thing about animals, there’s always someone that goes, “What about children dying in Syria?” Yeah, that’s bad, too — can’t we care about both? Sometimes I go, “You carry on all your good work for the fucking children in Syria, and I’ll do this.” I love the fact that there’s a hierarchy of things that you’ve got to care about. I tweeted “I love humans — they’re just not my favorite animal.” That was to annoy people.

GQ: True, though?

GERVAIS: No, I’m not a maniac. Of course humans are my favorite animal. [pauses] But I’ve never met an animal who was a cunt.

Ricky Gervais (b. 1961) English comedian, actor, director, writer
Interview with Chris Heath, GQ (15 May 2013)

Marquis, Don -- Prefaces, “Preface to a Memorandum Book” (1919)

Dave — Tue, 03 May 2016 20:34:13 +0000

There is nothing we like to see so much as the gleam of pleasure in a person’s eye when he feels that we have sympathized with him, understood him, interested ourself in his welfare. At these moments something fine and spiritual passes between two friends. These moments are the moments worth living.

Don Marquis (1878–1937) American journalist and humorist
Prefaces, “Preface to a Memorandum Book” (1919)

Pope, Alexander -- “Elegy to an Unfortunate Lady”, l. 45 (1717)

Dave — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 21:45:57 +0000

So perish all whose breast ne’er learned to glow
For others’ good, or melt at others’ woe!

Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English poet
“Elegy to an Unfortunate Lady”, l. 45 (1717)

Seuss, Dr. -- The Lorax (1971)

Dave — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 13:48:52 +0000

Unless someone like you
cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better.
It’s not.

Dr. Seuss (1904–1991) American author, illustrator [pseud. of Theodor Geisel]
The Lorax (1971)

Nouwen, Henri -- Out of Solitude (1974)

Dave — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 13:03:39 +0000

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.

Henri Nouwen (1932–1996) Dutch Catholic priest and writer
Out of Solitude (1974)

Buscaglia, Leo -- Born For Love: Reflections on Loving (1992)

Dave — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 19:55:25 +0000

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

Leo Buscaglia (1925–1998) American psychologist, writer
Born For Love: Reflections on Loving (1992)

Cuomo, Mario -- Keynote Address, Democratic National Convention (16 Jul 1984)

Dave — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 16:43:35 +0000

We believe we must be the family of America, recognizing that at the heart of the matter we are bound one to another, that the problems of a retired school teacher in Duluth are our problems; that the future of the child in Buffalo is our future; that the struggle of a disabled man in Boston to survive and live decently is our struggle; that the hunger of a woman in Little Rock is our hunger; that the failure anywhere to provide what reasonably we might, to avoid pain, is our failure.

Mario Cuomo (1932–2015) American politician
Keynote Address, Democratic National Convention (16 Jul 1984)

Updike, John -- Picked-Up Pieces, Foreward (1966)

Dave — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 15:02:28 +0000

Creativity is merely a plus name for regular activity; the ditchdigger, dentist, and artist go about their tasks in much the same way, and any activity becomes creative when the doer cares about doing it right, or better.

John Updike (1932–2009) American writer
Picked-Up Pieces, Foreward (1966)

Butcher, Jim -- Small Favor (2008)

Dave — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 13:36:52 +0000

Caring about someone isn’t complicated. It isn’t easy. But it isn’t complicated, either. Kinda like lifting the engine block out of a car.

Jim Butcher (b. 1971) American author
Small Favor (2008)

Heschel, Abraham -- (Attributed)

Dave — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 12:47:29 +0000

When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.

Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907–1972) Polish-American rabbi, theologian, philosopher
(Attributed)

Quoted by his student, Harold S. Kushner, in When All You've Ever Wanted Isn't Enough, ch. 3 (1986). Also attributed (without citation) to Milton Steinberg and Oscar Wilde.

Variants:

"When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am older, I admire kind people."
"When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people; as I grow older, I admire kind people."

Stevenson, Robert Louis -- Essay (1877-02), “On Falling in Love,” Cornhill Magazine, Vol. 35

Dave — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:21:29 +0000

For the essence of love is kindness.

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Essay (1877-02), “On Falling in Love,” Cornhill Magazine, Vol. 35

Collected as "Virginibus Puerisque, Part 3" in Virginibus Puerisque and Other Papers, ch. 1 (1881)

Russell, Bertrand -- Autobiography, Vol. 3: 1944-1969, “Postscript” (1969)

Dave — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:34:55 +0000

I have lived in the pursuit of a vision, both personal and social. Personal: to care for what is noble, for what is beautiful, for what is gentle; to allow moments of insight to give wisdom at more mundane times. Social: to see in imagination the society that is to be created, where individuals grow freely, and where hate and greed and envy die because there is nothing to nourish them. These things I believe, and the world, for all its horrors, has left me unshaken.

Bertrand Russell (1872–1970) English mathematician and philosopher
Autobiography, Vol. 3: 1944-1969, “Postscript” (1969)

Final words of the book.

Augustine of Hippo -- Homilies on the 1st Epistle of John Tractatus in epistulam Ioannis ad Parthos], Homily 7 [tr. Browne (1888)]

Dave — Fri, 23 May 2008 11:54:08 +0000

Once for all, then, a short precept is given thee: Love, and do what thou wilt: whether thou hold thy peace, through love hold thy peace; whether thou cry out, through love cry out; whether thou correct, through love correct; whether thou spare, through love do thou spare: let the root of love be within, of this root can nothing spring but what is good.

Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Christian church father, philosopher, saint [b. Aurelius Augustinus]
Homilies on the 1st Epistle of John Tractatus in epistulam Ioannis ad Parthos], Homily 7 [tr. Browne (1888)]

Sermon on 1 John 4:4-12. "Love, and do what thou wilt" - Latin dilige et quod vis fac. Sometimes incorrectly given as "ama et fac quod vis." Another translation: "Love and then what you will, do." [tr. Fletcher]

Coffin, William Sloane -- Credo, “Faith, Hope, Love” (2004)

Dave — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:35:14 +0000

We don’t have to be “successful,” only valuable. We don’t have to make money, only a difference, and particularly in the lives society counts least and puts last.

William Sloane Coffin, Jr. (1924–2006) American minister, social activist
Credo, “Faith, Hope, Love” (2004)

Confucius -- The Analects [論語, 论语, Lúnyǔ], Book 11, verse 12 (11.12) (6th C. BC – AD 3rd C.) [tr. Lau (1979)]

Dave — Wed, 12 May 2004 19:02:50 +0000

Chi-lu asked how the spirits of the dead and the gods should be served. The Master said, “You are not able even to serve man. How can you serve the spirits?”

[季路問事鬼神。子曰、未能事人、焉能事鬼。]

Confucius (c. 551- c. 479 BC) Chinese philosopher, sage, politician [孔夫子 (Kǒng Fūzǐ, K'ung Fu-tzu, K'ung Fu Tse), 孔子 (Kǒngzǐ, Chungni), 孔丘 (Kǒng Qiū, K'ung Ch'iu)]
The Analects [論語, 论语, Lúnyǔ], Book 11, verse 12 (11.12) (6th C. BC – AD 3rd C.) [tr. Lau (1979)]

Brooks (below) suggests that this passage was interpolated into Book 11 around the time of Book 16. This analect was originally numbered 11.11 by Legge and other early translators (as noted below). (Source (Chinese)). Other translations:

Chi Lu asked about serving the spirits of the dead. The Master said, "While you are not able to serve men, how can you serve their spirits?"
[tr. Legge (1861), 11.11]

Tszlu propounded a question about ministering to the spirits ((of the departed). The Master replied, "Where there is scarcely the ability to minister to living men, how shall there be ability to minister to the spirits?"
[tr. Jennings (1895), 11.11]

A disciple (the intrepid Chung Yu) enquired how one should behave towards the spirits of dead men. Confucius answered, "We cannot as yet do our duties to living men; why should we enquire about our duties to dead men?"
[tr. Ku Hung-Ming (1898), 11.11]

When Chi Lu asked about his duty to the spirits the Master replied: "While still unable to do your duty to the living, how can you do your duty to the dead?"
[tr. Soothill (1910), 11.11]

Chi Lu asked about the service for ghosts and spirits. Confucius said, You cannot be useful to the living, how can you be useful to (serve) ghosts?
[tr. Pound (1933), 11.11]

Tsu-lu asked how one should serve ghosts and spirits. The master said, Till you have learnt to serve men, how can you serve ghosts?
[tr. Waley (1938), 11.11]

You can’t treat spirits and divinities properly before you are able to treat your fellow men properly.
[tr. Ware (1950)]

Zilu asked about serving ghosts and spirits. The Master said: "If one is not yet capable of serving men, how can one serve ghosts?"
[tr. Dawson (1993)]

Zilu asked how to serve the spirits and gods. The Master said: "You are not yet able to serve men, how could you serve the spirits?"
[tr. Leys (1997)]

When Ji-lu asked how to serve the spirits and gods, the Master said, "You cannot serve men yet; how can you serve the spirits?"
[tr. Huang (1997)]

Jilu asked how to service the gods, Confucius said: "One could not service the human beings yet, how could one service the gods?"
[tr. Cai/Yu (1998), #272]

Zilu asked how to serve the spirits and the gods. The master replied, "Not yet being able to serve other people, how would you be able to serve the spirits?"
[tr. Ames/Rosemont (1998)]

Jì-Lì asked about serving ghosts and spirits. The Master said, You cannot yet serve men, how could you serve ghosts?
[tr. Brooks/Brooks (1998)]

When Adept Lu asked about serving ghosts and spirits, the Master said, "You haven't learned to serve the living, so how could you serve ghosts?"
[tr. Hinton (1998)]

Zilu asked about serving ghosts and spirits. The Master said, “You are not yet able to serve people -- how could you be able to serve ghosts and spirits?”
[tr. Slingerland (2003)]

Jilu asked how one should serve the gods and spirits. The Master said, "When you don't yet know how to serve human beings, how can you serve the spirits?"
[tr. Watson (2007)]

Jilu [Zilu] asked about how to serve the spirits of the dead and the gods. The Master said, "You can't even serve men properly, how can you serve the spirits?"
[tr. Annping Chin (2014)]

Ji Lu asked about how to serve and worship gods and spirits. Confucius said, "You still have not served men well. Why do you bother serving gods and spirits?"
[tr. Li (2020)]

If you don't know how to serve men, why worry about serving the gods?
[Common translation]

Mead, Margaret -- (Attributed)

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

One of the oldest human needs is having someone to wonder where you are when you don’t come home at night.

Margaret Mead (1901–1978) American anthropologist
(Attributed)

Sometimes given "Having someone wonder where you are when you don't come home at night is a very old human need."