WIST Quotations

Child, Lydia Maria -- Letter to Lucy Osgood (1865)

Dave — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 22:26:31 +0000

Cheerfulness is to the spiritual atmosphere what sunshine is to the earthly landscape. I am resolved to cherish cheerfulness with might and main.

Lydia Maria Child (1802-1880) American abolitionist, activist, journalist, suffragist
Letter to Lucy Osgood (1865)
(Source)

Thackeray, William Makepeace -- Sketches and Travels in London, “On Tailoring — and Toilets in General” (1856)

Dave — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 16:36:03 +0000

Good humor may be said to be one of the very best articles of dress one can wear in society.

William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) English novelist
Sketches and Travels in London, “On Tailoring — and Toilets in General” (1856)

Bible, Vol. 1. Old Testament -- Book 20. Proverbs 17:22 (Prov 17:22) [tr. CEB (2011)]

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

A joyful heart helps healing,
but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

לֵ֣ב שָׂ֭מֵחַ יֵיטִ֣יב גֵּהָ֑ה וְר֥וּחַ נְ֝כֵאָ֗ה תְּיַבֶּשׁ־גָּֽרֶם׃

The Bible (The Old Testament) (14th - 2nd C BC) Judeo-Christian sacred scripture [Tanakh, Hebrew Bible], incl. the Apocrypha (Deuterocanonicals)
Book 20. Proverbs 17:22 (Prov 17:22) [tr. CEB (2011)]

(Source (Hebrew)). Alternate translations:

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
[KJV (1611)]

Being cheerful keeps you healthy. It is slow death to be gloomy all the time.
[GNT (1976)]

A glad heart is excellent medicine, a depressed spirit wastes the bones away.
[NJB (1985)]

A cheerful heart is a good medicine,
but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.
[NRSV (2021 ed.)]

A joyful heart makes for good health;
Despondency dries up the bones.
[RJPS (2023 ed.)]