WIST Quotations

Shelley, Percy Bysshe -- Poem (1819), “The Mask of Anarchy,” st. 38

Dave — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 23:12:13 +0000

Rise like Lions after slumber
In unvanquishable number,
Shake your chains to earth like dew
Which in sleep had fallen on you
Ye are many — they are few.

Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) English poet
Poem (1819), “The Mask of Anarchy,” st. 38
(Source)

Writing as the voice of England talking to her children. The words are repeated in the final stanza.

The poem was subtitled "Written on the Occasion of the Massacre at Manchester," referring to the Peterloo Massacre (1819-08-16), when a large, peaceful demonstration for parliamentary representation by millworkers and their families was attacked by regular and irregular cavalry troops, attempting to arrest the protest leader, Henry Hunt, and break up the assembly. Hundreds were wounded, and around a dozen killed.

Cicero, Marcus Tullius -- Pro Sestio [For Publius Sestius], ch. 48 / sec. 103 (56-02 BC) [tr. @sentantiq (2020)]

Dave — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 16:49:50 +0000

The people were certain that their freedom was at risk. Their leaders did not agree.

[Populus libertatem agi putabat suam. Dissentiebant principes.]

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) Roman orator, statesman, philosopher
Pro Sestio [For Publius Sestius], ch. 48 / sec. 103 (56-02 BC) [tr. @sentantiq (2020)]
(Source)

In the actual examples around the statement, the leadership (optimates) fear measures granting more voice to the masses, establishing a secret ballot, and providing food to poor at the cost of taxing the rich; Cicero supports that conservative opinion.

(Source (Latin)). Other translations:

The people thought their liberty was at stake in that measure. The leading men were of a different opinion.
[tr. Hickie (1888)]

The people thought that its liberties were at stake; the chief men of the state dissented.
[tr. Yonge (1891)]

The People thought that their liberty was at stake. The leaders of the State held a different opinion.
[tr. Gardner (Loeb) (1958)]

Orwell, George -- Essay (1941-09), “The Art of Donald McGill,” Horizon Magazine

Dave — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 15:09:05 +0000

I never read the proclamations of generals before battle, the speeches of fuehrers and prime ministers, the solidarity songs of public schools and left-wing political parties, national anthems, Temperance tracts, papal encyclicals and sermons against gambling and contraception, without seeming to hear in the background a chorus of raspberries from all the millions of common men to whom these high sentiments make no appeal.

George Orwell (1903-1950) English journalist, essayist, writer [pseud. of Eric Arthur Blair]
Essay (1941-09), “The Art of Donald McGill,” Horizon Magazine
(Source)

Rogers, Will -- Column (1925-06-21), “Weekly Article”

Dave — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 18:35:04 +0000

And be careful about calling them Common People. Nobody wants to be called Common People, especially common people.

Will Rogers (1879-1935) American humorist
Column (1925-06-21), “Weekly Article”
(Source)

Shakespeare, William -- Coriolanus, Act 2, sc. 2, l. 5ff (2.2.5-15) (c. 1608)

Dave — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 18:00:44 +0000

FIRST OFFICER: That’s a brave fellow, but he’s vengeance proud and loves not the common people.

SECOND OFFICER: ’Faith, there hath been many great men that have flattered the people who ne’er loved them; and there be many that they have loved they know not wherefore; so that, if they love they know not why, they hate upon no better a ground. Therefore, for Coriolanus neither to care whether they love or hate him manifests the true knowledge he has in their disposition and, out of his noble carelessness, lets them plainly see ’t.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet
Coriolanus, Act 2, sc. 2, l. 5ff (2.2.5-15) (c. 1608)
(Source)

Spenser, Edmund -- The Faerie Queene, Book 5, Canto 2, st. 43 (1589-96)

Dave — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 15:17:06 +0000

Ill can he rule the great, that cannot reach the small.

Edmund Spenser (c. 1552–1599) English poet
The Faerie Queene, Book 5, Canto 2, st. 43 (1589-96)
(Source)

Lewis, Sinclair -- It Can’t Happen Here (1935)

Dave — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 13:50:05 +0000

On the whole, with scandalous exceptions, Democracy has given the ordinary worker more dignity than he ever had.

Sinclair Lewis (1885-1951) American novelist, playwright
It Can’t Happen Here (1935)

Kuralt, Charles -- On the Road with Charles Kuralt (1985)

Dave — Wed, 21 May 2014 12:08:50 +0000

To read the front pages, you might conclude that Americans are mostly out for themselves, venal, grasping, and mean-spirited. The front pages have room only for defense contractors who cheat and politicians with their hands in the till. But you can’t travel the back roads very long without discovering a multitude of gentle people doing good for others with no expectation of gain or recognition. The everyday kindness of the back roads more than makes up for the acts of greed in the headlines.

Charles Kuralt (1934-1997) American journalist
On the Road with Charles Kuralt (1985)

Orwell, George -- Essay (1946-05), “Second Thoughts on James Burnham,” Polemic Magazine

Dave — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:56:01 +0000

In each great revolutionary struggle the masses are led on by vague dreams of human brotherhood, and then, when the new ruling class is well established in power, they are thrust back into servitude. This is practically the whole of political history, as Burnham sees it. […] History consists of a series of swindles, in which the masses are first lured into revolt by the promise of Utopia, and then, when they have done their job, enslaved over again by the new masters.

George Orwell (1903-1950) English journalist, essayist, writer [pseud. of Eric Arthur Blair]
Essay (1946-05), “Second Thoughts on James Burnham,” Polemic Magazine
(Source)

Summarizing Burnham's view of history as given in The Managerial Revolution (1940) and The Machiavellians (1942). Orwell does not agree with Burnham's thesis.

Published separately as a pamphlet, James Burnham and the Managerial Revolution (1946).

Hugo, Victor -- Les Misérables, Part 3 “Marius,” Book 1 “Paris in Microcosm,” ch. 12 (3.1.12) (1862) [tr. Wilbour/Fahnestock/MacAfee (1987)]

Dave — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 18:17:34 +0000

These bare feet, these naked arms, these rags, these shades of ignorance, depths of despair, the gloom can be used for the conquest of the ideal. Look through the medium of the people, and you will discern the truth. This lowly sand that you trample underfoot, if you throw it into the furnace and let it melt and seethe, will become sparkling crystal; and thanks to such as this a Galileo and a Newton will discover the stars.

[Ces pieds nus, ces bras nus, ces haillons, ces ignorances, ces abjections, ces ténèbres, peuvent être employés à la conquête de l’idéal. Regardez à travers le peuple et vous apercevrez la vérité. Ce vil sable que vous foulez aux pieds, qu’on le jette dans la fournaise, qu’il y fonde et qu’il y bouillonne, il deviendra cristal splendide, et c’est grâce à lui que Galilée et Newton découvriront les astres.]

Victor Hugo (1802-1885) French writer
Les Misérables, Part 3 “Marius,” Book 1 “Paris in Microcosm,” ch. 12 (3.1.12) (1862) [tr. Wilbour/Fahnestock/MacAfee (1987)]
(Source)

The author speaking, criticizing philosophers and scholars who dismiss the common people, or "mob."

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

These bare feet, these naked arms, these rags, these shades of ignorance, these depths of abjectness, these abysses of gloom may be employed in the conquest of the ideal. This lowly sand which you trample beneath your feet, if you cast it into the furnace, and let it melt and seethe, shall become resplendent crystal, and by means of such as it a Galileo and a Newton shall discover stars.
[tr. Wilbour (1862)]

These bare feet, these naked arms, these rags, this ignorance, this abjectness, this darkness, may be employed for the conquest of the ideal. Look through the people, and you will perceive the truth; the vile sand which you trample under foot, when cast into the furnace and melted, will become splendid crystal, and by its aid Galileo and Newton discover stars.
[tr. Wraxall (1862)]

These bare feet, these bare arms, these rags, these ignorances, these abjectnesses, these darknesses, may be employed in the conquest of the ideal. Gaze past the people, and you will perceive truth. Let that vile sand which you trample under foot be cast into the furnace, let it melt and seethe there, it will become a splendid crystal, and it is thanks to it that Galileo and Newton will discover stars.
[tr. Hapgood (1887)]

Those bare feet and arms, the rags, the ignorance, the abjection, the dark places, all may be enlisted in the service of the ideal. Peer through the heart of the people and you will discover the truth. The common sand that you tread underfoot, let it be cast into the furnace to boil and melt and it will become a crystal as splendid as that through which Galileo and Newton discovered the stars.
[tr. Denny (1976)]

These bare feet, bare arms, rags, this benightedness, degradation, darkness may be used for the conquest of the ideal. Look through the populace and you will see the truth. This vile sand you trample underfoot -- let it be thrown into the furnace, let it melt and bubble there. It will turn into clear crystal, and it is thanks to this crystal that Galileo and newton will discover the stars.
[tr. Donougher (2013)]