WIST Quotations

Adams, John Quincy -- Letter (1809-06-22) to William Eustis

Dave — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:17:15 +0000

I have, and must have, confidence in the possible virtue of human nature; and although in entertaining this idea, a man must, and will sometimes, be disappointed, yet if it is coupled with a sound judgment and close observations, I believe he could make fewer great mistakes, than one whose principle is the universal rascality of the species.

John Quincy Adams (1767–1848) US President (1825–29)
Letter (1809-06-22) to William Eustis

Stevenson, Robert Louis -- Essay (1888-09), “A Letter to a Young Gentleman Who Proposes to Embrace the Career of Art,” Scribner’s Magazine, Vol. 4, No. 3

Dave — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 21:57:03 +0000

The book, the statue, the sonata, must be gone upon with the unreasoning good faith and the unflagging spirit of children at their play. Is it worth doing? — when it shall have occurred to any artist to ask himself that question, it is implicitly answered in the negative. It does not occur to the child as he plays at being a pirate on the dining-room sofa, nor to the hunter as he pursues his quarry; and the candour of the one and the ardour of the other should be united in the bosom of the artist.

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Essay (1888-09), “A Letter to a Young Gentleman Who Proposes to Embrace the Career of Art,” Scribner’s Magazine, Vol. 4, No. 3

Collected in Across the Plains, ch. 10 (1892).

Goethe, Johann von -- Elective Affinities [Die Wahlverwandtschaften], Part 2, ch. 4, “From Ottilie’s Journal [Aus Ottiliens Tagebuche]” (1809) [Niles ed. (1872)]

Dave — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 15:46:34 +0000

Argument and flattery are but poor elements out of which to form a conversation.

[Widerspruch und Schmeichelei machen beide ein schlechtes Gespräch.]

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German poet, statesman, scientist
Elective Affinities [Die Wahlverwandtschaften], Part 2, ch. 4, “From Ottilie’s Journal [Aus Ottiliens Tagebuche]” (1809) [Niles ed. (1872)]

(Source (German)). Other translation:

Contradiction and flattery both make bad conversation.
[tr. Hollingdale (1971)]

Ennius -- Fragment 402-3 [tr. Miller]

Dave — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 22:07:42 +0000

There is no fellowship inviolate,
no faith is kept, when kingship is concerned.

[Nulla sancta societas
Nec fides regni est.]

Ennius (239–169 BC) Roman poet, writer [Quintus Ennius]
Fragment 402-3 [tr. Miller]

Quoted in Cicero, De Officiis, Book 1, ch. 8, sec. 26 (scaen. 404 Vahlen), speaking of Julius Caesar.

Other translations:

"To kingship belongs neither sacred fellowship nor faith."
"No society is sacred, nor faith of empire." [tr. Johnson (1828)]
"Trust 'twixt associate kings does not reside: No chief will brook a colleague at his side." [tr. King (1904)]
"There is no holy bond, and no fidelity / 'Twixt those who share a throne." [Source]
"Where the throne's shared, there cannot be good faith." [Source]

Stevenson, Adlai -- Speech (1952-09-11), “On Political Morality,” Town Hall Luncheon, Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles

Dave — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 14:18:04 +0000

Public confidence in the integrity of the Government is indispensable to faith in democracy; and when we lose faith in the system, we have lost faith in everything we fight and stand for.

Adlai Stevenson II (1900–1965) American politician, diplomat, statesman
Speech (1952-09-11), “On Political Morality,” Town Hall Luncheon, Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles