WIST Quotations

Montesquieu -- Pensées Diverses [Assorted Thoughts], # 1007 “General Maxims of Politics,” No. 15 (1720-1755) [tr. Clark (2012)]

Dave — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 21:17:54 +0000

The success of most things depends upon knowing [well] how much time is needed to succeed.

[Les succès de la plupart des choses dépend de savoir combien il faut de temps pour réussir.]

Charles-Lewis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755) French political philosopher
Pensées Diverses [Assorted Thoughts], # 1007 “General Maxims of Politics,” No. 15 (1720-1755) [tr. Clark (2012)]
(Source)

(Source (French)). Other translations:

In most things success depends on knowing how long it takes to succeed.
[E.g. (1874)]

Success in most things depends on knowing how long it takes to succeed.
[E.g. (1883)]

The success of most things depends upon knowing how long it will take to succeed.
[E.g. (1915)]

Success in the majority of circumstances depends on knowing how long it takes to succeed.
[E.g.]

Success generally depends upon knowing how long it takes to succeed.
[E.g.]

McLaughlin, Mignon -- The Second Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 5 (1966)

Dave — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 15:50:36 +0000

We vaguely know the rules, and the system of scoring, but for God’s sake why don’t they tell us how long the game is?

Mignon McLaughlin (1913-1983) American journalist and author
The Second Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 5 (1966)
(Source)

Herbert, George -- Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 15 (1640 ed.)

Dave — Fri, 17 May 2024 14:31:20 +0000

Light burthens, long borne, growe heavie.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 15 (1640 ed.)
(Source)

Austen, Jane -- “Catharine” [Kitty] (1792)

Dave — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 16:25:35 +0000

But for my own part, if a book is well written, I always find it too short.

Jane Austen (1775-1817) English author
“Catharine” [Kitty] (1792)
(Source)

Zelazny, Roger -- Knight of Shadows, ch. 3 (1990)

Dave — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 14:38:17 +0000

Sleep is perhaps the only among life’s great pleasures which need not be of short duration.

Roger Zelazny (1937-1995) American writer
Knight of Shadows, ch. 3 (1990)
(Source)

Woolf, Virginia -- “A Room of One’s Own,” ch. 6 (1929)

Dave — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 20:26:11 +0000

So long as you write what you wish to write, that is all that matters; and whether it matters for ages or only for hours, nobody can say.

Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) English modernist writer [b. Adeline Virginia Stephen]
“A Room of One’s Own,” ch. 6 (1929)
(Source)

Malory, Thomas -- Le Morte d’Arthur, Book 10, ch. 56 (1485)

Dave — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 16:05:51 +0000

The joy of love is too short, and the sorrow thereof, and what cometh thereof, dureth over long.

Thomas Malory (c. 1415-1471) English writer
Le Morte d’Arthur, Book 10, ch. 56 (1485)
(Source)

Nightingale, Earl -- (Attributed)

Dave — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 14:33:44 +0000

Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

Earl Nightingale (1921-1989) American motivational speaker, writer, radio personality
(Attributed)

Laforgue, Jules -- “Complainte sur certains ennuis,” Les Complaintes (1885)

Dave — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 18:44:44 +0000

What a day-to-day affair life is.

Jules Laforgue (1860-1887) Franco-Uruguayan Symbolist poet
“Complainte sur certains ennuis,” Les Complaintes (1885)

Emerson, Ralph Waldo -- (Spurious)

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

A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American essayist, lecturer, poet
(Spurious)

Frequently ascribed to him, especially in recent decades, but not found in his works.

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