WIST Quotations

Ivins, Molly -- Essay (1990-02), “The Czar is Hooked,” The Progressive

Dave — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 17:23:55 +0000

The War on Drugs is the perfect substitute for the Cold War. We can continue to pursue policies that don’t work on the cheerful assumption that if we just do more of what doesn’t work, it will solve the problem.

Molly Ivins (1944–2007) American writer, political columnist [Mary Tyler Ivins]
Essay (1990-02), “The Czar is Hooked,” The Progressive
(Source)

Collected in Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She? (1991).

Eliot, George -- Adam Bede, ch. 18 [Mrs. Poyser] (1859)

Dave — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 14:27:37 +0000

It’s but little good you’ll do a-watering the last year’s crop.

George Eliot (1819–1880) English novelist [pseud. of Mary Ann Evans]
Adam Bede, ch. 18 [Mrs. Poyser] (1859)
(Source)

Diller, Phyllis -- Phyllis Diller’s Housekeeping Hints, ch. 1, epigraph (1966)

Dave — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:01:02 +0000

Cleaning your house
While your kids are still growing
Is like shoveling the walk
Before it stops snowing.

Phyllis Diller (1917–2012) American comedian, actor, author, musician
Phyllis Diller’s Housekeeping Hints, ch. 1, epigraph (1966)
(Source)

Inge, William Ralph -- “The Birth-Rate” (1917), Outspoken Essays: First Series (1919)

Dave — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 18:25:00 +0000

It is worse than useless to try to put down by law a practice which a very large number of people believes to be innocent, and which must be left to the taste and conscience of the individual.

William Ralph Inge (1860–1954) English prelate [Dean Inge]
“The Birth-Rate” (1917), Outspoken Essays: First Series (1919)
(Source)

Speaking of birth control.

Bird, Brad -- The Incredibles (2004)

Dave — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 17:55:26 +0000

BOB: No matter how many times you save the world, it always manages to get back in jeopardy again. Sometimes I just want it to stay saved! You know?! For a little bit. I feel like the maid: “I just cleaned up this mess! Can we keep it clean for, for 10 minutes?! Please?!”

Brad Bird (b. 1957) American director, animator and screenwriter [Phillip Bradley Bird]
The Incredibles (2004)

Keyes, Daniel -- Flowers for Algernon (novel) (1966)

Dave — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 14:58:23 +0000

I am afraid. Not of life, or death, or nothingness, but of wasting it as if I had never been.

Daniel F. Keyes (1927–2014) American author
Flowers for Algernon (novel) (1966)

Lincoln, Abraham -- Speech (1839-12-26), “The Sub-Treasury,” Illinois House of Representatives, Springfield

Dave — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 12:54:12 +0000

The probability that we may fall in the struggle ought not deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just; it shall not deter me.

Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861–65)
Speech (1839-12-26), “The Sub-Treasury,” Illinois House of Representatives, Springfield
(Source)

On defeating Martin Van Buren, the incumbent Democratic President, in the next election. Van Buren was in fact defeated in 1840 by Whig candidate William Henry Harrison.

Camus, Albert -- “The Myth of Sisyphus”, The Myth of Sisyphus (1942)

Dave — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 13:19:01 +0000

The gods had condemned Sisyphus to ceaselessly rolling a rock to the top of a mountain, whence the stone would fall back of its own weight. They had thought with some reason that there is no more dreadful punishment than futile and hopeless labor.

Albert Camus (1913–1960) Algerian-French novelist, essayist, playwright
“The Myth of Sisyphus”, The Myth of Sisyphus (1942)
(Source)

Carlyle, Thomas -- The French Revolution: A History, Part 1, Book 5, ch. 5 (1.5.5) (1837)

Dave — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:22:39 +0000

O poor mortals, how ye make this Earth bitter for each other; this fearful and wonderful Life fearful and horrible; and Satan has his place in all hearts! Such agonies and ragings and wailings ye have, and have had, in all times: — to be buried all, in so deep silence; and the salt sea is not swoln with your tears.

Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish essayist and historian
The French Revolution: A History, Part 1, Book 5, ch. 5 (1.5.5) (1837)
(Source)

As the prospect of violence mounts within Paris on the night of 13 July 1789. The next day was the storming of the Bastille.

Shakespeare, William -- Macbeth, Act 5, sc. 5, l. 22ff (5.5.22-31) (1606)

Dave — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:51:04 +0000

MACBETH: To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
Macbeth, Act 5, sc. 5, l. 22ff (5.5.22-31) (1606)
(Source)

Lincoln, Abraham -- Remark (1850-09?) to William H. Herndon

Dave — Wed, 06 May 2009 12:41:38 +0000

How hard, oh, how hard it is to die and leave one’s country no better than if one had never lived for it.

Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861–65)
Remark (1850-09?) to William H. Herndon
(Source)

After the Compromise of 1850. Recounted in a letter twenty years later (1870-03-06) from Herndon (Lincoln's law partner) to Ward H. Lamon (Lincoln's friend, US Marshal, and self-appointed bodyguard).

Paine, Thomas -- The American Crisis #5, “To General Sir William Howe” (23 Mar 1778)

Dave — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 22:16:30 +0000

To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason, and whose philosophy consists in holding humanity in contempt, is like administering medicine to the dead, or endeavoring to convert an Atheist by scripture.

Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American political philosopher and writer
The American Crisis #5, “To General Sir William Howe” (23 Mar 1778)
(Source)

Sometimes shortened as: "To argue with a man who has renounced his reason is like giving medicine to the dead."

Lec, Stanislaw -- Unkempt Thoughts [Myśli nieuczesane] (1957) [tr. Gałązka (1962)]

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

The only fool bigger than the person who knows it all is the person who argues with him.

Stanislaw Lec (1909–1966) Polish aphorist, poet, satirist
Unkempt Thoughts [Myśli nieuczesane] (1957) [tr. Gałązka (1962)]