WIST Quotations

Moffat, Steven -- Coupling, 02×09 “The End of the Line” (2001-10-29)

Dave — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 22:36:21 +0000

JANE: Oh, I know about pretending. I once went on holiday and pretended to be twins. It was amazing fun. I invented this mad, glamorous sister and went around really annoying everybody. And d’you know, I could get away with anything when I was my crazy twin Jane.

SALLY: But you’re Jane.

JANE: Kinda stuck. It’s a long story.

Steven Moffat (b. 1961) Scottish television writer, producer
Coupling, 02×09 “The End of the Line” (2001-10-29)

(Source (Video) at 3:31; dialog verified)

Fuller, Thomas (1654) -- Introductio ad Prudentiam, Vol. 1, # 415 (1725)

Dave — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 17:18:40 +0000

Whatever thou undertakest, so do it as if it were to come to the Knowledge of all Men.

Thomas Fuller (1654–1734) English physician, preacher, aphorist, writer
Introductio ad Prudentiam, Vol. 1, # 415 (1725)

Schopenhauer, Arthur -- Parerga and Paralipomena, Vol. 1, “Aphorisms on the Wisdom of Life [Aphorismen zur Lebensweisheit],” ch. 4 “Counsels and Maxims [Paränesen und Maximen],” § 3.29 (1851) [tr. Payne (1974)]

Dave — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 17:42:28 +0000

Precisely in trifles, wherein a man is off his guard, does he show his character, and then we are often able at our leisure to observe in small actions or mere mannerisms the boundless egoism which has not the slightest regard for others and in matters of importance does not afterwards deny itself, although it is disguised. We should never miss such an opportunity. If in the petty affairs and circumstances of everyday life, in the things to which the de minimis lex non curat applies, a man acts inconsiderately, seeking merely his own advantage or convenience to the disadvantage of others; if he appropriates that which exists for everybody; then we may be sure that there is no justice in his heart, but that he would be a scoundrel even on a large scale if his hands were not tied by law and authority; we should not trust him across our threshold. Indeed, whoever boldly breaks the laws of his own circle will also break those of the State whenever he can do so without risk.

[Gerade in Kleinigkeiten, als bei welchen der Mensch sich nicht zusammennimmt, zeigt er seinen Charakter, und da kann man oft, an geringfügigen Handlungen, an bloßen Manieren, den gränzenlosen, nicht die mindeste Rücksicht auf Andere kennenden Egoismus bequem beobachten, der sich nachher im Großen nicht verleugnet, wiewohl verlarvt. Und man versäume solche Gelegenheit nicht. Wenn Einer in dem kleinen täglichen Vorgängen und Verhältnissen des Lebens, in den Dingen, von welchen das de minimis lex non curat gilt, rücksichtslos verfährt, bloß seinen Vertheil oder seine Bequemlichkeit, zum Nachtheil Andere, sucht; wenn er sich angeignet was für Alle da ist u. s. w.; da sei man überzeugt, daß in seinem Herzen keine Gerechtigkeit wohnt, sondern er auch im Großen ein Schuft sein wird, sobald das Gesetz und die Gewalt ihm nicht die Hände binden, und traue ihm nicht über die Schwelle. Ja, wer ohne Scheu die Gesetze seines Klubs bricht, wird auch die des Staates brechen, sobald er es ohne Gefahr kann.]

Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German philosopher
Parerga and Paralipomena, Vol. 1, “Aphorisms on the Wisdom of Life [Aphorismen zur Lebensweisheit],” ch. 4 “Counsels and Maxims [Paränesen und Maximen],” § 3.29 (1851) [tr. Payne (1974)]

The Latin means, "The law is not concerned with trifles." (Source (German)) Other translations:

A man shows his character just in the way in which he deals with trifles, -- for then he is off his guard. This will often afford a good opportunity of observing the boundless egoism of man's nature, and his total lack of consideration for others; and if these defects show themselves in small things, or merely in his general demeanor, you will find that they also underlie his action in matters of importance, although he may disguise the fact. This is an opportunity which should not be missed. If in the little affairs of every day, -- the trifles of life, those matters to which the rule de minimis non applies, -- a man is inconsiderate and seeks only what is advantageous or convenient to himself, to the prejudice of others' rights; if he appropriates to himself that which belongs to all alike, you may be sure there is no justice in his heart, and that he would be a scoundrel on a wholesale scale, only that law and compulsion bind his hands. Do not trust him beyond your door. He who is not afraid to break the laws of his own private circle, will break those of the State when he can do so with impunity.
[tr. Saunders (1890)]

Men best show their character in trifles, where they are not on their guard. It is in insignificant matters, and in the simplest habits, that we often see the boundless egotism which pays no regard to the feeling of others, and denies nothing to itself.
[In Tryon Edwards, A Dictionary of Thoughts, "Character" (1891); this is the version quoted most often.]

Rejali, Darius -- In Jane Mayer, “Torture and the Truth,” New Yorker (14 Dec 2014)

Dave — Mon, 03 May 2021 20:21:27 +0000

Nothing predicts future behavior as much as past impunity.

Darius Rejali (b. c. 1959) Iranian-American academic, political scientist
In Jane Mayer, “Torture and the Truth,” New Yorker (14 Dec 2014)

Publilius Syrus -- Sentences [Sententiae], #296

Dave — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 21:11:26 +0000

Acquitting the guilty convicts the judge.

[Iudex damnatur cum nocens absolvitur.]

Publilius Syrus (d. 42 BC) Assyrian slave, writer, philosopher [less correctly Publius Syrus]
Sentences [Sententiae], #296

Motto of the Edinburgh Review. Other translations:

"When the guilty man is let off, the judge stands condemned."
"The judge is condemned when the criminal is acquitted." [tr. Lyman (1856), #868]

There were multiple collections made of Publilius Syrus' Sententiae in Antiquity and the Middle Ages. This appears in all of them, but often with different line/sentence numbers, incl. #256 and #257.

Bowen, Elizabeth -- “Manners,” Collected Impressions (1950)

Dave — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 03:39:49 +0000

Good general-purpose manners nowadays may be said to consist in knowing how much you can get away with.

Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973) Irish author
“Manners,” Collected Impressions (1950)

Franklin, Benjamin -- Poor Richard (1743 ed.)

Dave — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 04:15:45 +0000

Beware, beware! he’ll cheat ’ithout scruple, who can without fear.

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1743 ed.)

Not original with Franklin; see Fuller (1725).

~Other -- Steve Gruenert and Todd Whitaker, School Culture Rewired, ch. 3 (2015)

Dave — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 13:58:50 +0000

The culture of any organization is shaped by the worst behavior the leader is willing to tolerate.

(Other Authors and Sources)
Steve Gruenert and Todd Whitaker, School Culture Rewired, ch. 3 (2015)

Often misattributed as "Gruenter and Whitaker".

Halifax, George Savile, Marquis of -- “Of Punishment,” Political, Moral, and Miscellaneous Thoughts and Reflections (1750)

Dave — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 14:01:49 +0000

Wherever a Knave is not punished, an honest Man is laugh’d at.

George Savile, Marquis of Halifax (1633–1695) English politician and essayist
“Of Punishment,” Political, Moral, and Miscellaneous Thoughts and Reflections (1750)

Fuller, Thomas (1654) -- Introductio ad Prudentiam, Vol. 1, # 525 (1725)

Dave — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:02:07 +0000

Take heed: Most Men will cheat without Scruple where they can do it without Fear.

Thomas Fuller (1654–1734) English physician, preacher, aphorist, writer
Introductio ad Prudentiam, Vol. 1, # 525 (1725)

See Franklin (1743).

Macaulay, Thomas Babington -- (Attributed)

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

The measure of a man’s real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800–1859) English writer and politician
(Attributed)