WIST Quotations

Joubert, Joseph -- Pensées [Thoughts], ch. 16 “Des Mœurs publiques et privées; du Caractère des Nations [On Morality and the Character of Nations],” ¶ 39 (1850 ed.) [tr. Calvert (1866), ch. 12]

Dave — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 20:02:43 +0000

It is not the desire for true riches that depraves man, but the desire for those that are false. A people never became corrupted for having grain, fruits, a pure air, better waters, more perfect arts, but for having gold, jewelry, subjects, power, a false renown, and an unjust superiority.

[Ce n’est pas le désir des vrais biens qui déprave l’homme, mais le désir de ceux qui sont faux. Jamais un peuple ne s’est corrompu, pour avoir du blé, des fruits, un air pur, des eaux meilleures, des arts plus parfaits, des femmes plus belles; mais pour avoir de l’or, des pierreries, des sujets, de la puissance, un faux renom et une injuste supériorité.]

Joseph Joubert (1754-1824) French moralist, philosopher, essayist, poet
Pensées [Thoughts], ch. 16 “Des Mœurs publiques et privées; du Caractère des Nations [On Morality and the Character of Nations],” ¶ 39 (1850 ed.) [tr. Calvert (1866), ch. 12]
(Source)

(Source (French)). This "thought" is not included in other translations I could find.

Cuomo, Mario -- Commencement Address, Iona College (3 Jun 1984)

Dave — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 12:14:24 +0000

Most of us have achieved levels of affluence and comfort un-thought of two generations ago. We’ve never had it so good, most of us. Nor have we ever complained so bitterly about our problems. The closed circle of materialism is clear to us now — aspirations become wants, wants become needs, and self-gratification becomes a bottomless pit. All around us we have seen success in the world’s terms become ultimate and desperate failure.

Mario Cuomo (1932-2015) American politician
Commencement Address, Iona College (3 Jun 1984)

Roosevelt, Theodore -- Speech (1910-08-31), “The New Nationalism,” John Brown Memorial Park dedication, Osawatomie, Kansas

Dave — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 14:21:59 +0000

The object of government is the welfare of the people. The material progress and prosperity of a nation are desirable chiefly so far as they lead to the moral and material welfare of all good citizens.

Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American politician, statesman, conservationist, writer, US President (1901–1909)
Speech (1910-08-31), “The New Nationalism,” John Brown Memorial Park dedication, Osawatomie, Kansas
(Source)