WIST Quotations

Doyle, Arthur Conan -- Story (1891-07), “A Scandal in Bohemia,” ch. 1, The Strand Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 1

Dave — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 18:25:38 +0000

To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They were admirable things for the observer — excellent for drawing the veil from men’s motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable memory.

Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) British writer and physician
Story (1891-07), “A Scandal in Bohemia,” ch. 1, The Strand Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 1
(Source)

Opening words of the story. Collected in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, No. 1, ch. 1 (1892).

Twain, Mark -- Inscription (1908-02), Eve’s Diary (1906-06)

Dave — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 22:27:01 +0000

Clothes make the man, but they do not improve the woman.

Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
Inscription (1908-02), Eve’s Diary (1906-06)
(Source)

Handwritten inscription in the front of a first edition of Eve's Dairy. The book was banned in several locations for including illustrations (by Lester Ralph) showing a naked Eve.

See also Twain for more information.

Barrie, James -- Peter Pan, Act 1 (1904, pub. 1928)

Dave — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 18:30:16 +0000

PETER: Wendy, one girl is worth more than twenty boys.

J. M. Barrie (1860-1937) Scottish novelist and dramatist [James Matthew Barrie]
Peter Pan, Act 1 (1904, pub. 1928)
(Source)

In Barrie's novelization, Peter and Wendy, ch. 3 "Come Away, Come Away!" (1911), this is rendered:

"Wendy," he continued, in a voice that no woman has ever yet been able to resist, “Wendy, one girl is more use than twenty boys.”

Quindlen, Anna -- Article (1991-04-07), “Mr. Smith Goes to Heaven,” New York Times

Dave — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:20:20 +0000

A friend and mourner recalled that, growing up, she believed cats and dogs were the same animal, but that cats were the females and dogs the males. This is entirely credible.

Anna Quindlen (b. 1953) American journalist, novelist
Article (1991-04-07), “Mr. Smith Goes to Heaven,” New York Times
(Source)

Part of an obituary for her dog, Jason Oliver C. Smith. Reprinted in Thinking Out Loud (1993).

Tuchman, Barbara -- A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century, ch. 9 (1978)

Dave — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 15:36:07 +0000

Theology being the work of males, original sin was traced to the female.

Barbara W. Tuchman (1912-1989) American historian and author
A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century, ch. 9 (1978)
(Source)

Roosevelt, Eleanor -- Column (1941-10), “If You Ask Me,” Ladies’ Home Journal, Vol. 58

Dave — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 13:10:49 +0000

Have you ever said to yourself, “If only I were a man”? Or are you quite content with being a woman?

No, I have never wanted to be a man. I have often wanted to be more effective as a woman, but I have never felt that trousers would do the trick!

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) First Lady of the US (1933–1945), politician, diplomat, activist
Column (1941-10), “If You Ask Me,” Ladies’ Home Journal, Vol. 58
(Source)

(Source (Alternate))

Pratchett, Terry -- Discworld No. 37, Unseen Academicals (2009)

Dave — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 12:21:41 +0000

“The female mind is certainly a devious one, my lord.”
Vetinari looked at his secretary in surprise. “Well, of course it is. It has to deal with the male one.”

Terry Pratchett (1948-2015) English author
Discworld No. 37, Unseen Academicals (2009)

Adams, Abigail -- Letter to John Adams (31 Mar 1776)

Dave — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 20:39:31 +0000

That your Sex are Naturally Tyrannical is a Truth so thoroughly established as to admit of no dispute, but such of you as wish to be happy willingly give up the harsh title of Master for the more tender and endearing one of Friend. Why, then, not put it out of the power of the vicious and the Lawless to use us with cruelty and indignity with impunity? Men of Sense in all Ages abhor those customs which treat us only as the vassals of your sex; regard us then as Beings placed by Providence under your protection, and in imitation of the Supreme Being make use of that power only for our happiness.

Abigail Adams (1744-1818) American correspondent, First Lady (1797-1801)
Letter to John Adams (31 Mar 1776)

Whedon, Joss -- Equality Now Tribute Address (15 May 2006)

Dave — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 13:05:34 +0000

So, why do you write these strong female characters?

Because you’re still asking me that question.

Joss Whedon (b. 1964) American screenwriter, author, producer [Joseph Hill Whedon]
Equality Now Tribute Address (15 May 2006)
(Source)

Stout, Rex -- The Father Hunt, ch. 8 [Wolfe] (1968)

Dave — Thu, 01 May 2014 12:26:11 +0000

Women are random clusters of vagaries.

Rex Stout (1886-1975) American writer
The Father Hunt, ch. 8 [Wolfe] (1968)

Joubert, Joseph -- Pensées [Thoughts], 1797 entry [tr. Auster (1983)]

Dave — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 16:53:44 +0000

Sexes. One has the look of a wound, the other of something skinned.

Joseph Joubert (1754-1824) French moralist, philosopher, essayist, poet
Pensées [Thoughts], 1797 entry [tr. Auster (1983)]
(Source)

I could not find an analog in other translations of the Pensées.

Bovee, Christian Nestell -- Thoughts, Feelings, and Fancies (1857)

Dave — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 12:59:26 +0000

Next to God, we are indebted to women, first for life itself, and then for making it worth having.

Christian Nestell Bovee (1820-1904) American epigrammatist, writer, publisher
Thoughts, Feelings, and Fancies (1857)