WIST Quotations

Billings, Josh -- Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1876-02 (1876 ed.)

Dave — Thu, 21 May 2026 18:20:17 +0000

Kats are very humble, espeshily just after they hav committed sum nu kind ov deviltry.

[Cats are very humble, especially just after they have committed some new kind of deviltry.]

Josh Billings (1818-1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1876-02 (1876 ed.)
(Source)

Doyle, Arthur Conan -- Story (1886-04), “A Study in Scarlet,” Part 1, ch. 4 [Holmes], Beeton’s Christmas Annual, Vol. 28 (1887-11-21)

Dave — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 23:48:37 +0000

I’m not going to tell you much more of the case, Doctor. You know a conjurer gets no credit once he has explained his trick; and if I show you too much of my method of working, you will come to the conclusion that I am a very ordinary individual after all.

Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) British writer and physician
Story (1886-04), “A Study in Scarlet,” Part 1, ch. 4 [Holmes], Beeton’s Christmas Annual, Vol. 28 (1887-11-21)
(Source)

Published in novel form 1888-07.

Martin, Judith -- “Miss Manners,” syndicated column (1999-02-02)

Dave — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 17:25:22 +0000

It is, indeed, a trial to maintain the virtue of humility when one can’t help being right.

Judith Martin (b. 1938) American author, journalist, etiquette expert [a.k.a. Miss Manners]
“Miss Manners,” syndicated column (1999-02-02)
(Source)

Billings, Josh -- Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1875-11 (1875 ed.)

Dave — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 15:43:52 +0000

The quickest way to take the starch out ov a man who iz allwuss blameing himself, is to agree with him, this aint what he iz looking for.

[The quickest way to take the starch out of a man who is always blaming himself, is to agree with him; this ain’t what he is looking for.]

Josh Billings (1818-1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1875-11 (1875 ed.)
(Source)

La Rochefoucauld, Francois -- Réflexions ou sentences et maximes morales [Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims], ¶149 (1665-1678) [tr. Kronenberger (1959)]

Dave — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 23:04:58 +0000

We refuse praise from a desire to be praised twice.

[Le refus des louanges est un désir d’être loué deux fois.]

François VI, duc de La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680) French epigrammatist, memoirist, noble
Réflexions ou sentences et maximes morales [Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims], ¶149 (1665-1678) [tr. Kronenberger (1959)]
(Source)

Present since the 1st edition. Brund/Friswell note a variant 1665 version which they translate: "The modesty which pretends to refuse praise is but in truth a desire to be praised more highly."

See also ¶327, and Chesterfield (1750).

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

That Modesty which stands so much upon the refusal of [praises], is indeed but a desire of having such as are more delicate.
[tr. Davies (1669), ¶151]

He that refuses Praises the first time it is offered, does it, because he would hear it a second.
[tr. Stanhope (1694), ¶150]

A refusal of praise is a desire to be praised twice.
[pub. Donaldson (1783), ¶368; ed. Lepoittevin-Lacroix (1797), ¶143]

Resistance to praise is a desire to be praised twice.
[ed. Carvill (1835), ¶325]

A refusal of praise; is a desire to be praised twice.
[ed. Gowens (1851), ¶152]

The refusal of praise is only the wish to be praised twice.
[tr. Bund/Friswell (1871), ¶149]

We decline commendation that we may be twice commended.
[tr. Heard (1917), ¶149]

To disclaim admiration is to desire it in double measure.
[tr. Stevens (1939), ¶149]

The refusal to accept praise is the desire to be praised twice over.
[tr. FitzGibbon (1957), ¶149]

To refuse to accept praise is to want to be praised twice over.
[tr. Tancock (1959), ¶149]

The refusal of praise is a desire to be praised twice over.
[tr. Siniscalchi (c. 1994)]

The refusal of praise is a desire to be praised twice.
[tr. Whichello (2016) ¶149]

Trump, Donald -- Interview by Leslie Stahl, 60 Minutes (18 Jul 2016)

Dave — Thu, 20 May 2021 19:25:41 +0000

I think I am actually humble. I think I’m much more humble than you would understand.

Donald J. Trump (b. 1946) American businessman, media personality, US President (2017-21)
Interview by Leslie Stahl, 60 Minutes (18 Jul 2016)
(Source)

Twain, Mark -- Note (1898-07-04)), Mark Twain’s Notebook, ch. 21 “In Vienna” (1935) [ed. Albert Bigelow Paine]

Dave — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 20:43:24 +0000

There are no grades of vanity, there are only grades of ability in concealing it.

Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
Note (1898-07-04)), Mark Twain’s Notebook, ch. 21 “In Vienna” (1935) [ed. Albert Bigelow Paine]
(Source)

While summering in Kaltenleutgeben, Austria.

Twain, Mark -- Note (1898-07-04), Mark Twain’s Notebook, ch. 21 “In Vienna” (1935) [ed. Albert Bigelow Paine]

Dave — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 18:45:33 +0000

Good breeding consists in concealing how much we think of ourselves and how little we think of the other person.

Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
Note (1898-07-04), Mark Twain’s Notebook, ch. 21 “In Vienna” (1935) [ed. Albert Bigelow Paine]
(Source)

While summering in Kaltenleutgeben, Austria.

Chesterfield (Lord) -- Letter to his son, #225 (17 May 1750)

Dave — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:02:11 +0000

Modesty is the only sure bait when you angle for praise.

Lord Chesterfield (1694-1773) English statesman, wit [Philip Dormer Stanhope]
Letter to his son, #225 (17 May 1750)
(Source)