WIST Quotations

Shakespeare, William -- Hamlet, Act 5, sc. 2, l. 304 (5.2.304) (c. 1600)

Dave — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 18:50:40 +0000

OSRIC: A hit, a very palpable hit.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet
Hamlet, Act 5, sc. 2, l. 304 (5.2.304) (c. 1600)
(Source)

Heywood, John -- Proverbes, Part 2, ch. 11 (1546)

Dave — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 12:18:12 +0000

This hitteth the naile on the hed.

John Heywood (1497?-1580?) English playwright and epigrammist
Proverbes, Part 2, ch. 11 (1546)
(Source)

Bacon, Francis -- Sylva Sylvarum, Century 10 (1627)

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

The root of all superstition is that men observe when a thing hits, but not when it misses.

Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, scientist, author, statesman
Sylva Sylvarum, Century 10 (1627)

Alt trans.: "It is true that that may hold in these things, which is the general root of superstition; namely, that men observe when things hit, and not when they miss; and commit to memory the one, and forget and pass over the other."