WIST Quotations

Ivins, Molly -- Essay (1973-01), “Pitfalls of Reporting in the Lone Star State,” Houston Journalism Review

Dave — Wed, 21 May 2025 15:06:05 +0000

Whatever you do, don’t give up. Because all you can do once you’ve given up is bitch.

Molly Ivins (1944–2007) American writer, political columnist [Mary Tyler Ivins]
Essay (1973-01), “Pitfalls of Reporting in the Lone Star State,” Houston Journalism Review

Collected in Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She? (1991).

Camus, Albert -- The Fall (1956)

Dave — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 13:15:25 +0000

I never complained that my birthday was overlooked; people were even surprised, with a touch of admiration, by my discretion on this subject. But the reason for my disinterestedness was even more discrete: I longed to be forgotten in order to be able to complain to myself.

Albert Camus (1913–1960) Algerian-French novelist, essayist, playwright
The Fall (1956)

Johnson, Samuel -- Essay (1750-09-08), The Rambler, No. 50

Dave — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 12:27:11 +0000

It is not sufficiently considered how much he assumes who dares to claim the privilege of complaining; for as every man has, in his own opinion, a full share of the miseries of life, he is inclined to consider all clamorous uneasiness as a proof of impatience rather than of affliction, and to ask, what merit has this man to show, by which he has acquired a right to repine at the distributions of nature? Or, why does he imagine that exemptions should be granted him from the general condition of man? We find ourselves excited rather to captiousness than pity, and, instead of being in haste to sooth his complaints by sympathy and tenderness, we inquire whether the pain be proportionate to the lamentation; and whether, supposing the affliction real, it is not the effect of vice and folly, rather than calamity?

Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) English writer, lexicographer, critic
Essay (1750-09-08), The Rambler, No. 50

Wagner, Jane -- The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, Part 2 (1985) [perf. Lily Tomlin]

Dave — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:08:27 +0000

TROUT: I personally think we
developed language because of our deep inner need
to complain.

Jane Wagner (b. 1935) American humorist, writer, director
The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, Part 2 (1985) [perf. Lily Tomlin]

Variant: "Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain."

Carnegie, Dale -- How to Win Friends and Influence People, Part 1, ch. 1 (1936)

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

Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain — and most fools do.

Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American writer, lecturer
How to Win Friends and Influence People, Part 1, ch. 1 (1936)

Also attributed to Ben Franklin; this may be due to the preceding paragraph quoting Franklin.