WIST Quotations

Einstein, Albert -- Essay (1953-05-23), “Aphorisms for Leo Baeck [Neun Aphorismen], No. 5, Essays Presented to Leo Baeck on the Occasion of His Eightieth Birthday (1954) [Einstein Archives 28-962]

Dave — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 23:21:12 +0000

The majority of the stupid is invincible and guaranteed for all time. The terror of their tyranny, however, is alleviated by their lack of consistency.

[Die Majorität der Dummen ist unüberwindbar und für alle Zeiten gesichert. Der Schrecken ihrer Tyrannei ist indessen gemildert durch Mangel an Konsequenz.]

Albert Einstein (1879-1955) German-American physicist
Essay (1953-05-23), “Aphorisms for Leo Baeck [Neun Aphorismen], No. 5, Essays Presented to Leo Baeck on the Occasion of His Eightieth Birthday (1954) [Einstein Archives 28-962]
(Source)

(Source (German))

Leo Baeck (1873-1956) was a noted a German rabbi, scholar, and theologian.

Billings, Josh -- Josh Billings’ Trump Kards, ch. 6 “Pets” (1874)

Dave — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 20:44:59 +0000

Yung phools are comparatiff harmless, it iz the old phools that make most ov the trubble in this world.

[Young fools are comparatively harmless; it is the old fools that make most of the trouble in this world.]

Josh Billings (1818-1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Josh Billings’ Trump Kards, ch. 6 “Pets” (1874)
(Source)

McLaughlin, Mignon -- The Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 1 (1963)

Dave — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 19:07:39 +0000

We are irritated by rascals, intolerant of fools, and prepared to love the rest. But where are they?

Mignon McLaughlin (1913-1983) American journalist and author
The Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 1 (1963)
(Source)

Colton, Charles Caleb -- Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Vol. 1, § 547 (1820)

Dave — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 15:09:08 +0000

Custom is the law of one description of fools, and fashion of another; but the two parties often clash; for precedent is the legislator of the first, and novelty of the last.

Charles Caleb "C. C." Colton (1780-1832) English cleric, writer, aphorist
Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Vol. 1, § 547 (1820)
(Source)

Shakespeare, William -- King Lear, Act 4, sc. 6, l. 200ff (4.6.200-201) (1606)

Dave — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 20:01:06 +0000

LEAR: When we are born, we cry that we are come
To this great stage of fools.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet
King Lear, Act 4, sc. 6, l. 200ff (4.6.200-201) (1606)
(Source)

Billings, Josh -- Everybody’s Friend, Or; Josh Billing’s Encyclopedia and Proverbial Philosophy of Wit and Humor, “Mollassis Kandy” (1874)

Dave — Thu, 28 May 2020 19:28:32 +0000

The most that experience seems tew do for us, is tew sho us, what kussid phools every boddy but we, hav made of themselfs.

[The most that experience seems to do for us is to show us what cussed fools everybody but we have made of themselves.]

Josh Billings (1818-1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Everybody’s Friend, Or; Josh Billing’s Encyclopedia and Proverbial Philosophy of Wit and Humor, “Mollassis Kandy” (1874)
(Source)

Flaubert, Gustave -- Sentimental Education, Part 1, ch. 5 (1869) [tr. Baldick (1964)/Wall (2004)]

Dave — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 18:42:53 +0000

Nothing is more humiliating than seeing fools succeed where one has failed.

[Rien n’est humiliant comme de voir les sots réussir dans les entreprises où l’on échoue.]

Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880) French writer, novelist
Sentimental Education, Part 1, ch. 5 (1869) [tr. Baldick (1964)/Wall (2004)]
(Source)

Alt. trans.:

"Nothing is more humiliating than to see idiots succeed in enterprises we have failed in."
"There is nothing so humiliating to see as blockheads succeed in undertakings in which we ourselves fail." [Ranout ed. (1922)]
"There is nothing so humiliating as to see blockheads succeed in undertakings in which we fail." [tr. Bouvard ed. rev. (2003)]

Dryden, John -- Absalom and Achitophel, l. 533 (1681)

Dave — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 00:44:44 +0000

Far more numerous was the herd of such,
Who think too little, and who talk too much.

John Dryden (1631-1700) English poet, dramatist, critic
Absalom and Achitophel, l. 533 (1681)

Boileau-Despréaux, Nicolas -- (Attributed)

Dave — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 16:17:19 +0000

The world is full of fools, and he who would not wish to see one must not only shut himself up alone, but also break his looking glass.

Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux (1636-1711) French poet and critic
(Attributed)

A variant is also attributed to Charles le Petit (1640-1625), Discours satiriques (1686).

Voltaire -- Letter to M. Damilaville (16 May 1767)

Dave — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 23:52:33 +0000

I have never made but one prayer to God, and very short one: “O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous.” And God granted it.

Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Letter to M. Damilaville (16 May 1767)

Butler, Samuel -- Prose Observations, “Sundry Thoughts”

Dave — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 12:58:09 +0000

There are more Fools than Knaves in the World,
Else the Knaves would not have enough to live upon.

Samuel Butler (1835-1902) English novelist, satirist, scholar
Prose Observations, “Sundry Thoughts”
(Source)

Twain, Mark -- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, ch. 26 (1884)

Dave — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:50:08 +0000

Hain’t we got all the fools in town on our side? And ain’t that a big enough majority in any town?

Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, ch. 26 (1884)

Twain, Mark -- Following the Equator, ch. 28 (1897)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 19:00:00 +0000

Let us be thankful for fools. But for them the rest of us could not succeed.

Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
Following the Equator, ch. 28 (1897)