WIST Quotations

Holst, Gustav -- Letter (1921) to William Gillies Whitaker

Dave — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 17:28:08 +0000

Never compose anything unless the not composing of it becomes a positive nuisance to you.

Gustav Holst (1874-1934) English composer, arranger and teacher
Letter (1921) to William Gillies Whitaker
(Source)

In Gertrude Norman, Miram Shrifte (eds.), Letters of Composers (1946).

Imogen Holst, his only child, notes the phrase in The Music of Gustav Holst (1951) as "his favourite piece of advice," and in Gustav Holst: A Biography, ch. 11 (1969) as his referring to it as a "good rule."

Child, Julia -- The Way to Cook, Introduction (1989)

Dave — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 15:37:21 +0000

The pleasures of the table — that lovely old-fashioned phrase — depict food as an art form, as a delightful part of civilized life. In spite of food fads, fitness programs, and health concerns, we must never lose sight of a beautifully conceived meal.

Julia Child (1912-2004) American chef and writer
The Way to Cook, Introduction (1989)
(Source)

Milne, A. A. -- House at Pooh Corner, ch. 4 “Tiggers Don’t Climb Trees” (1928)

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

Written down like this, it doesn’t seem a very good song, but coming through pale fawn fluff at about half-past eleven on a very sunny morning, it seemed to Pooh to be one of the best songs he had ever sung. So he went on singing it.

A. A. Milne (1882-1956) English poet and playwright [Alan Alexander Milne]
House at Pooh Corner, ch. 4 “Tiggers Don’t Climb Trees” (1928)
(Source)