WIST Quotations

Pratchett, Terry -- Discworld No. 2, The Light Fantastic (1986)

Dave — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 20:12:52 +0000

The sun rose slowly, as if it wasn’t sure it was worth all the effort.

Terry Pratchett (1948-2015) English author
Discworld No. 2, The Light Fantastic (1986)
(Source)

Opening words.

Aristotle -- Economics [Οἰκονομικά, Œconomica], Book 1, ch. 6 (1345a, l. 16) [tr. Walford (1853)]

Dave — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 02:27:49 +0000

It is likewise well to rise before daybreak; for this contributes to health, wealth, and wisdom.

[τό τε διανίστασθαι νύκτωρ: τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ πρὸς ὑγίειαν καὶ οἰκονομίαν καὶ φιλοσοφίαν χρήσιμον.]

Aristotle (384-322 BC) Greek philosopher
Economics [Οἰκονομικά, Œconomica], Book 1, ch. 6 (1345a, l. 16) [tr. Walford (1853)]
(Source)

While this resembles Franklin's Poor Richard proverb ("... makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise"), it only refers to being "early to rise." Only a few sentences before this it recommends, rather than "early to bed," that the master of the house should stay up later than the servants and slaves:

And since it is good for the formation of character and useful in the interests of economy, masters ought to rise earlier than their slaves and retire to rest later.

(Source (Greek)). Alternate translations:

There are occasions when a master should rise while it is still night; for this helps to make a man healthy and wealthy and wise.
[tr. Forester (1920)]

Rising before daylight is also to be commended; it is a healthy habit, and gives more time for the management of the household as well as for liberal studies.
[tr. Armstrong (1935)]

It is well to be up before daybreak, for such habits contribute to health, wealth and wisdom.
[Common Usage]

Stevenson, Robert Louis -- Poem (1885), “Bed in Summer,” st. 1, A Child’s Garden of Verses

Dave — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 15:15:52 +0000

In winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candle-light.
In summer quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Poem (1885), “Bed in Summer,” st. 1, A Child’s Garden of Verses
(Source)

Bierce, Ambrose -- “Dawn,” The Cynic’s Word Book (1906)

Dave — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 16:29:25 +0000

DAWN, n. The time when men of reason go to bed. Certain old men prefer to rise at about that time, taking a cold bath and a long walk, with an empty stomach, and otherwise mortifying the flesh. They then point with pride to these practices as the cause of their sturdy health and ripe years; the truth being that they are hearty and old, not because of their habits, but in spite of them. The reason we find only robust persons doing this thing is that it has killed all the others who have tried it.

Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914?) American writer and journalist
“Dawn,” The Cynic’s Word Book (1906)
(Source)

Included in The Devil's Dictionary (1911). Originally published in the "Devil's Dictionary" column in the San Francisco Wasp (1881-12-02).

Gibran, Kahlil -- Sand and Foam (1946)

Dave — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 14:30:28 +0000

One may not reach the dawn save by the path of the night.

Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) Lebanese-American poet, writer, painter [Gibran Khalil Gibran]
Sand and Foam (1946)
(Source)

Priestley, J. B. -- Delight (1949)

Dave — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 15:39:45 +0000

I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning.

J. B. Priestley (1894-1984) English author, dramatist [John Boyne Priestley]
Delight (1949)

Adams, Douglas -- Last Chance to See, ch. 4 (1990)

Dave — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 14:31:45 +0000

I’ve never understood all this fuss people make about the dawn. I’ve seen a few and they’re never as good as the photographs, which have the additional advantage of being things you can look at when you’re in the right frame of mind, which is usually around lunchtime.

Douglas Adams (1952-2001) English author, humorist, screenwriter
Last Chance to See, ch. 4 (1990)

Byron, George Gordon, Lord -- Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, Canto 3, st. 22 (1818)

Dave — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:51:16 +0000

On with the dance! let joy be unconfined;
No sleep till morn, when Youth and Pleasure meet
To chase the glowing Hours with flying feet.

George Gordon, Lord Byron (1788-1824) English poet
Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, Canto 3, st. 22 (1818)
(Source)

Fuller, Thomas (1608) -- A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine, ii. xi (1650)

Dave — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:47:31 +0000

It is always darkest just before the Day dawneth.

Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) English churchman, historian
A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine, ii. xi (1650)