WIST Quotations

Rogers, Will -- Column (1929-12-19), “Daily Telegram: Will Rogers Enters A Plea For Families Of Lost Miners” [No. 1061]

Dave — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:42:01 +0000

There is only one form of employment in our country that I can think of, but what has no bright spots, and that’s coal mining. There is generally an overproduction and they are out of work; if not that, it’s a strike. Then when they do go to work, the mine blows up. Then if none of these three things happen, they still have the worst job in the world.

Will Rogers (1879-1935) American humorist
Column (1929-12-19), “Daily Telegram: Will Rogers Enters A Plea For Families Of Lost Miners” [No. 1061]
(Source)

Following a mining disaster in McAlester, Oklahoma.

Burns, George -- Interview (1988-11-02), “Gracie Allen Still Steals the Show,” by Mervyn Rothstein, New York Times

Dave — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 17:39:09 +0000

If it’s a good script I’ll do it. And if it’s a bad script, and they pay me enough, I’ll do it.

George Burns (1896-1996) American comedian
Interview (1988-11-02), “Gracie Allen Still Steals the Show,” by Mervyn Rothstein, New York Times
(Source)

Most often cited from its reprint in the Paris International Herald Tribune (1988-11-09); at this time, the New York Times was part owner of the IHT (with the Washington Post and Whitney communications.

Gaiman, Neil -- Speech (2012-05-17), Commencement, University of the Arts, Philadelphia [14:10]

Dave — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 21:17:48 +0000

People keep working in a freelance world, and more and more of today’s world is freelance, because their work is good, and because they are easy to get along with, and because they deliver the work on time. And you don’t even need all three. Two out of three is fine. People will tolerate how unpleasant you are if your work is good and you deliver it on time. People will forgive the lateness of the work if it’s good, and if they like you. And you don’t have to be as good as the others if you’re on time and it’s always a pleasure to hear from you.

Neil Gaiman (b. 1960) British author, screenwriter, fabulist
Speech (2012-05-17), Commencement, University of the Arts, Philadelphia [14:10]
(Source)

(Source (Video))

Gladwell, Malcolm -- Outliers: The Story of Success, ch. 5, sec. 10 (2008)

Dave — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 23:12:25 +0000

Those three things — autonomy, complexity, and a connection between effort and reward — are, most people will agree, the three qualities that work has to have if it is to be satisfying.

Malcolm Gladwell (b. 1963) Anglo-Canadian journalist, author, public speaker
Outliers: The Story of Success, ch. 5, sec. 10 (2008)
(Source)

Gaiman, Neil -- Blog entry (2004-11-17), “Politics, Portugal and No Gumbo-Limbo Trees”

Dave — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 22:48:21 +0000

Stories may well be lies, but they are good lies that say true things, and which can sometimes pay the rent.

Neil Gaiman (b. 1960) British author, screenwriter, fabulist
Blog entry (2004-11-17), “Politics, Portugal and No Gumbo-Limbo Trees”
(Source)

Heinlein, Robert A. -- Revolt in 2100, ch. 10 (1953)

Dave — Sat, 26 Aug 2017 22:37:32 +0000

From the standpoint of a professional military man there is one good thing about revolutions: the opportunities for swift promotion are excellent . . . even if the pay is inclined to be irregular.

Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988) American writer
Revolt in 2100, ch. 10 (1953)
(Source)

Kennedy, Florynce -- (Attributed)

Dave — Mon, 01 May 2017 22:38:49 +0000

There are very few jobs that actually require a penis or vagina. All other jobs should be open to everybody.

Florynce "Flo" Kennedy (1916-2000) American lawyer, feminist, civil rights activist
(Attributed)

Quoted in Ms. (Mar 1973). Also attributed to Gloria Steinem, though Steinem has attributed the quote to Kennedy.

Graham, Katharine -- In “The Power That Didn’t Corrupt,” Ms. Magazine (Oct 1974)

Dave — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 12:48:48 +0000

To love what you do and feel that it matters — how could anything be more fun?

Katharine Graham (1917-2001) American newspaper publisher
In “The Power That Didn’t Corrupt,” Ms. Magazine (Oct 1974)

More discussion of this quotation's origins here: To Love What You Do and Feel That It Matters—How Could Anything Be More Fun? – Quote Investigator.

Sometimes misquoted as "how could anything else be more fun".

Roosevelt, Theodore -- Speech (1910-08-31), “The New Nationalism,” John Brown Memorial Park dedication, Osawatomie, Kansas

Dave — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 12:40:35 +0000

Practical equality of opportunity for all citizens, when we achieve it, will have two great results. First, every man will have a fair chance to make of himself all that in him lies; to reach the highest point to which his capacities, unassisted by special privilege of his own and unhampered by the special privilege of others, can carry him, and to get for himself and his family substantially what he has earned. Second, equality of opportunity means that the commonwealth will get from every citizen the highest service of which he is capable. No man who carries the burden of the special privileges of another can give to the commonwealth that service to which it is fairly entitled.

Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American politician, statesman, conservationist, writer, US President (1901–1909)
Speech (1910-08-31), “The New Nationalism,” John Brown Memorial Park dedication, Osawatomie, Kansas
(Source)

Hubbard, Elbert -- “Get Out or Get in Line,” Selected Writings of Elbert Hubbard (1928)

Dave — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 14:25:52 +0000

If you work for a man, in heaven’s name work for him! If he pays you wages that supply you your bread and butter, work for him — speak well of him, think well of him, stand by him and stand by the institution he represents. I think if I worked for a man I would work for him. I would not work for him a part of the time, and the rest of the time work against him. I would give an undivided service or none.

If put to the pinch, an ounce of loyalty is worth a pound of cleverness.

Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915) American writer, businessman, philosopher
“Get Out or Get in Line,” Selected Writings of Elbert Hubbard (1928)

Russell, Bertrand -- “Free Thought and Official Propaganda,” lecture, South Place Institute, London (1922-03-24)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 19:00:00 +0000

It is clear that thought is not free if the profession of certain opinions makes it impossible to earn a living.

Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) English mathematician and philosopher
“Free Thought and Official Propaganda,” lecture, South Place Institute, London (1922-03-24)
(Source)

Confucius -- (Spurious)

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

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

Confucius (c. 551- c. 479 BC) Chinese philosopher, sage, politician [孔夫子 (Kǒng Fūzǐ, K'ung Fu-tzu, K'ung Fu Tse), 孔子 (Kǒngzǐ, Chungni), 孔丘 (Kǒng Qiū, K'ung Ch'iu)]
(Spurious)

Though it has been included in books of quotations, the earliest connection between this thought and Confucius is found in the mid-1980s. See here and here for more discussion.