WIST Quotations

Martin, Judith -- Interview (1997-03), “She Says: Miss Manners,” by Sandy Fernández, Ms magazine, Vol. 7, No. 5 (1997-03/04)

Dave — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 15:56:27 +0000

Another very common misconception about politeness is that it is martyrdom; that you have to let everybody else do whatever they want. People say to me, “Doesn’t etiquette all boil down to making other people feel comfortable?” No. there are times when you are going to have to upset people. There are times when you have to upset the whole society.

Judith Martin (b. 1938) American author, journalist, etiquette expert [a.k.a. Miss Manners]
Interview (1997-03), “She Says: Miss Manners,” by Sandy Fernández, Ms magazine, Vol. 7, No. 5 (1997-03/04)
(Source)

Sayers, Dorothy -- Gaudy Night, ch. 5 [Miss Edwards] (1935)

Dave — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 14:17:22 +0000

If people will bring dynamite into a powder factory, they must expect explosions.

Dorothy Sayers (1893-1957) English author, translator
Gaudy Night, ch. 5 [Miss Edwards] (1935)
(Source)

Taylor, Barbara Brown -- Learning to Walk in the Dark, ch. 3 (2014)

Dave — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 15:52:36 +0000

I noted that it is sometimes hard to tell whether you are being killed or saved by the hands that turn your life upside down.

Barbara Brown Taylor (b. 1951) American minister, academic, author
Learning to Walk in the Dark, ch. 3 (2014)
(Source)