WIST Quotations

Martin, Judith -- “Miss Manners,” syndicated column (2010-05-07)

Dave — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:50:36 +0000

We are all entitled to our little harmless habits, Miss Manners believes, but we are not entitled to demand approval for them.

Judith Martin (b. 1938) American author, journalist, etiquette expert [a.k.a. Miss Manners]
“Miss Manners,” syndicated column (2010-05-07)
(Source)

McGinley, Phyllis -- Saint-Watching, “Running to Paradise” (1969)

Dave — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 14:42:02 +0000

For the wonderful thing about saints is that they were human. They lost their tempers, got hungry, scolded God, were egotistical or testy or impatient in their turns, made mistakes and regretted them. Still they went on doggedly blundering toward heaven.

Phyllis McGinley (1905-1978) American author, poet
Saint-Watching, “Running to Paradise” (1969)

Sterne, Laurence -- Tristam Shandy, Book 1, ch. 7 (1760-1767)

Dave — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 16:35:18 +0000

So long as a man rides his hobbyhorse peaceably and quietly along the King’s highway, and neither compels you or me to get up behind him — pray, Sir, what have either you or I to do with it?

Laurence Sterne (1713-1786) Anglo-Irish novelist, Anglican clergyman
Tristam Shandy, Book 1, ch. 7 (1760-1767)

Chesterfield (Lord) -- Letter to his son, #161 (5 Sep 1748)

Dave — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 19:47:44 +0000

Every man is not ambitious, or courteous, or passionate; but every man has pride enough in his composition to feel and resent the least slight and contempt. Remember, therefore, most carefully to conceal your contempt, however just, wherever you would not make an implacable enemy. Men are much more unwilling to have their weaknesses and their imperfections known, than their crimes; and if you hint to a man that you think him silly, ignorant, or even ill-bred, or awkward, he will hate you more and longer, than if you tell him plainly, that you think him a rogue.

Lord Chesterfield (1694-1773) English statesman, wit [Philip Dormer Stanhope]
Letter to his son, #161 (5 Sep 1748)
(Source)

Kipling, Rudyard -- “On the Strength of a Likeness”

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Everyone is more or less mad on one point.

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) English writer
“On the Strength of a Likeness”