WIST Quotations

Franklin, Benjamin -- Poor Richard (1743 ed.)

Dave — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 15:57:36 +0000

’Tis easy to frame a good bold resolution;
But hard is the Task that concerns execution.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1743 ed.)
(Source)

Heilbrun, Carolyn Gold -- The James Joyce Murder, ch. 1 (1967) [as Amanda Cross]

Dave — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 18:20:43 +0000

Life has this in common with prizefighting: if you’ve received a belly blow, it’s likely to be followed by a right to the jaw.

Carolyn Gold Heilbrun (1926-2003) American academic, feminist author, novelist [as Amanda Cross]
The James Joyce Murder, ch. 1 (1967) [as Amanda Cross]
(Source)

Montgomery, Bernard -- The Memoirs of Field-Marshal Montgomery, ch. 6 (1958)

Dave — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 12:45:49 +0000

[The commander] must always think and plan two battles ahead — the one he is prepared to fight and the next one — so that the success gained in one battle can be used as a springboard for the next.

Bernard Montgomery (1887-1976) British military leader
The Memoirs of Field-Marshal Montgomery, ch. 6 (1958)

Eisenhower, Dwight David -- News conference (12 May 1954)

Dave — Thu, 21 May 2015 12:01:23 +0000

There is an old saw in the services: that which is not inspected deteriorates.

Dwight David Eisenhower (1890-1969) American general, US President (1953-61)
News conference (12 May 1954)

Rickover, Hyman -- Speech (1981-11-05), “Doing a Job,” Egleston Medal Award Dinner, Columbia School of Engineering and Applied Science, New York

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

Good ideas are not adopted automatically. They must be driven into practice with courageous impatience. Once implemented they can be easily overturned or subverted through apathy or lack of follow-up, so a continuous effort is required. Too often, important problems are recognized but no one is willing to sustain the effort needed to solve them.

Hyman Rickover (1900-1986) Polish-American naval engineer, admiral [b. Chaim Gdala Rykower]
Speech (1981-11-05), “Doing a Job,” Egleston Medal Award Dinner, Columbia School of Engineering and Applied Science, New York
(Source)