WIST Quotations

Havel, Vaclav -- Disturbing the Peace: A Conversation with Karel Hvížďala, ch. 5 “The Politics of Hope” (1986) [tr. Wilson (1990)]

Dave — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 16:49:31 +0000

Hope, in this deep and powerful sense, is not the same as joy that things are going well, or willingness to invest in enterprises that are obviously headed for early success, but, rather, an ability to work for something because it is good, not just because it stands a chance to succeed. The more unpropitious the situation in which we demonstrate hope, the deeper that hope is. Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.

Václav Havel (1936-2011) Czech playwright, essayist, dissident, politician
Disturbing the Peace: A Conversation with Karel Hvížďala, ch. 5 “The Politics of Hope” (1986) [tr. Wilson (1990)]
(Source)

The last two sentences are usually combined as:

Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.

Variant:

Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something is worth doing no matter how it turns out.

Thoreau, Henry David -- Speech (1859-10-30), “A Plea for Captain John Brown,” Concord, Massachusetts

Dave — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 21:43:17 +0000

Others, craven-hearted, said disparagingly, that “he threw his life away,” because he resisted the government. Which way have they thrown their lives, pray? — such as would praise a man for attacking singly an ordinary band of thieves or murderers.

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American philosopher and writer
Speech (1859-10-30), “A Plea for Captain John Brown,” Concord, Massachusetts
(Source)

Speaking of John Brown and his raid on Harpers Ferry. Collected in A Yankee in Canada (1866).

Asimov, Isaac -- Foundation, Part 4 “The Traders,” ch. 1, epigraph (1951)

Dave — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 17:14:12 +0000

Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right!

Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) Russian-American author, polymath, biochemist
Foundation, Part 4 “The Traders,” ch. 1, epigraph (1951)
(Source)

Motto of Salvor Hardin, as mentioned in the "Traders" entry in the Encyclopedia Galactica.

This part of the book was originally published as "The Wedge," Astounding Science-Fiction (1944-10), where the Salvor Hardin quote alone appears as the epigraph.

Ebner-Eschenbach, Marie von -- Aphorisms [Aphorismen], No. 97 (1880) [tr. Scrase/Mieder (1994)]

Dave — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 14:31:31 +0000

Much less evil would be done on earth if evil could not be done in the name of good.

[Es würde sehr wenig Böses auf Erden getan werden, wenn das Böse niemals im Namen des Guten getan werden könnte.]

Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916) Austrian writer
Aphorisms [Aphorismen], No. 97 (1880) [tr. Scrase/Mieder (1994)]
(Source)

(Source (German)). Alternate translation:

But little evil would be done in the world if evil could never be done in the name of good.
[tr. Wister (1883)]

Catt, Carrie Chapman -- Personal Motto

Dave — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 20:46:01 +0000

To the wrong that needs resistance
To the right that needs assistance
To the future in the distance
Give yourself!

Carrie Chapman Catt (1859-1947) American women's suffrage activist
Personal Motto
(Source)

Conveyed in a letter from Catt to Aletta Jacobs, after the death of Jacobs' husband.

West, Rebecca -- “World of Books: The Greek Way,” Sunday Times of London (23 Aug 1942)

Dave — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 22:27:42 +0000

A good cause has to be careful of the company it keeps.

Rebecca West (1892-1983) British author, journalist, literary critic, travel writer [pseud. for Cicily Isabel Fairfield]
“World of Books: The Greek Way,” Sunday Times of London (23 Aug 1942)

James, William -- Letter to E. L. Godkin (24 Dec 1895)

Dave — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 17:13:45 +0000

We are all ready to be savage in some cause. The difference between a good man and a bad one is the choice of the cause.

William James (1842-1910) American psychologist and philosopher
Letter to E. L. Godkin (24 Dec 1895)
(Source)

Colton, Charles Caleb -- Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Vol. 1, § 475 (1820)

Dave — Wed, 18 May 2016 14:17:14 +0000

If a cause be good, the most violent attack of its enemies will not injure it so much as an injudicious defense of it by its friends.

Charles Caleb "C. C." Colton (1780-1832) English cleric, writer, aphorist
Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Vol. 1, § 475 (1820)
(Source)

See Nietzsche (1882).

Eisenhower, Dwight David -- United War Fund appeal (11 Sep 1945)

Dave — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 14:42:05 +0000

War is a grim, cruel business, a business justified only as a means of sustaining the forces of good against those of evil.

Dwight David Eisenhower (1890-1969) American general, US President (1953-61)
United War Fund appeal (11 Sep 1945)
(Source)

Goldwater, Barry -- Speech, accepting the GOP Presidential Nomination, San Francisco (16 Jul 1964)

Dave — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 14:18:48 +0000

Those who seek absolute power, even though they seek it to do what they regard as good, are simply demanding the right to enforce their own version of heaven on earth. And let me remind you, they are the very ones who always create the most hellish tyrannies. Absolute power does corrupt, and those who seek it must be suspect and must be opposed.

Barry Goldwater (1909-1998) American politician
Speech, accepting the GOP Presidential Nomination, San Francisco (16 Jul 1964)
(Source)

See Acton.

Inge, William Ralph -- “Our Present Discontents,” Outspoken Essays: First Series (1919)

Dave — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 12:30:55 +0000

Like other idealisms, patriotism varies from a noble devotion to a moral lunacy.

William Ralph Inge (1860-1954) English prelate [Dean Inge]
“Our Present Discontents,” Outspoken Essays: First Series (1919)

Eisenhower, Dwight David -- Speech, Republican Campaign Picnic, Gettysburg (12 Sep 1956)

Dave — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 13:27:56 +0000

The essence of leadership is to get others to do something because they think you want it done and because they know it is worth while doing — that is what we are talking about.

Dwight David Eisenhower (1890-1969) American general, US President (1953-61)
Speech, Republican Campaign Picnic, Gettysburg (12 Sep 1956)

Greer, Germaine -- The Female Eunuch, Introduction (1970)

Dave — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 12:27:24 +0000

The struggle which is not joyous is the wrong struggle. The joy of the struggle is not hedonism and hilarity, but the sense of purpose, achievement, and dignity.

Germaine Greer (b. 1939) Australian-English feminist, reformer, author, educator
The Female Eunuch, Introduction (1970)

Brooks, Richard -- Deadline: U.S.A. [film] (1952)

Dave — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 13:03:02 +0000

If it was a worthwhile fight, it didn’t matter who won; some good was sure to come of it.

Richard Brooks (1912-1992) American screenwriter, film director, novelist
Deadline: U.S.A. [film] (1952)

Line spoken by Ethyl Barrymore.

Einstein, Albert -- “A Message to My Adopted Country,” Pageant (Jan 1946)

Dave — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 12:39:22 +0000

There is no greater satisfaction for a just and well-meaning person than the knowledge that he has devoted his best energies to the service of a good cause.

Albert Einstein (1879-1955) German-American physicist
“A Message to My Adopted Country,” Pageant (Jan 1946)
(Source)

Later reprinted as "The Negro Question."

Shaw, George Bernard -- Man and Superman, “Epistle Dedicatory” (1903)

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

This is the true joy in life, the being used up for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Irish playwright and critic
Man and Superman, “Epistle Dedicatory” (1903)
(Source)