WIST Quotations

La Rochefoucauld, Francois -- Réflexions ou sentences et maximes morales [Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims], ¶317 (1665-1678) [tr. Bund/Friswell (1871)]

Dave — Sun, 20 Sep 2026 05:42:08 +0000

’Tis a small misfortune to oblige an ungrateful man; but it is unbearable to be obliged by a scoundrel.

[Ce n’est pas un grand malheur d’obliger des ingrats, mais c’en est un insupportable d’être obligé à un malhonnête homme.]

François VI, duc de La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680) French epigrammatist, memoirist, noble
Réflexions ou sentences et maximes morales [Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims], ¶317 (1665-1678) [tr. Bund/Friswell (1871)]

First present in the 3rd (1671) edition.

(Source (French)). Other translations:

The misfortune of obliging unthankful People is no very great misfortune, but to be obliged to a Knave, is one not to be endured.
[tr. Stanhope (1694), ¶317]

It is no great misfortune to oblige ingrateful people, but an insupportable one to be forced to be under an obligation to a scoundrel.
[pub. Donaldson (1783), ¶251; ed. Lepoittevin-Lacroix (1797), ¶292]

It is no great misfortune to oblige an ungrateful person; but an insupportable one to be under an obligation to a scoundrel.
[ed. Carvill (1835), ¶220]

It is not a great misfortune to oblige ungrateful people, but it is an unsupportable one to be under an obligation to a vulgar man.
[ed. Gowens (1851), ¶327]

It is no great misfortune to put an ingrate under an obligation, but it is very great misfortune to be indebted to a dishonest person.
[tr. Heard (1917), ¶317]

It is no great hardship to meet with ingratitude for our own favours; but intolerable to be indebted for favours to a scoundrel.
[tr. Stevens (1939), ¶317]

Ingratitude from those we have helped is no great misfortune: but to be obligated to a cad is quite intolerable.
[tr. FitzGibbon (1957), ¶317]

It is no great tragedy to do ungrateful people favors, but it is unbearable to be indebted to a scoundrel.
[tr. Kronenberger (1959), ¶317]

It is no great misfortune to have one's kindness repaid by ingratitude, but it is intolerable to be beholden to a scoundrel.
[tr. Tancock (1959), ¶317]

It is no great misfortune to oblige an ungrateful man; but it is unbearable to be obliged to a reprobate.
[tr. Whichello (2016), ¶317]

It is no great misfortune to receive ingratitude for favors we bestow, but it is unbearable to be indebted to a scoundrel.
[tr. Chandler, ¶317]

Billings, Josh -- Everybody’s Friend, Or; Josh Billing’s Encyclopedia and Proverbial Philosophy of Wit and Humor, ch. 281 “Variety: Bred and Butter” (1874)

Dave — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 16:48:26 +0000

Cheerfullness makes the plainest features butiful, the severest winter agreeable; it elevates the lowly, and adds a charm tew grateness, all its own.

[Cheerfulness makes the plainest features beautiful, the severest winter agreeable; it elevates the lowly, and adds a charm to greatness.]

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. 281 “Variety: Bred and Butter” (1874)

Colton, Charles Caleb -- Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Vol. 1, § 513 (1820)

Dave — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 15:22:05 +0000

He that has never known adversity is but half acquainted with others, or with himself. Constant success shows us but one side of the world. For, as it surrounds us with friends, who will tell us only our merits, so it silences those enemies from whom alone we can learn our defects.

Charles Caleb "C. C." Colton (1780–1832) English cleric, writer, aphorist
Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Vol. 1, § 513 (1820)

Johnson, Lyndon -- Speech (1965-03-15), “The American Promise,” Joint Session of Congress [40:55]

Dave — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 00:43:45 +0000

My first job after college was as a teacher in Cotulla, Texas, in a small Mexican-American school. Few of them could speak English, and I couldn’t speak much Spanish. My students were poor and they often came to class without breakfast, hungry. They knew even in their youth the pain of prejudice. They never seemed to know why people disliked them. But they knew it was so, because I saw it in their eyes. I often walked home late in the afternoon, after the classes were finished, wishing there was more that I could do. But all I knew was to teach them the little that I knew, hoping that it might help them against the hardships that lay ahead.
Somehow you never forget what poverty and hatred can do when you see its scars on the hopeful face of a young child.

Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–1973) American politician, educator, US President (1963–69)
Speech (1965-03-15), “The American Promise,” Joint Session of Congress [40:55]

A nationally broadcast address, introducing the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

McLaughlin, Mignon -- The Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 3 (1963)

Dave — Thu, 11 May 2023 15:00:47 +0000

Even cowards can endure hardship; only the brave can endure suspense.

Mignon McLaughlin (1913–1983) American journalist and author
The Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 3 (1963)

Cicero, Marcus Tullius -- Tusculan Disputations [Tusculanae Disputationes], Book 2, ch. 23 (3.23) / sec. 57 (3.57) (45 BC) [tr. Yonge (1853)]

Dave — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 20:43:47 +0000

MARCUS: All things are tolerable which others have borne and are bearing.

[Sed significat tolerabilia esse, quae et tulerint et ferant ceteri.]

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 BC) Roman orator, statesman, philosopher
Tusculan Disputations [Tusculanae Disputationes], Book 2, ch. 23 (3.23) / sec. 57 (3.57) (45 BC) [tr. Yonge (1853)]

(Source (Latin)). Other translations:

Those things are in themselves tolerable, which others have born, and do bear.
[tr. Wase (1643)]

All things are tolerable which others have borne and can bear.
[tr. Main (1824)]

What others have endured and endure must be tolerable.
[tr. Otis (1839)]

Things are tolerable which others have borne and are bearing.
[tr. Peabody (1886)]

The circumstances at hand are indeed tolerable, since others have tolerated them and continue to do so.
[tr. Graver (2002)]

Frost, Robert -- Comment, “Meet the Press” (22 Mar 1959)

Dave — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 18:37:14 +0000

We’re like a rich father who wishes he knew how to give his son the hardships that made the father such a man.

Robert Frost (1874–1963) American poet
Comment, “Meet the Press” (22 Mar 1959)

When asked by Ernest Lindley whether American civilization had improved or declined in his lifetime. Often misquoted as "Americans are like a rich father who wishes he knew how to give his son the hardships that made him rich."

Ouida -- Under Two Flags, ch. 1 (1867)

Dave — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 00:13:33 +0000

It is the trifles of life that are its bores, after all. Most men can meet ruin calmly, for instance, or laugh when they lie in a ditch with their own knee-joint and their hunter’s spine broken over the double post and rails: it is the mud that has choked up your horn just when you wanted to rally the pack; it’s the whip who carries you off to a division just when you’ve sat down to your turbot; it’s the ten seconds by which you miss the train; it’s the dust that gets in your eyes as you go down to Epsom; it’s the pretty little rose note that went by accident to your house instead of your club, and raised a storm from madame; it’s the dog that always will run wild into the birds; it’s the cook who always will season the white soup wrong — it is these that are the bores of life, and that try the temper of your philosophy.

Ouida (1839–1908) English novelist [pseud. of Maria Louise Ramé]
Under Two Flags, ch. 1 (1867)

Keynes, John Maynard -- The Economic Consequences of the Peace, ch. 6 (1919)

Dave — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 22:46:02 +0000

Economic privation proceeds by easy stages, and so long as men suffer it patiently the outside world cares little.

John Maynard Keynes (1883–1946) English economist
The Economic Consequences of the Peace, ch. 6 (1919)

Bible, Vol. 2. New Testament -- Book 8. 2nd Letter to the Corinthians 4: 8ff (2 Cor 4:8-9) [JB (1966)]

Dave — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 12:51:54 +0000

We are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems, but never despair; we have been persecuted, but never deserted; knocked down, but never killed.

[ἐν παντὶ θλιβόμενοι ἀλλ’ οὐ στενοχωρούμενοι ἀπορούμενοι ἀλλ’ οὐκ ἐξαπορούμενοι διωκόμενοι ἀλλ’ οὐκ ἐγκαταλειπόμενοι καταβαλλόμενοι ἀλλ’ οὐκ ἀπολλύμενοι.]

The Bible (The New Testament) (AD 1st - 2nd C) Christian sacred scripture
Book 8. 2nd Letter to the Corinthians 4: 8ff (2 Cor 4:8-9) [JB (1966)]

(Source (Greek)). Other translations:

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.
[KJV (1611)]

We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair; there are many enemies, but we are never without a friend; and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed.
[GNT (1976)]

We are subjected to every kind of hardship, but never distressed; we see no way out but we never despair; we are pursued but never cut off; knocked down, but still have some life in us.
[NJB (1985)]

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
[NIV (2011 ed.)]

We are experiencing all kinds of trouble, but we aren’t crushed. We are confused, but we aren’t depressed. We are harassed, but we aren’t abandoned. We are knocked down, but we aren’t knocked out.
[CEB (2011)]

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.
[NRSV (2021 ed.)]

Emerson, Ralph Waldo -- Essay (1860), “Considerations by the Way,” The Conduct of Life, ch. 7

Dave — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 09:30:24 +0000

We acquire the strength we have overcome.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) American essayist, lecturer, poet
Essay (1860), “Considerations by the Way,” The Conduct of Life, ch. 7

Based on a course of lectures by that name first delivered in Pittsburg (1851-03).

Stout, Rex -- The Red Box, ch. 11 [Wolfe] (1937)

Dave — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 17:59:27 +0000

Nothing is more admirable than the fortitude with which millionaires tolerate the disadvantages of their wealth.

Rex Stout (1886–1975) American writer
The Red Box, ch. 11 [Wolfe] (1937)

Shakespeare, William -- As You Like It, Act 2, sc. 1, l. 12ff (2.1.12-14) (1599)

Dave — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:04:38 +0000

DUKE SENIOR: Sweet are the uses of adversity,
Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
As You Like It, Act 2, sc. 1, l. 12ff (2.1.12-14) (1599)

Roosevelt, Theodore -- Speech (1899-04-10), “The Strenuous Life,” Hamilton Club, Chicago

Dave — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:09:21 +0000

I wish to preach, not the doctrine of ignoble ease, but the doctrine of the strenuous life. The life of toil and effort, of labor and strife; to preach that highest form of success which comes, not to the man who desires mere easy peace, but to the man who does not shrink from danger, from hardship or from bitter toil, and who out of these wins the splendid ultimate triumph.

Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American politician, statesman, conservationist, writer; US President (1901–09)
Speech (1899-04-10), “The Strenuous Life,” Hamilton Club, Chicago

Emerson, Ralph Waldo -- “The Fortune of the Republic,” lecture, Boston (1878-03-30)

Dave — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:27:28 +0000

Divine Providence sends the chiefest benefits under the mask of calamities.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) American essayist, lecturer, poet
“The Fortune of the Republic,” lecture, Boston (1878-03-30)

Final version of a lecture first given in 1863, and his last public speech.

Castaneda, Carlos -- The Teachings of Don Juan (1968)

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

We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.

Carlos Castañeda (1931–1999) Peruvian-American writer, mystic, anthropologist
The Teachings of Don Juan (1968)

Also attributed to Journey to Ixtlan (1972).

Dryden, John -- The Hind and the Panther, Part 3, l. 47 (1687)

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

Friendship, of itself a holy tie,
Is made more sacred by adversity.

John Dryden (1631–1700) English poet, dramatist, critic
The Hind and the Panther, Part 3, l. 47 (1687)

The actual lines read:

For friendship of it self, an holy tye,
Is made more sacred by adversity.