WIST Quotations

Dickinson, Emily -- Poem #1509 (c. 1881)

Dave — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 00:47:40 +0000

Anger as soon as fed is dead —
‘Tis starving makes it fat.

Emily Dickinson (1830–1886) American poet
Poem #1509 (c. 1881)

Brothers, Joyce -- “When Your Husband’s Affection Cools,” Good Housekeeping (May 1972)

Dave — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 14:10:50 +0000

Anger repressed can poison a relationship as surely as the cruelest words.

Joyce Brothers (1927–2013) American psychologist, television personality, advice columnist
“When Your Husband’s Affection Cools,” Good Housekeeping (May 1972)

Beecher, Henry Ward -- Proverbs from Plymouth Pulpit, “Man” (1887)

Dave — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 15:24:26 +0000

A man who cannot get angry is like a stream that cannot overflow, that is always turbid. Sometimes indignation is as good as a thunder-storm in summer, clearing and cooling the air.

Henry Ward Beecher (1813–1887) American clergyman and orator
Proverbs from Plymouth Pulpit, “Man” (1887)

Angelou, Maya -- In Mary Chamberlain, ed., Writing Lives: Conversations Between Women Writers (1988)

Dave — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 18:26:50 +0000

Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns all clean.

Maya Angelou (1928–2014) American poet, memoirist, activist [b. Marguerite Ann Johnson]
In Mary Chamberlain, ed., Writing Lives: Conversations Between Women Writers (1988)

Taylor, Henry -- Philip Van Artevelde, Part 1, Act 1, sc. 5 (1834)

Dave — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 01:08:27 +0000

He that lacks time to mourn, lacks time to mend.
Eternity mourns that. ‘Tis an ill cure
For life’s worst ills, to have no time to feel them.
Where sorrow’s held intrusive and turned out,
There wisdom will not enter, nor true power,
Nor aught that dignifies humanity.

Henry Taylor (1800–1886) English dramatist, poet, bureaucrat, man of letters
Philip Van Artevelde, Part 1, Act 1, sc. 5 (1834)

Mandela, Nelson -- (Attributed)

Dave — Wed, 17 May 2017 00:03:54 +0000

As I walked out the door toward my freedom, I knew that if I did not leave all the anger, hatred, and bitterness behind, that I would still be in prison.

Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) South African revolutionary, politician, statesman
(Attributed)

On his release from 27 years behind bars. Quoted by Hillary Clinton from a conversation she had with him.

Hoffer, Eric -- Passionate State of Mind, Aphorism 263 (1955)

Dave — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 14:08:54 +0000

Suffering cleanses only when it is free of resentment. Wholehearted contempt for our tormentors safeguards our soul from the mutilations of bitterness and hatred.

Eric Hoffer (1902–1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
Passionate State of Mind, Aphorism 263 (1955)

Flaubert, Gustave -- Letter to Louise Colet (25 Nov 1853)

Dave — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 13:08:20 +0000

Do not imagine you can exorcise what oppresses you in life by giving vent to it in art.

Gustave Flaubert (1821–1880) French writer, novelist
Letter to Louise Colet (25 Nov 1853)

Twain, Mark -- In Albert Bigelow Paine, Mark Twain: A Biography, ch. 38 (1912)

Dave — Fri, 24 Jun 2005 01:12:39 +0000

In trying circumstances, urgent circumstances, desperate circumstances, profanity affords a relief denied even to prayer.

Mark Twain (1835–1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
In Albert Bigelow Paine, Mark Twain: A Biography, ch. 38 (1912)

Shakespeare, William -- Macbeth, Act 4, sc. 3, l. 246ff (4.3.246-247) (1606)

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

MALCOLM: Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak
Whispers the o’er-fraught heart and bids it break.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
Macbeth, Act 4, sc. 3, l. 246ff (4.3.246-247) (1606)

Ericsson, Graham -- Journal (undated)

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

Anger is a corpse in the closet: the longer locked up, the greater the stink when brought out.

Graham Ericsson (b. 1961) American technologist, writer, aphorist
Journal (undated)