WIST Quotations

Malcolm X -- Speech, Audubon Ballroom, Harlem, New York (13 Dec 1964)

Dave — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 22:18:42 +0000

If you’re not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.

Malcolm X (1925-1965) American revolutionary, religious leader [b. Malcolm Little]
Speech, Audubon Ballroom, Harlem, New York (13 Dec 1964)
(Source)

~Other -- Mills E. Godwin, Governor of Virginia (Dec 1966)

Dave — Mon, 11 May 2020 17:18:38 +0000

Men of faith know that throughout history the crimes committed in liberty’s name have been exceeded only by those committed in God’s name.

(Other Authors and Sources)
Mills E. Godwin, Governor of Virginia (Dec 1966)

On KKK cross-burnings. Quoted in various papers of the time.

Bovee, Christian Nestell -- Intuitions and Summaries of Thought, Vol. 2 (1862)

Dave — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 12:24:48 +0000

Melancholy sees the worst of things, — things as they may be, and not as they are. It looks upon a beautiful face, and sees but a grinning skull.

Christian Nestell Bovee (1820-1904) American epigrammatist, writer, publisher
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought, Vol. 2 (1862)

Eldridge, Paul -- Maxims for a Modern Man, #1439 (1965)

Dave — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 17:37:48 +0000

The ideals men die for often become the prejudices their descendants kill for.

Paul Eldridge (1888-1982) American educator, novelist, poet
Maxims for a Modern Man, #1439 (1965)

Twain, Mark -- Interview (1889) by Rudyard Kipling, Elmira, New York, From Sea to Sea, Part 2, ch. 37 “An Interview with Mark Twain” (1899)

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

Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please.

Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
Interview (1889) by Rudyard Kipling, Elmira, New York, From Sea to Sea, Part 2, ch. 37 “An Interview with Mark Twain” (1899)
(Source)

Broader context:

"Personally I never care for fiction or story-books. What I like to read about are facts and statistics of any kind. If they are only facts about the raising of radishes, they interest me. Just now, for instance, before you came in" -- he pointed to an encyclopædia on the shelves -- "I was reading an article about 'Mathematics.' Perfectly pure mathematics.
"My own knowledge of mathematics stops at 'twelve times twelve,' but I enjoyed that article immensely. I didn't understand a word of it: but facts, or what a man believes to be facts, are always delightful. That mathematical fellow believed in his facts. So do I. Get your facts first, and" -- the voice dies away to an almost inaudible drone -- "then you can distort 'em as much as you please."

Variant: "Get the facts first. You can distort them later."

For more discussion of this quotation, see "Get your facts first, and then you can distort them… (Barry Popik).

Eldridge, Paul -- Maxims for a Modern Man (1965)

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

The ideals men die for often become the prejudices their descendents kill for.

Paul Eldridge (1888-1982) American educator, novelist, poet
Maxims for a Modern Man (1965)