WIST Quotations

Holmes, Oliver Wendell, Sr. -- Article (1861-04), “The Professor’s Story [Elsie Venner],” ch. 30, Atlantic Monthly, Vol. 7, No. 42

Dave — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 16:12:20 +0000

Beliefs must be lived in for a good while, before they accommodate themselves to the soul’s wants, and wear loose enough to be comfortable.

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809-1894) American poet, essayist, scholar
Article (1861-04), “The Professor’s Story [Elsie Venner],” ch. 30, Atlantic Monthly, Vol. 7, No. 42
(Source)

Originally serialized as “The Professor’s Story,” but collected as the novel Elsie Venner, ch. 30 (1861).

Austen, Jane -- Pride and Prejudice, ch. 18 [Darcy and Elizabeth] (1813)

Dave — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 16:45:45 +0000

“What think you of books?” said he, smiling.
“Books — oh! no. I am sure we never read the same, or not with the same feelings.”
“I am sorry you think so; but if that be the case, there can at least be no want of subject. We may compare our different opinions.”

Jane Austen (1775-1817) English author
Pride and Prejudice, ch. 18 [Darcy and Elizabeth] (1813)
(Source)

Gilman, Charlotte -- “Queer People”

Dave — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 19:36:36 +0000

The people people have for friends
Your common sense appall,
But the people people marry
Are the queerest folk of all.

Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935) American sociologist, writer, reformer, feminist
“Queer People”
(Source)

Gershwin, Ira -- “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off,” Shall We Dance (1937)

Dave — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 22:17:55 +0000

You like potato and I like po-tah-to,
You like tomato and I like to-mah-to;
Potato, po-tah-to, tomato, to-mah-to —
Let’s call the whole thing off!

Ira Gershwin (1896-1983) American lyricist [b. Israel Gershowitz]
“Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off,” Shall We Dance (1937)
(Source)

Martin, Steve -- L. A. Story (1991)

Dave — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:52:34 +0000

HARRIS: When I really analyze it, Trudi wasn’t for me anyway. The only good times we had were having sex and laying in bed watching TV.

ARIEL: I hate to tell you this, Harris, but if you can find somebody you can have sex with and lie in bed and watch TV, you’ve really got something.

Steve Martin (b. 1945) American comedian, actor, writer, producer, musician
L. A. Story (1991)
(Source)

Austen, Jane -- Letter (1798-12-24) to Cassandra Austen

Dave — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:40:16 +0000

I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal.

Jane Austen (1775-1817) English author
Letter (1798-12-24) to Cassandra Austen
(Source)

Twain, Mark -- Tom Sawyer Abroad, ch. 11 “The Sand-Storm” (1905)

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

I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.

Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
Tom Sawyer Abroad, ch. 11 “The Sand-Storm” (1905)
(Source)