WIST Quotations

Roosevelt, Eleanor -- Column (1942-11), “If You Ask Me,” Ladies’ Home Journal, Vol. 59

Dave — Tue, 19 May 2026 20:47:34 +0000

When I see someone who looks fairly desperate, I would rather give money, on the chance of sometimes giving unwisely, than to withhold it from some one person who might need a helping hand and who deserves it.

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American politician, diplomat, activist; First Lady of the US (1933–45)
Column (1942-11), “If You Ask Me,” Ladies’ Home Journal, Vol. 59

Billings, Josh -- Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1874-11 (1874 ed.)

Dave — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:16:01 +0000

He who suspekts everyboddy, should be watched by everyboddy.

[He who suspects everybody should be watched by everybody.]

Josh Billings (1818–1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1874-11 (1874 ed.)

See Johnson (1763).

In his 1879 Allminax (April), Billings provided a similar adage:

Whenever yu cum akrost a man who distrusts everyboddy, yu have found one whom it is safe for everyboddy to distrust.

[Whenever you come across a man who distrusts everybody, you have found one whom it is safe for everybody to distrust.]

Carlyle, Thomas -- Lecture (1840-05-22), “The Hero as King,” Home House, Portman Square, London

Dave — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:11:06 +0000

Dupes indeed are many: but, of all dupes, there is none so fatally situated as he who lives in undue terror of being duped.

Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish essayist and historian
Lecture (1840-05-22), “The Hero as King,” Home House, Portman Square, London

The lecture notes were collected by Carlyle into On Heroes, Hero-Worship, & the Heroic in History, Lecture 6 (1841).

Billings, Josh -- Everybody’s Friend, Or; Josh Billing’s Encyclopedia and Proverbial Philosophy of Wit and Humor, ch. 155 “Affurisms: Ink Lings” (1874)

Dave — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 13:42:05 +0000

I hav larn’t one thing, bi grate experience, and that iz, I want as much watching az mi nabors do.

[I have learned one thing, by great experience, and that is, I want as much watching as my neighbors do.]

Josh Billings (1818–1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Everybody’s Friend, Or; Josh Billing’s Encyclopedia and Proverbial Philosophy of Wit and Humor, ch. 155 “Affurisms: Ink Lings” (1874)

In H. Montague, ed., Wit and Wisdom of Josh Billings (1913), this is given:

I've learned one thing from experience -- that I'll bear watching about as much as some of my neighbors.

Christie, Agatha -- Endless Night, ch. 21 [Mr. Lippincott] (1967)

Dave — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 21:27:04 +0000

Where large sums of money are concerned, it is advisable to trust nobody.

Agatha Christie (1890–1976) English writer
Endless Night, ch. 21 [Mr. Lippincott] (1967)

Virgil -- The Aeneid [Ænē̆is], Book 2, l. 48ff (2.48-49) [Laocoön] (29-19 BC) [tr. Conington (1866)]

Dave — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 17:30:29 +0000

Or fraud lurks somewhere to destroy:
Mistrust, mistrust it, men of Troy!
Whate’er it be, a Greek I fear,
Though presents in his hand he bear.

[Aliquis latet error; equo ne credite, Teucri.
Quidquid id est, timeo Danaos et dona ferentes.]

Virgil (70–19 BC) Roman poet [b. Publius Vergilius Maro; also Vergil]
The Aeneid [Ænē̆is], Book 2, l. 48ff (2.48-49) [Laocoön] (29-19 BC) [tr. Conington (1866)]

Warning of the Trojan Horse; the origin of the phrase, "Beware Greeks bearing gifts." (Source (Latin)). Other translations:

Some deceit lurks, Dardans trust not this Horse, What ere it is, Greeks bringing gifts I feare. [tr. Ogilby (1649)]

Somewhat is sure designed, by fraud or force;
Trust not their presents, nor admit the horse.
[tr. Dryden (1697)]

Some mischievous design lurks beneath it. Trojans, put no faith in this horse. Whatever it be, I dread the Greeks, even when they bring gifts.
[tr. Davidson/Buckley (1854)]

Some other guile
Is lurking. Trojans, do not trust this horse.
Whatever it may be, I fear the Greeks,
Even when they bring us gifts.
[tr. Cranch (1872)]

Some delusion lurks there: Trust not the horse, O Trojans. Be it what it may, I fear the Grecians even when they offer gifts.
[tr. Mackail (1885)]

Some guile at least therein abides: Teucrians, trust not the horse!
Whatso it is, the Danaan folk, yea gift-bearing I fear.
[tr. Morris (1900)]

Some mischief lies behind.
Trust not the horse, ye Teucrians. Whatso'er
This means, I fear the Greeks, for all the gifts they bear.
[tr. Taylor (1907), st. 7; l. 61ff]

'T is a snare.
Trust not this horse, O Troy, whate'er it bode!
I fear the Greeks, though gift on gift they bear.
[tr. Williams (1910)]

Some trickery lurks therein. Trust not the horse, ye Trojans. Whatever it be, I fear the Greeks, even when bringing gifts.
[tr. Fairclough (1916)]

Tricky business
Is hiding in it. Do not trust it, Trojans,
Do not believe this horse. Whatever it may be,
I fear the Greeks, even when bringing presents.
[tr. Humphries (1951)]

Sure, some trick
Is there. No, you must never feel safe with the horse, Trojans.
Whatever it is, I distrust the Greeks, even when they are generous.
[tr. Day Lewis (1952)]

Some trickery is here. Trojans, do not
trust in the horse. Whatever it may be,
I fear the Greeks, even when they bring gifts.
[tr. Mandelbaum (1971), l. 68ff]

Some crookedness
Is in this thing. Have no faith in the horse!
Whatever it is, even when Greeks bring gifts
I fear them, gifts and all.
[tr. Fitzgerald (1981), l. 67ff]

There is some other trick we cannot see. Do not trust the horse, Trojans. Whatever it is, I am afraid of Greeks, particularly when they bring gifts.
[tr. West (1990)]

Or it hides some other trick: Trojans, don’t trust this horse.
Whatever it is, I’m afraid of Greeks even those bearing gifts.
[tr. Kline (2002)]

Some other evil lurks inside. Do not trust the Horse, Trojans! Whatever it is, I fear the Greeks, even when they bring gifts.
[tr. Lombardo (2005)]

Some other deception’s lurking deep inside it.
Trojans, never trust that horse. Whatever it is,
I fear the Greeks, especially bearing gifts.
[tr. Fagles (2006), l. 60ff]

Some trick lurks here. Citizens, don't trust the horse; fear Greeks, even bringing offerings.
[tr. Bartsch (2021)]

Homer -- The Odyssey [Ὀδύσσεια], Book 11, l. 456 (11.456) [Agamemnon] (c. 700 BC) [tr. Lombardo (2000), l. 274]

Dave — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 22:56:06 +0000

Women just can’t be trusted any more.

[Ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι πιστὰ γυναιξίν.]

Homer (fl. 7th-8th C. BC) Greek author
The Odyssey [Ὀδύσσεια], Book 11, l. 456 (11.456) [Agamemnon] (c. 700 BC) [tr. Lombardo (2000), l. 274]

The spirit of Agamemnon, who had been slain on his homecoming by Clytemnestra, is giving Odysseus marital advice when they meet in Hades. Agamemnon doesn't mention he had sacrificed their daughter, Iphigenia, to raise up good winds before setting sail for Troy.

(Source (Greek)). Other translations:

For ’tis no world to trust a woman now.
[tr. Chapman (1616)]

Remember still, Women unfaithful are.
[tr. Hobbes (1675)]

For since of womankind so few are just,
Think all are false, nor even the faithful trust.
[tr. Pope (1725)]

For woman merits trust no more.
[tr. Cowper (1792), l. 453]

No more are women to be trusted now.
[tr. Worsley (1861), st. 54]

For that trust
Henceforth in women must never be plac'd.
[tr. Musgrave (1869), l. 706ff]

No trust in women!
[tr. Bigge-Wither (1869), l. 455]

For there is no more faith in woman.
[tr. Butcher/Lang (1879) and Palmer (1891)]

From now henceforth in women no troth or trust shall be.
[tr. Morris (1887)]

For after all this there is no trusting women.
[tr. Butler (1898)]

For no longer is there faith in women.
[tr. Murray (1919)]

There is no putting faith in women.
[tr. Lawrence (1932)]

Women, I tell you, are no longer to be trusted.
[tr. Rieu (1946) and DCH Rieu (2002)]

The day of faithful wives is gone forever.
[tr. Fitzgerald (1961)]

There is no trusting in women.
[tr. Lattimore (1965)]

No woman merits trust.
[tr. Mandelbaum (1990)]

The time for trusting women's gone forever! [
tr. Fagles (1996), l. 456]

Women can no longer be trusted.
[tr. Kline (2004)]

Women are no longer to be trusted.
[tr. Verity (2016)]

There is no trusting women any longer.
[tr. Wilson (2018)]

No more is there faith in women.
[tr. Green (2018)]

For there’s no trust
in women anymore.
[tr. Johnston (2019), l. 577ff]

Pratchett, Terry -- Discworld No. 13, Small Gods (1992)

Dave — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 16:05:53 +0000

His philosophy was a mixture of three famous schools — the Cynics, the Stoics and the Epicureans — and summed up all three of them in his famous phrase, “You can’t trust any bugger further than you can throw him, and there’s nothing you can do about it, so let’s have a drink.”

Terry Pratchett (1948–2015) English author
Discworld No. 13, Small Gods (1992)

Describing the philosophy of Didactylos of Ephebe.

Walpole, Horace -- A Note Book of Horace Walpole, “1781” (1927)

Dave — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 13:56:09 +0000

Lesson to the Indiscreet: They who say all they think, and tell all they know, put others on their guard and prevent themselves from being told anything of consequence.

Horace Walpole (1717–1797) English novelist, letter writer
A Note Book of Horace Walpole, “1781” (1927)

Paine, Thomas -- Common Sense, “Of the Present Ability of America” (1776)

Dave — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 18:31:49 +0000

Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the bane of all good society.

Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American political philosopher and writer
Common Sense, “Of the Present Ability of America” (1776)

Lewis, C.S. -- “Screwtape Proposes a Toast”

Dave — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 21:14:55 +0000

Suspicion often creates what it suspects.

C. S. Lewis (1898–1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
“Screwtape Proposes a Toast”

Billings, Josh -- Everybody’s Friend, Or; Josh Billing’s Encyclopedia and Proverbial Philosophy of Wit and Humor, ch. 142 “Affurisms: Fust Impreshuns” (1874)

Dave — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 03:50:40 +0000

Every boddy in this world wants watching, but none more than ourselves.

[Everybody in this world wants watching, but none more than ourselves.]

Franklin, Benjamin -- Poor Richard (1733 ed.)

Dave — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 21:06:32 +0000

Distrust and caution are the parents of security.

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1733 ed.)

Tolkien, J.R.R. -- The Lord of the Rings, Vol. 2: The Two Towers, Book 3, ch. 10 “The Voice of Saruman” [Gandalf] (1954)

Dave — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:16:09 +0000

The treacherous are ever distrustful.

J.R.R. Tolkien (1892–1973) English writer, fabulist, philologist, academic [John Ronald Reuel Tolkien]
The Lord of the Rings, Vol. 2: The Two Towers, Book 3, ch. 10 “The Voice of Saruman” [Gandalf] (1954)

Mencken, H. L. -- A Little Book in C Major, ch. 5, § 23 (1916)

Dave — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:25:55 +0000

It is a sin to believe evil of others, but it is seldom a mistake.

H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American writer and journalist [Henry Lewis Mencken]
A Little Book in C Major, ch. 5, § 23 (1916)

Variants:

EVIL. That which one believes of others. It is a sin to believe evil of others, but it is seldom a mistake.
A Book of Burlesques, "The Jazz Webster" (1924)

Evil is that which one believes of others. It is a sin to believe evil of others, but it is seldom a mistake.
Chrestomathy, ch. 30 "Sententiae" (1949)

Jefferson, Thomas -- Document (1798), “Kentucky Resolutions,” Resolution 9

Dave — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:40:45 +0000

it would be a dangerous delusion were a confidence in the men of our choice to silence our fears for the safety of our rights; that confidence is every where the parent of despotism; free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions to bind down those whom we are obliged to trust with power; that our Constitution has accordingly fixed the limits to which, and no farther, our confidence may go. […] In questions of power, then, let no more be said of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.

Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American political philosopher, polymath, statesman, US President (1801–09)
Document (1798), “Kentucky Resolutions,” Resolution 9

In protest of the Alien and Sedition Acts.

Hand, Learned -- “A Plea for the Open Mind and Free Discussion,” speech, University of the State of New York, Albany (1952-10-24)

Dave — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:23:24 +0000

Risk for risk, for myself I had rather take my chance that some traitors will escape detection than spread abroad a spirit of general suspicion and distrust, which accepts rumor and gossip in place of undismayed and unintimidated inquiry.

Learned Hand (1872–1961) American jurist
“A Plea for the Open Mind and Free Discussion,” speech, University of the State of New York, Albany (1952-10-24)

Euripides -- Helen [Ἑλένη], l. 1617ff (412 BC) [tr. Coleridge (1891)]

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

MESSENGER: Nothing is more useful to mankind than a prudent distrust.

[ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ:σώφρονος δ᾽ ἀπιστίας
οὐκ ἔστιν οὐδὲν χρησιμώτερον βροτοῖς.]

Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Helen [Ἑλένη], l. 1617ff (412 BC) [tr. Coleridge (1891)]

Informing Theoklymenos that Helen and Menelaos have escaped to Greece.

(Source (Greek)). Other translations:

Nought to man's welfare more
Avails, than disbelief by prudence rul'd.
[tr. Potter (1783), l. 1750ff]

There's nought more beneficial to mankind
Than wise distrust.
[tr. Wodhull (1809)]

But there is naught more useful to mortals than a wise distrust.
[tr. Buckley (1850)]

Nought is of more avail
For mortals' need than wise mistrustfulness.
[tr. Way (Loeb) (1912)]

My lord, I fear
There are advantages in honest doubt.
That lesson of my tale at least is clear.
[tr. Sheppard (1925)]

I say there's nothing of more use
to mortals than a wise suspension of belief.
[tr. Warner (1951)]

Well, there is one thing every man has to learn: it is, not to be too trustful.
[tr. Vellacott (1954)]

Man's most valuable trait
is a judicious sense of what not to believe.
[tr. Lattimore (1956)]

Knowing when not to believe someone ...
now that's the kind of wisdom we could use!
[tr. Meagher (1986)]

To sum up, there’s nothing more useful in life than showing a healthy scepticism.
[tr. Davie (2002)]

Ah! there is naught more serviceable to mankind than a prudent distrust.
[tr. Athenian Society (2006)]

Seems you were a bit naive, sir:
There's nothing more useful in life
Than a good suspicious nature.
[tr. A. Wilson (2007)]

Nothing is more useful than a prudent doubt.
[tr. Theodoridis (2011)]

Nothing is more useful to man than thoughtful skepticism.
[Ambrose et al. (2018)]

Nothing is more useful to mankind than a balanced [sōphrōn] distrust.
[tr. Coleridge / Helen Heroization Team]

Johnson, Samuel -- The Rambler, #79 (18 Dec 1750)

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

It is better to suffer wrong than to do it, and happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust.

Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) English writer, lexicographer, critic
The Rambler, #79 (18 Dec 1750)