WIST Quotations

Billings, Josh -- Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1875-07 “2 Fakts” (1875 ed.)

Dave — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 16:24:36 +0000

One ov the most perfekt viktorys yu kan achieve over enny man, iz to beat him in politeness.

[One of the most perfect victories you can achieve over any man, is to beat him in politeness.]

Josh Billings (1818-1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1875-07 “2 Fakts” (1875 ed.)
(Source)

Martin, Judith -- Interview (1997-03), “She Says: Miss Manners,” by Sandy Fernández, Ms magazine, Vol. 7, No. 5 (1997-03/04)

Dave — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 15:01:34 +0000

People are always saying to me, “Don’t you want to go back in time?” To where? Prefeminism? Not very much, no.

Judith Martin (b. 1938) American author, journalist, etiquette expert [a.k.a. Miss Manners]
Interview (1997-03), “She Says: Miss Manners,” by Sandy Fernández, Ms magazine, Vol. 7, No. 5 (1997-03/04)
(Source)

Jefferson, Thomas -- Letter (1808-11-24) to Thomas Jefferson Randolph

Dave — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 17:28:22 +0000

It was one of the rules which above all others made Doctr. Franklin the most amiable of men in society, “never to contradict any body.” if he was urged to announce an opinion, he did it rather by asking questions, as if for information, or by suggesting doubts.

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) American political philosopher, polymath, statesman, US President (1801-09)
Letter (1808-11-24) to Thomas Jefferson Randolph
(Source)

Referring to Benjamin Franklin.

Spenser, Edmund -- The Faerie Queene, Book 6, Canto 3, st. 1 (1589-96)

Dave — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 20:49:39 +0000

True is, that whilome that good poet sayd,
The gentle minde by gentle deeds is knowne:
For a man by nothing is so well bewrayd,
As by his manners.

Edmund Spenser (c. 1552–1599) English poet
The Faerie Queene, Book 6, Canto 3, st. 1 (1589-96)
(Source)

Spender is referencing Chaucer's "Wife of Bath's Tale" in the Canterbury Tales: "he is gentil that doth gentil dedis."

Chesterfield (Lord) -- Letter (1758-01-15) to Philip Stanhope (his son), No. 298 (enclosed maxims)

Dave — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 12:12:03 +0000

An able man shows his Spirit by gentle words and resolute actions.

Lord Chesterfield (1694-1773) English statesman, wit [Philip Dormer Stanhope]
Letter (1758-01-15) to Philip Stanhope (his son), No. 298 (enclosed maxims)
(Source)

Labeled as letter #297 in the linked source, but #298 in the volume I am using as reference, which does not include the maxims.

Stevenson, Robert Louis -- Essay (1888-12), “A Christmas Sermon,” sec. 2, Scribner’s Magazine, Vol. 4

Dave — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:40:15 +0000

Gentleness and cheerfulness, these come before all morality; they are the perfect duties.

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Essay (1888-12), “A Christmas Sermon,” sec. 2, Scribner’s Magazine, Vol. 4
(Source)

In context, Stevenson is using "morality" in terms of legalistic religion.

Originally written in the winter of 1887-88. Collected in Across the Plains, ch. 12 (1892).

Martin, Judith -- “Miss Manners,” syndicated column (1982-08-28)

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

If you can’t be kind, at least be vague.

Judith Martin (b. 1938) American author, journalist, etiquette expert [a.k.a. Miss Manners]
“Miss Manners,” syndicated column (1982-08-28)
(Source)

Widely cited as a Miss Manners quotation, this is actually the headline given in at least some outlets (e.g., The Washington Post) for this date's column (which may or may not have been the title suggested by the column itself). The phrased in an expanded form in the article:

In any case, Miss Manners does not believe in ending a summer fling by explaining that it was a summer fling, when the other person might have considered it significant. Neither does one document the decline of one's interest; it is not nearly so charming a story as the build-up of feeling was, at the beginning of the summer.
There is no way to be kind in such an assignment, but you can at least be vague.