WIST Quotations

Roosevelt, Eleanor -- Column (1940-07-01), “My Day”

Dave — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 18:52:31 +0000

I do not know Mr. Willkie, but the headline in one of the metropolitan papers yesterday said: “Willkie Aims At Unity, Defense and Recovery.” I’m discouraged. In Heaven’s name, will anyone aim at anything else?
Sometimes I wonder if we shall ever grow up in our politics and say definite things which mean something, or whether we shall always go on using generalities to which everyone can subscribe, and which mean very little.

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) First Lady of the US (1933–1945), politician, diplomat, activist
Column (1940-07-01), “My Day”
(Source)

Benchley, Robert -- Of All Things, ch. 20 “The Most Popular Book of the Month” (1921)

Dave — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 01:19:35 +0000

There may be said to be two classes of people in the world: those who constantly divide the people of the world into two classes, and those who do not.

Robert Benchley (1889-1945) American humorist, columnist, actor, wit
Of All Things, ch. 20 “The Most Popular Book of the Month” (1921)
(Source)

Thoreau, Henry David -- A Week on the Concord and Marrimack Rivers, “Monday” (1849)

Dave — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:46:42 +0000

All streams are but tributary to the ocean, which itself does not stream, and the shores are unchanged but in longer periods than man can measure. Go where we will, we discover infinite change in particulars only, not in generals.

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American philosopher and writer
A Week on the Concord and Marrimack Rivers, “Monday” (1849)
(Source)

Whitehead, Alfred North -- Essay (1926-08), “The Education of an Englishman,” Atlantic Monthly

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

We think in generalities, but we live in detail.

Alfred North Whitehead (1861-1947) English mathematician and philosopher
Essay (1926-08), “The Education of an Englishman,” Atlantic Monthly
(Source)

This is often slightly misquoted as "... but we live in details."