WIST Quotations

Bible, Vol. 1. Old Testament -- Book 19. Psalms 23: 1ff (Ps 23:1-4) [tr. KJV (1611)]

Dave — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:33:17 +0000

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִ֑ד יְהֹוָ֥ה רֹ֝עִ֗י לֹ֣א אֶחְסָֽר׃]
בִּנְא֣וֹת דֶּ֭שֶׁא יַרְבִּיצֵ֑נִי עַל־מֵ֖י מְנֻח֣וֹת יְנַהֲלֵֽנִי׃
נַפְשִׁ֥י יְשׁוֹבֵ֑ב יַֽנְחֵ֥נִי בְמַעְגְּלֵי־צֶ֝֗דֶק לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמֽוֹ׃
[גַּ֤ם כִּֽי־אֵלֵ֨ךְ בְּגֵ֪יא צַלְמָ֡וֶת לֹא־אִ֘ירָ֤א רָ֗ע כִּי־אַתָּ֥ה עִמָּדִ֑י שִׁבְטְךָ֥ וּ֝מִשְׁעַנְתֶּ֗ךָ הֵ֣מָּה יְנַֽחֲמֻֽנִי׃

The Bible (The Old Testament) (14th - 2nd C BC) Judeo-Christian sacred scripture [Tanakh, Hebrew Bible], incl. the Apocrypha (Deuterocanonicals)
Book 19. Psalms 23: 1ff (Ps 23:1-4) [tr. KJV (1611)]
(Source)

One of the most famous Psalms of the Bible, and subject to translation by any number of poets and song writers (e.g., Addison (1712)).

(Source (Hebrew)). Alternate translations:

Yahweh is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
In meadows of green grass he lets me lie.
To the waters of repose he leads me;
there he revives my soul.
He guides me by paths of virtue for the sake of his name.
Though I pass through a gloomy Valley,
beside me your rod and your staff are there, to hearten me.
[JB (1966)]

Yahweh is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
In grassy meadows he lets me lie. By tranquil streams he leads me
to restore my spirit.
He guides me in paths of saving justice as befits his name.
Even were I to walk in a ravine as dark as death I should fear no danger,
for you are at my side.
Your staff and your crook are there to soothe me.
[NJB (1985)]

The Lord is my shepherd;
I have everything I need.
He lets me rest in fields of green grass
and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water.
He gives me new strength.
He guides me in the right paths,
as he has promised.
Even if I go through the deepest darkness,
I will not be afraid, Lord,
for you are with me.
Your shepherd's rod and staff protect me.
[GNT (1992 ed.)]

The Lord is my shepherd.
I lack nothing.
He lets me rest in grassy meadows;
he leads me to restful waters;
he keeps me alive.
He guides me in proper paths
for the sake of his good name.
Even when I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger because you are with me.
Your rod and your staff --
they protect me.
[CEB (2011)]

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
[NRSV (2021 ed.)]

God is my shepherd;
I lack nothing.
[God] makes me lie down in green pastures,
and leads me to water in places of repose --
renewing my life,
guiding me in the right paths
as befits the divine name.
Though I walk through a valley of deepest darkness,
I fear no harm, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff -- they comfort me.
[RJPS (2023 ed.)]

Adams, John -- Letter (1775-10-29) to Abigail Adams

Dave — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 23:03:44 +0000

It should be your care, therefore, and mine, to elevate the minds of our children and exalt their courage; to accelerate and animate their industry and activity; to excite in them an habitual contempt of meanness, abhorrence of injustice and inhumanity, and an ambition to excel in every capacity, faculty, and virtue.

John Adams (1735–1826) American lawyer, Founding Father, statesman, US President (1797–1801)
Letter (1775-10-29) to Abigail Adams
(Source)

Wilcox, Ella Wheeler -- Poem (1906), “Assistance,” l. 9ff, New Thought Pastels

Dave — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 19:16:40 +0000

Look to the Great Eternal Cause
And not to any man, for light.
Look in; and learn the wrong, and right,
From your own soul’s unwritten laws.
And when you question, or demur,
Let Love be your Interpreter.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850-1919) American author, poet, temperance advocate, spiritualist
Poem (1906), “Assistance,” l. 9ff, New Thought Pastels
(Source)

De Botton, Alain -- The Consolations of Philosophy, ch. 1 “Consolation For Unpopularity” (2000)

Dave — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 16:00:35 +0000

Not everyone is worth listening to.

Alain de Botton (b. 1969) Swiss-British author
The Consolations of Philosophy, ch. 1 “Consolation For Unpopularity” (2000)
(Source)

Roosevelt, Franklin Delano -- Letter (1938-06-15) to Rev. Daniel Poling, “Greeting to the World’s Christian Endeavor Convention in Melbourne, Australia”

Dave — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 01:55:55 +0000

I doubt if there is in the world a single problem, whether social, political, or economic, which would not find ready solution if men and nations would rule their lives according to the plain teaching of the Sermon on the Mount.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882–1945) American lawyer, politician, statesman, US President (1933–1945)
Letter (1938-06-15) to Rev. Daniel Poling, “Greeting to the World’s Christian Endeavor Convention in Melbourne, Australia”
(Source)

Newman, John -- “Lead, Kindly Light” (16 Jun 1833)

Dave — Tue, 05 May 2015 13:26:37 +0000

Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on;
The night is dark, and I am far from home;
Lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; — one step enough for me.

John Henry Newman (1801-1890) English prelate, Catholic Cardinal, theologian
“Lead, Kindly Light” (16 Jun 1833)
(Source)

Bible, Vol. 1. Old Testament -- Book 19. Psalms 119: 105 (Ps 119:105) [KJV (1611)]

Dave — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 14:47:10 +0000

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

The Bible (The Old Testament) (14th - 2nd C BC) Judeo-Christian sacred scripture [Tanakh, Hebrew Bible], incl. the Apocrypha (Deuterocanonicals)
Book 19. Psalms 119: 105 (Ps 119:105) [KJV (1611)]
(Source)

Alternate translations:

Now your word is a lamp to my feet, a light on my path.
[JB (1966)]

Your word is a lamp to guide me
and a light for my path.
[GNT (1976)]

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
[NJB (1985)]

Your word is a lamp before my feet
and a light for my journey.
[CEB (2011)]

Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
[NRSV (2021 ed.)]

Your word is a lamp to my feet,
a light for my path.
[RJPS (2023 ed.)]

Churchill, Winston -- Speech, Royal Academy of Art banquet, London (30 Apr 1953)

Dave — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 14:29:59 +0000

Without tradition, art is a flock of sheep without a shepherd. Without innovation, it is a corpse.

Winston Churchill (1874-1965) British statesman and author
Speech, Royal Academy of Art banquet, London (30 Apr 1953)
(Source)

Billings, Josh -- Everybody’s Friend, Or; Josh Billing’s Encyclopedia and Proverbial Philosophy of Wit and Humor, ch. 148 “Affurisms: Ink Brats” (1874)

Dave — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:10:30 +0000

“Experience iz a good schoolmaster,” but reason iz a better one.

[“Experience is a good schoolmaster,” but reason is a better one.]

Josh Billings (1818-1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Everybody’s Friend, Or; Josh Billing’s Encyclopedia and Proverbial Philosophy of Wit and Humor, ch. 148 “Affurisms: Ink Brats” (1874)
(Source)

Emerson, Ralph Waldo -- Essay (1841), “Friendship,” Essays: First Series, No. 6

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

Let us be silent, — so we may hear the whisper of the gods.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American essayist, lecturer, poet
Essay (1841), “Friendship,” Essays: First Series, No. 6
(Source)

Sometimes misquoted as "whispers of the gods."