WIST Quotations

Twain, Mark -- Note (1896-02), Mark Twain’s Notebook, ch. 24 “Ceylon and India” (1935) [ed. Albert Bigelow Paine]

Dave — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 01:22:18 +0000

Why, it is the prohibition that makes anything precious. There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable.

Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
Note (1896-02), Mark Twain’s Notebook, ch. 24 “Ceylon and India” (1935) [ed. Albert Bigelow Paine]
(Source)

Speaking of Adam and the original Forbidden Fruit. Written while in Bombay, India.

Silverstein, Shel -- “Listen To The Mustn’ts,” Where the Sidewalk Ends (1974)

Dave — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 16:00:05 +0000

Listen to the MUSTN’Ts, child,
Listen to the DON’Ts
Listen to the SHOULDN’Ts
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON’Ts
Listen to the NEVER HAVEs
Then listen close to me —
Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be.

Shel Silverstein (1930-1999) American poet, singer-songwriter, cartoonist, children's author
“Listen To The Mustn’ts,” Where the Sidewalk Ends (1974)

Twain, Mark -- The Tragedy of Pudd’nhead Wilson, ch. 2 (1894)

Dave — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 15:21:15 +0000

Adam was but human — this explains it all. He did not want the apple for the apple’s sake, he wanted it only because it was forbidden. The mistake was in not forbidding the serpent; then he would have eaten the serpent.

Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
The Tragedy of Pudd’nhead Wilson, ch. 2 (1894)

Vidal, Gore -- “America First? America Last? America at Last?” Lowell Lecture, Harvard University (20 Apr 1992)

Dave — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:05:16 +0000

At least when the Emperor Justinian, a sky-god man, decided to outlaw sodomy, he had to come up with a good practical reason, which he did. It is well known, Justinian declared, that buggery is a principal cause of earthquakes, and so must be prohibited. But our sky-godders, always eager to hate, still quote Leviticus, as if that looney text had anything useful to say about anything except, perhaps, the inadvisability of eating shellfish in the Jerusalem area.

Gore Vidal (1925-2012) American novelist, dramatist, critic
“America First? America Last? America at Last?” Lowell Lecture, Harvard University (20 Apr 1992)
(Source)

Luther, Martin -- Letter to Jerome Weller (Jul 1530)

Dave — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:40:44 +0000

Whenever the devil harasses you, seek the company of men or drink more, or joke and talk nonsense, or do some other merry thing. Sometimes we must drink more, sport, recreate ourselves, aye, and even sin a little to spite the devil, so that we leave him no place for troubling our consciences with trifles. We are conquered if we try too conscientiously not to sin at all. So when the devil says to you: “Do not drink,” answer him: “I will drink, and right freely, just because you tell me not to.” One must always do what Satan forbids.

Martin Luther (1483-1546) German priest, theologian, writer, religious reformer
Letter to Jerome Weller (Jul 1530)
(Source)

Alt. trans.: "We are soon defeated if we try too hard not to sin. So when the devil says ‘Do not drink’ answer him: ‘I shall drink, and right freely, just because you tell me not to!’"

Bible, Vol. 2. New Testament -- 1 Corinthians 10: 29 [NJB (1985)]

Dave — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:37:46 +0000

Why should my freedom be governed by somebody else’s conscience?

[ἱνατί γὰρ ἡ ἐλευθερία μου κρίνεται ὑπὸ ἄλλης συνειδήσεως]

The Bible (The New Testament) (AD 1st - 2nd C) Christian sacred scripture
1 Corinthians 10: 29 [NJB (1985)]
(Source)

Paul on how it's okay to eat food that others think is religiously wrong to eat (but how you shouldn't be a dick about it, either).

(Source (Greek)). Alternate translations:

For why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
[KJV (1611)]

Why should my freedom depend on somebody else’s conscience?
[JB (1966)]

“Well, then,” someone asks, “why should my freedom to act be limited by another person's conscience?"
[GNT (1976)]

Why should my freedom be judged by someone else’s conscience?
[CEB (2011)]

For why should my liberty be subject to the judgment of someone else’s conscience?
[NRSV (2021 ed.)]