WIST Quotations

Kerr, Jean -- Essay (1957-07-27), “Children Really Are Not People,” Saturday Evening Post

Dave — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 22:05:57 +0000

The average, healthy, well-adjusted adult gets up at seven-thirty in the morning feeling just plain terrible.

Jean Kerr (1922–2003) American author and playwright [b. Bridget Jean Collins]
Essay (1957-07-27), “Children Really Are Not People,” Saturday Evening Post

Collected as "Where Did You Put the Aspirin?" in Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1957).

Propertius -- Elegies, Book 4, Elegy 6, l. 85ff (4.6.85–86) [tr. Kline (2001)]

Dave — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 17:00:04 +0000

So I will pass the night with drinking, so with song, until daylight shines its rays into my wine.

[Sic noctem patera, sic ducam carmine, donec
iniciat radios in mea uina dies!]

Propertius (50–16 BC) Roman elegiac poet [Sextus Propertius]
Elegies, Book 4, Elegy 6, l. 85ff (4.6.85–86) [tr. Kline (2001)]

Because of the corruption of the manuscripts of Propertius and speculating from internal references, some 19th Century scholars (e.g., Lachmann) argued for a different division of the elegies into books, thus the translations noted which instead label this as Book 5, Elegy 6.

(Source (Latin)). Other translations:

Thus wine and song shall wing the night away,
Till o'er our revel streams the dawning day.
[tr. Moore (1870), 5.6]

Thus wine and song will cheer the night, till day
Upon my revel sheds its rosy ray.
[tr. Cranstoun (1875), 5.6]

Thus will I pass the night in drinking and song, till day sheds its beams over my wine.
[tr. Gantillon (1884)]

Thus will I prolong the night with goblet and song, until day flings beams of light upon my carouse.
[tr. Phillimore (1906)]

Thus will I pass the night with drink and thus with song, till dawn shall cast its rays upon my wine.
[tr. Butler (Loeb) (1912)]

So this whole night of song and drinking is mine
till the sun's rays flash new brightness into the wine.
[tr. Carrier (1963)]

Thus I will pass the night amid the bumpers
And amid the songs till day shall cast
Its rays in my wine.
[tr. Musker (1972)]

So will I spend the night with goblet and with song, until the day sheds its rays upon my wine.
[tr. Goold (Loeb) (1990)]

So with libation, so with song I'll spend the night
Till daylight thrust its rays into my wine.
[tr. Lee (1992)]

With song and goblet I will spend the night until
the dawn adds lustre to my wine.
[tr. Holcombe (2009)]

Hugo, Victor -- The Man Who Laughs [L’Homme qui rit; The Laughing Man; By Order of the King], Part 2, Book 8, ch. 7 (2.8.7) (1869) [tr. Unknown (1869)]

Dave — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 23:34:58 +0000

I am one who has come up out of the depths. My lords, you are rich and powerful. Therein lies your danger. You profit by the night; but beware! The Dawn is all-powerful. You cannot prevail over that. It is coming. Nay! it is already come. Within it is the day-spring of irresistible light. And who shall hinder that sling from hurling the sun into the sky? The sun I speak of is Right. You are Privilege. Tremble!

[Je suis celui qui vient des profondeurs. Mylords, vous êtes les grands et les riches. C’est périlleux. Vous profitez de la nuit. Mais prenez garde, il y a une grande puissance, l’aurore. L’aube ne peut être vaincue. Elle arrivera. Elle arrive. Elle a en elle le jet du jour irrésistible. Et qui empêchera cette fronde de jeter le soleil dans le ciel? Le soleil, c’est le droit. Vous, vous êtes le privilège. Ayez peur.]

Victor Hugo (1802–1885) French writer, journalist, human rights activist, politician
The Man Who Laughs [L’Homme qui rit; The Laughing Man; By Order of the King], Part 2, Book 8, ch. 7 (2.8.7) (1869) [tr. Unknown (1869)]

Gwynplaine addressing the House of Lords.

(Source (French)). Other translations:

I am he who cometh out of the depths. My lords, you are great and rich. There lies your danger. You profit by the night; but beware! The Dawn is all-powerful. You cannot prevail over it. It is coming. Nay! it is come. Within it is the day-spring of irresistible light. And who shall hinder that sling from hurling the sun into the sky? The sun I speak of is Right. You are Privilege. Tremble!
[tr. Unknown, Authorized (1871)]

I am he who comes from the depths. My Lords, you are the great and the rich. This is perilous. You profit by the night. But have a care, there is a great power, -- the dawn. The dawn cannot be vanquished. It will come. It is coming. It has within it the irresistable light of day. And who shall prevent this sling from hurling the sun into the sky? The sun means the Right. You are Privilege. Be afraid.
[tr. Hapgood (1888)]

I am he who comes from the depths. My Lords, you are the great and the rich. That is perilous. You take advantage of darkness. But take care, there is a great power, dawn. Daybreak cannot be conquered. It will come. It is coming. The irresistable ray of daylight is within it. And who will hinder that sling from hurling the sun into the sky? The sun, is Man's Right. You -- you are Privilege. You may well be afraid.
[tr. Phillips (1894)]

I am he who comes from the depths. My lords, you are the great and the rich. It is perilous. You take advantage of the night. But beware, there is a great power, the dawn. The dawn cannot be defeated. It will come. It is coming. It has in it the irresistible throw of the day. And who will stop this slingshot from throwing the sun into the sky? The sun is the right. You, you are the privilege. Be afraid.
[tr. Lavelle (2003)]

Carlyle, Thomas -- Poem (1837-08), “Today,” st. 1

Dave — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:58:28 +0000

So here hath been dawning
Another blue Day:
Think wilt thou let it
Slip useless away.

Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish essayist and historian
Poem (1837-08), “Today,” st. 1

This poem is usually called "Today" or "To-day," though in its first appearance I can find (The Monthly Repository, Vol. 11 (1837-08)) it is titled "Lilliputian."

The poem was resurfaced in Carlyle's Critical and Miscellaneous Essays (1838-1839) in Vol. 1, Appendix 1 "Fractions (1823-1833)," item No. 7. This (with a date of 1840) is usually given as the citation.

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:56:30 +0000

In every Countrey the Sun riseth in the morning.

James Howell (c. 1594–1666) Welsh historian, writer, aphorist
Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]

In a later section ("English Proverbs Rendered into French, Italian & Spanish"), this is rendered "In every Countrey the Sun riseth still in the morning."

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)

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)]

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

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)

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)

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) [with Mark Carwardine]

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) [with Mark Carwardine]

The source BBC Radio documentary, episode 1 of the series, searching for the New Zealand kākāpō, aired 1989-10-04. The archive can no longer be played at the BBC site.

Adams reading the 1992 audiobook can be heard here.

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)

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)