WIST Quotations

Martin, Judith -- Common Courtesy, “In the Quest for Equality, Civilization Itself Is Maligned” (1985)

Dave — Mon, 06 May 2024 14:59:32 +0000

The natural approach to human relations presumes that to know any person well enough is to love him, and that, therefore, the only human problem is a communication problem. It refuses to admit the possibility that people might be separated by basic, deeply held, genuinely irreconcilable differences — philosophical, political, or religious. Thus, the effort to trivialize etiquette as being a barrier to the happy mingling of souls, actually trivializes intellectual, emotional, and spiritual convictions by characterizing any difference between one person’s and another’s as no more than a simple misunderstanding, easily solved by frank exchanges or orchestrated “encounters.”

Judith Martin (b. 1938) American author, journalist, etiquette expert [a.k.a. Miss Manners]
Common Courtesy, “In the Quest for Equality, Civilization Itself Is Maligned” (1985)

Originally published in The New Republic in 1984.

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth -- “Table-Talk”

Dave — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 15:02:45 +0000

The difference between a man of genius seen in his works and in person, is like that of a lighthouse seen by night and by day, — in the one case only a great fiery brain, in the other only a white tower.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882) American poet
“Table-Talk”

Brault, Robert -- (Attributed)

Dave — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 22:05:25 +0000

I nod to a passing stranger, and the stranger nods back, and two human beings go off feeling a little less anonymous.

Robert Brault (b. c. 1945) American aphorist, programmer
(Attributed)

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth -- Tales of a Wayside Inn, Part 3 “The Theologian’s Tale: Elizabeth” part 4 (1874)

Dave — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 17:40:01 +0000

Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing;
Only a signal shown and a distant voice in the darkness;
So on the ocean of life we pass and speak one another,
Only a look and a voice; then darkness again and a silence.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882) American poet
Tales of a Wayside Inn, Part 3 “The Theologian’s Tale: Elizabeth” part 4 (1874)

Maugham, W. Somerset -- The Narrow Corner, ch. 15 (1932)

Dave — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 23:34:10 +0000

You cannot imagine the kindness I’ve received at the hands of perfect strangers.

W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) English novelist and playwright [William Somerset Maugham]
The Narrow Corner, ch. 15 (1932)

Greenberg, Drew Z. -- Firefly, 1×05 “Safe” (8 Nov 2002)

Dave — Thu, 21 May 2015 12:03:35 +0000

ZOE: You sanguine about the kind of reception we’re apt to receive on an Alliance ship, Cap’n?

MAL: Absolutely. [Pause] What’s “sanguine” mean?

ZOE: “Sanguine”. Hopeful. Plus, point of interest: it also means “bloody”.

MAL: Well, that pretty much covers all the options, don’t it?

Drew Z. Greenberg (contemp.) TV producer and writer
Firefly, 1×05 “Safe” (8 Nov 2002)

Von Moltke, Helmuth -- “On Strategy” (1871)

Dave — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:35:54 +0000

The tactical result of an engagement forms the base for new strategic decisions because victory or defeat in a battle changes the situation to such a degree that no human acumen is able to see beyond the first battle. In this sense one should understand Napoleon’s saying: “I have never had a plan of operations.” Therefore no plan of operations extends with any certainty beyond the first contact with the main hostile force.

Helmuth von Moltke (1800–1891) Prussian soldier
“On Strategy” (1871)

Translated in Daniel J. Hughes, Harry Bell, Moltke on the Art of War: Selected Writings (1993).

Paraphrases / variants:

"No plan survives contact with the enemy."
"No battle plan ever survives contact with the enemy."