WIST Quotations

Butler, Octavia -- Kindred, ch. 4, sec. 6 (1979)

Dave — Thu, 20 May 2021 18:12:00 +0000

“He’s a fair man.”
I looked at him, startled.
“I said fair,” he repeated. “Not likable.”

Octavia Butler (1947-2006) American writer
Kindred, ch. 4, sec. 6 (1979)
(Source)

Democritus -- Frag. 53a (Diels) [tr. Barnes (1987)]

Dave — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 17:23:52 +0000

Many perform the foulest deeds and rehearse the fairest words.

[Πολλοὶ δρῶντες τὰ αἴσχιστα λόγους ἀρίστους ἀσκέουσιν.]

Democritus (c. 460 BC - c. 370 BC) Greek philosopher
Frag. 53a (Diels) [tr. Barnes (1987)]
(Source)

Diels citation "53a. (122 b N.) DEMOKRATES. 19.2. (Stob. II, 15, 33)" Bakewell lists this under "The Golden Sayings of Democritus." Freeman notes this as one of the Gnômae, from a collection called "Maxims of Democratês," but because Stobaeus quotes many of these as "Maxims of Democritus," they are generally attributed to the latter.

Alternate translations:

"Many who do the basest deeds can make most learned speeches." [tr. Bakewell (1907)]
"Many whose actions are most disgraceful practise the best utterances." [tr. Freeman (1948)].
"Many who do the worst things prepare the best speeches." [@sentantiq (2020), fr. 54]

Scalzi, John -- The Ghost Brigades (2006)

Dave — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 00:31:03 +0000

“It’s not fair,” Cloud said eventually. “It’s not fair you have to mourn this child.”

Jared gave a small laugh. “We’re in the wrong universe for fair,” he said, simply.

John Scalzi (b. 1969) American writer
The Ghost Brigades (2006)

Muhammad -- Qur’an, 35.45 (AD 670?) [tr. Pickthall (1953)]

Dave — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 20:06:00 +0000

If Allah took mankind to task by that which they deserve, He would not leave a living creature on the surface of the earth.

Muhammad (AD c. 570-632) Arab religious, military, and political leader; founder of Islam [Mohammed, مُحَمَّد]
Qur’an, 35.45 (AD 670?) [tr. Pickthall (1953)]

Whedon, Joss -- Firefly, 1×01 “Serenity” (pilot) (20 Dec 2002)

Dave — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 14:20:05 +0000

SIMON: I’m trying to put this as delicately as I can. How do I know you won’t kill me in my sleep?
MAL: You don’t know me, son, so let me explain this to you once: If I ever kill you, you’ll be awake, you’ll be facing me, and you’ll be armed.
SIMON: Are you always this sentimental?
MAL: I had a good day.

Joss Whedon (b. 1964) American screenwriter, author, producer [Joseph Hill Whedon]
Firefly, 1×01 “Serenity” (pilot) (20 Dec 2002)