WIST Quotations

Milne, A. A. -- Winnie-the-Pooh, ch. 1 “We Are Introduced” (1926)

Dave — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 19:39:40 +0000

Winnie-the-Pooh sat down at the foot of the tree, put his head between his paws and began to think.
“If there’s a buzzing-noise, somebody’s making a buzzing-noise, and the only reason for making a buzzing-noise that I know of is because you’re a bee.”
Then he thought another long time, and said: “And the only reason for being a bee that I know of is making honey.”
And then he got up, and said: “And the only reason for making honey is so I can eat it.” So he began to climb the tree.

A. A. Milne (1882–1956) English poet and playwright [Alan Alexander Milne]
Winnie-the-Pooh, ch. 1 “We Are Introduced” (1926)
(Source)

Franklin, Benjamin -- Poor Richard (1744 ed.)

Dave — Tue, 12 May 2015 12:05:38 +0000

Tart Words make no Friends: a spoonful of honey will catch more flies than Gallon of Vinegar.

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1744 ed.)
(Source)

Not original with Franklin. See Giovanni Torriano, A Common Place of Italian Proverbs [Piazza universale di proverbi Italiani] (1666):

Il mele catta più mosche, che non fà l'aceto.

Honey gets more flyes to it, than doth viniger.

Kaunda, Kenneth -- Quoted in the Observer (London) (1982-09-05)

Dave — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 00:39:29 +0000

When you go in search of honey you must expect to be stung by bees.

Kenneth Kaunda (1924–2021) Zambian teacher, revolutionary, politician
Quoted in the Observer (London) (1982-09-05)
(Source)

Sometimes attributed to Joseph Joubert, but not found in his works.