WIST Quotations

Marcus Aurelius -- Meditations [To Himself; Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν], Book 7, ch. 8 (7.8) (AD 161-180) [tr. Coker (2022)]

Dave — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 18:25:00 +0000

Don’t let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.

[Τὰ μέλλοντα μὴ ταρασσέτω· ἥξεις γὰρ ἐπ᾿ αὐτά, ἐὰν δεήσῃ, φέρων τὸν αὐτὸν λόγον, ᾧ νῦν πρὸς τὰ παρόντα χρᾷ.]

Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) Roman emperor (161-180), Stoic philosopher
Meditations [To Himself; Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν], Book 7, ch. 8 (7.8) (AD 161-180) [tr. Coker (2022)]
(Source)

(Source (Greek)). Alternate translations:

Let not things future trouble thee. For if necessity so require that they come to pass, thou shalt (whensoever that is) be provided for them with the same reason, by which whatsoever is now present, is made both tolerable and acceptable unto thee.
[tr. Casaubon (1634), 7.6]

Be not disturb'd about the Future; for if ever you come to it, you'll have the same Reason for your Guide, and Protection, which preserves you at present.
[tr. Collier (1701)]

Be not disturbed about futurity: You shall come to encounter with future events, possessed of the same reason you now employ in your present affairs.
[tr. Hutcheson/Moor (1742)]

Be not solicitous about future possibilities. You will encounter them when they approach, under the conduct of the same reason which you make use of on every present emergency.
[tr. Graves (1792)]

Let not future things disturb thee, for thou wilt come to them, if it shall be necessary, having with thee the same reason which now thou usest for present things.
[tr. Long (1862)]

Be not disturbed about the future, for if ever you come to it, you will have the same reason for your guide, which preserves you at the present.
[tr. Collier/Zimmern (1887)]

Let not the future perturb you. You will face it, if so be, with the same reason which is yours to meet the present.
[tr. Rendall (1898)]

Be not troubled about the future. You will come to it, if need be, with the same power to reason, as you use upon your present business.
[tr. Hutcheson/Chrystal (1902)]

Be not disquieted about the future. If thou must come thither, thou wilt come armed with the same reason which thou appliest now to the present.
[tr. Haines (Loeb) (1916)]

Let not the future trouble you; for you will come to it, if come you must, bearing with you the same reason which you are using now to meet the present.
[tr. Farquharson (1944)]

Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.
[tr. Staniforth (1964)]

Do not allow the future to trouble your mind; for you will come to it, if come you must, bringing with you the same reason that you now apply to the affairs of the present.
[tr. Hard (1997 ed.)]

Forget the future. When and if it comes, you’ll have the same resources to draw on -- the same logos.
[tr. Hays (2003)]

Do not let the future trouble you. You will come to it (if that is what you must) possessed of the same reason that you apply now to the present.
[tr. Hammond (2006)]

Do not allow the future to trouble your mind; for you will come to it, if come you must, bringing with you the same reason that you now apply to the affairs of the present.
[tr. Hard (2011 ed.)]

Banksy -- Wall and Piece, Introduction (2005)

Dave — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 15:34:04 +0000

All artists are willing to suffer for their work. But why are so few prepared to learn to draw?

Banksy (b. 1974?) England-based pseudonymous street artist, political activist, film director
Wall and Piece, Introduction (2005)
(Source)

Cox, Marcelene -- “Ask Any Woman” column, Ladies’ Home Journal (1948-02)

Dave — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 20:02:28 +0000

One sure way to lose another woman’s friendship is to try to improve her flower arrangements.

Marcelene Cox (1900-1998) American writer, columnist, aphorist
“Ask Any Woman” column, Ladies’ Home Journal (1948-02)
(Source)

This was a regularly revisited aphorism for Cox:

One sure way to lose another woman's friendship is to try to improve her husband.
(1955-12)

The quickest way to lose another woman's friendship is to endeavor to improve her husband, her children, or her flower arrangements.
(1959-05)

One sure way to lose another woman's friendship is to try to improve either her children or her flower arrangements.
(1961-07)

Nightingale, Florence -- Letter to Lord Edward Geoffrey Stanley (17 May 1857)

Dave — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 16:36:10 +0000

I agree as to the doubtful value of competitive examination. The qualities which you really want, viz., self-control, self-reliance, habits of accurate thought, integrity and what you generally call trustworthiness, are not decided by competitive examination, which test little else than the memory.

Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) English social reformer, statistician, founder of modern nursing
Letter to Lord Edward Geoffrey Stanley (17 May 1857)
(Source)

Regarding selection processes for military officers. This was undergoing reform during the period, including the radical proposal to prevent people from buying their way into lower officer ranks.

Heinlein, Robert A. -- Time Enough for Love [Lazarus Long] (1973)

Dave — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 14:14:58 +0000

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly.

Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988) American writer
Time Enough for Love [Lazarus Long] (1973)

Hlavaty, Arthur D. -- “Derogatory Reference” #100 (2002)

Dave — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 13:04:24 +0000

Depending on the kindness of strangers may not be as bad as depending on the competence of strangers.

Arthur D. Hlavaty (b. 1942) American writer, editor, publisher [a/k/a "Supergee"]
“Derogatory Reference” #100 (2002)
(Source)

Peter, Lawrence J. -- The Peter Principle (1969)

Dave — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 23:33:59 +0000

Competence, like truth, beauty and contact lenses, is in the eye of the beholder.

Lawrence J. Peter (1919-1990) American educator, management theorist
The Peter Principle (1969)

See Richard Cumberland.