WIST Quotations

Herbert, A. P. -- “Ninth Wicket,” st. 1, l. 13ff, Mild and Bitter (1935)

Dave — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 23:58:41 +0000

I might be swimming in a crystal pool
I might be wooing some delicious dame
I might be drinking something long and cool
I can’t imagine why I play this game.

A. P. Herbert (1890-1971) English humorist, novelist, playwright, politician [Alan Patrick Herbert; pseud. Albert Haddock]
“Ninth Wicket,” st. 1, l. 13ff, Mild and Bitter (1935)
(Source)

Originally published in Punch.

Blessington, Marguerite -- Desultory Thoughts and Reflections (1839)

Dave — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 16:55:19 +0000

The selfish man believes that by closing his heart against his fellows, and centering in self every thought and feeling, he escapes much suffering. But his egotistical calculations are invariably defeated; for his contracted sympathies being all directed to one focus, he so aggravates the ills he endures, that he expends on self along more painful pity than the most enthusiastic philanthropist devotes to mankind.

Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington (1789-1849) Irish novelist [Lady Blessington, b. Margaret Power]
Desultory Thoughts and Reflections (1839)
(Source)

Stross, Charles -- The Annihilation Score, ch. 7 (2015)

Dave — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 01:41:44 +0000

It’s amazing how much work you can get done in three days if you hold a blowtorch to each end of the candle.

Charles "Charlie" Stross (b. 1964) British writer
The Annihilation Score, ch. 7 (2015)
(Source)

Richter, Jean-Paul -- (Attributed)

Dave — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 01:53:07 +0000

The virtues, like the body, become strong more by labor than by nourishment.

Jean Paul Richter (1763-1825) German writer, art historian, philosopher, littérateur [Johann Paul Friedrich Richter; pseud. Jean Paul]
(Attributed)

Quoted in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895).