WIST Quotations

Billings, Josh -- Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1875-04 (1875 ed.)

Dave — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:32:10 +0000

A good karakter is allwuss gained bi inches, but iz often lost in one chunk.

[A good character is always gained by inches, but is often lost in one chunk.]

Josh Billings (1818-1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1875-04 (1875 ed.)
(Source)

Boileau-Despréaux, Nicolas -- Satires, Satire 10, l. 167 (1716)

Dave — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 16:30:27 +0000

Honor is like an island, rugged and without a beach; once we have left it, we can never return.

[L’honneur est comme une ile escarpée et sans bords ;
On n’y peut plus rentrer dès qu’on en est dehors.]

Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux (1636-1711) French poet and critic
Satires, Satire 10, l. 167 (1716)