WIST Quotations

Winter, William -- Poem (1860-01-07), “Orgia: The Song of a Ruined Man,” st. 13ff New-York Saturday Press, Vol. 3 No. 1

Dave — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 07:00:19 +0000

For I know that Death is a guest divine,
Who shall drink my blood as I drink this wine.
And He cares for nothing! a King is He!
Come on, old fellow, and drink with me!
With you I will drink to the solemn Past, —
Though the cup that I drain should be my last.

William Winter (1836–1917) American dramatic critic and author
Poem (1860-01-07), “Orgia: The Song of a Ruined Man,” st. 13ff New-York Saturday Press, Vol. 3 No. 1

Collected in his My Witness: A Book of Verse (1871)

Fuller, Thomas (1654) -- Introductio ad Prudentiam, Vol. 2, # 1858 (1727)

Dave — Wed, 21 May 2025 15:15:35 +0000

If thou wouldest be provident of thy Time; make choice of good Company, and good Books.

Thomas Fuller (1654–1734) English physician, preacher, aphorist, writer
Introductio ad Prudentiam, Vol. 2, # 1858 (1727)

Moore, Thomas -- “Spring and Autumn,” ll. 5-8 (1815)

Dave — Fri, 31 May 2024 17:56:22 +0000

So Life’s year begins and closes;
Days, though short’ning, still can shine;
What though youth gave love and roses,
Age still leaves us friends and wine.

Thomas Moore (1779–1852) Irish writer, poet, lyricist
“Spring and Autumn,” ll. 5-8 (1815)

Luther, Martin -- Letter to Jerome Weller (Jul 1530)

Dave — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:40:44 +0000

Whenever the devil harasses you, seek the company of men or drink more, or joke and talk nonsense, or do some other merry thing. Sometimes we must drink more, sport, recreate ourselves, aye, and even sin a little to spite the devil, so that we leave him no place for troubling our consciences with trifles. We are conquered if we try too conscientiously not to sin at all. So when the devil says to you: “Do not drink,” answer him: “I will drink, and right freely, just because you tell me not to.” One must always do what Satan forbids.

Martin Luther (1483–1546) German priest, theologian, writer, religious reformer
Letter to Jerome Weller (Jul 1530)

Other translations: "We are soon defeated if we try too hard not to sin. So when the devil says ‘Do not drink’ answer him: ‘I shall drink, and right freely, just because you tell me not to!’"