WIST Quotations

McLaughlin, Mignon -- The Second Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 8 (1966)

Dave — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 18:19:13 +0000

“Your money or your life.” We know what to do when a burglar makes this demand of us, but not when God does.

Mignon McLaughlin (1913-1983) American journalist and author
The Second Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 8 (1966)
(Source)

Sowell, Thomas -- “Student Loans,” Is Reality Optional? (1993)

Dave — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 22:47:29 +0000

The first lesson of economics is scarcity: there is never enough of anything to fully satisfy all those who want it. The first lesson of politics is to disregard the first lesson of economics.

Thomas Sowell (b. 1930) American economist and political commentator
“Student Loans,” Is Reality Optional? (1993)
(Source)

Foglio, Phil -- Girl Genius, Vol. 13, p. 38, “The Heterodyne Requires Cake” (10 Apr 2013)

Dave — Sat, 17 Aug 2019 04:27:57 +0000

AGATHA: … But after that, I’d better see some cake.
TARVEK: You know, there’s more to being an evil despot than getting cake whenever you want it.
AGATHA: If that’s what you think, then you’re doing it wrong!

Phil Foglio (b. 1956) American writer, cartoonist
Girl Genius, Vol. 13, p. 38, “The Heterodyne Requires Cake” (10 Apr 2013)
(Source)

In Agatha H. and the Siege of Mechanicsburg (2020) [with Kaja Foglio], this is rendered:

“But after that, I’d better see some cake.”

Tarvek glanced at her. “You know, there’s more to being an evil despot than getting cake whenever you want it.”

Agatha thought about this and was filled with a sudden conviction, one that would stand the test of time through everything else that happened to her through the years. “If that’s what you think, then you’re doing it wrong.”

Kingsolver, Barbara -- “Babyblues”

Dave — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 23:45:18 +0000

I want
the world
and it will not fit
in my mouth.

Barbara Kingsolver (b. 1955) American novelist, essayist, poet
“Babyblues”
(Source)

Montaigne, Michel de -- Essays, Book 3, ch. 11 (3.11), “Of Cripples [Des Boyteux]” (1587) [tr. Frame (1943)]

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

He who imposes his argument by bravado and command shows that it is weak in reason.

[Qui establit son discours par braverie et commandement, montre que la raison y est foible.]

Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) French essayist
Essays, Book 3, ch. 11 (3.11), “Of Cripples [Des Boyteux]” (1587) [tr. Frame (1943)]
(Source)

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

He that with braverie and by comaundement will establish his discourse, declareth his reason to be weake.
[tr. Florio (1603), "Of the Lame or Cripple"]

Who will establish his Discourse by Authority and Huffing, discovers his Reason to be very weak.
[tr. Cotton (1686)]

He who will establish this proposition by authority and huffing discovers his reason to be very weak.
[tr. Cotton/Hazlitt (1877), "On the Lame"]

He who establishes his argument by defiance and by command shews that his reasoning is weak.
[tr. Ives (1925)]

Any man who supports his opinion with challenges and commands demonstrates that his reasons for it are weak.
[tr. Screech (1987), "On the Lame"]

He who establishes his argument by noise and command shows that his reason is weak.
[Source]