WIST Quotations

Fuller, Thomas (1654) -- Introductio ad Prudentiam, Vol. 2, # 2524 (1727)

Dave — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 18:29:27 +0000

‘Tis in the Power of Providence to humble the Pride of the Mighty, even by the most despicable Means. Wherefore be thou never so great, or never so little, presume not on the one side, nor despair on the other.

Thomas Fuller (1654–1734) English physician, preacher, aphorist, writer
Introductio ad Prudentiam, Vol. 2, # 2524 (1727)

Freud, Sigmund -- “On Narcissism: An Introduction [Zur Einführung des Narzißmus],” ch. 3 (1914) [tr. Strachey]

Dave — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 22:50:11 +0000

A person in love is humble. A person who loves has, so to speak, forfeited a part of his narcissism.

Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) Austrian psychoanalyst and neurologist
“On Narcissism: An Introduction [Zur Einführung des Narzißmus],” ch. 3 (1914) [tr. Strachey]

Alternate translations:

The lover is humble. He who loves has, so to speak, forfeited a part of his narcissism.
[tr. Baines/Riviere]

Whoever loves becomes humble. Those who love have, so to speak, pawned a part of their narcissism.
[Source]

Lowell, James Russell -- “Jeffries Wyman,” The Nation #484 (8 Oct 1874)

Dave — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 00:42:25 +0000

The wisest man could ask no more of Fate
Than to be simple, modest, manly, true,
Safe from the Many, honored by the Few;
To count as naught in World, or Church, or State,
But inwardly in secret to be great.

James Russell Lowell (1819–1891) American diplomat, essayist, poet
“Jeffries Wyman,” The Nation #484 (8 Oct 1874)

Nietzsche, Friedrich -- Beyond Good and Evil, ch. 4 “Apophthegms and Interludes,” #141 (1886)

Dave — Thu, 25 May 2017 22:55:02 +0000

The abdomen is the reason why man does not easily take himself for a god.

Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German philosopher and poet
Beyond Good and Evil, ch. 4 “Apophthegms and Interludes,” #141 (1886)

Alt. trans.: "The belly is the reason why man does not so readily take himself for a God." [tr. Zimmern]

Martin, Judith -- (Attributed)

Dave — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 14:41:56 +0000

It is far more impressive when others discover your good qualities without your help.

Judith Martin (b. 1938) American author, journalist, etiquette expert [a.k.a. Miss Manners]
(Attributed)

Widely attributed to Martin, but no citeable source found. Some sources point to Reader's Digest which, on research, was not helpful.

Billings, Josh -- His Sayings, ch. 45 (1867)

Dave — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 16:09:29 +0000

The only wa tu pleze evra boddy, is tu make evry boddy think yu ar a bigger fule than tha ar.

[The only way to please everybody is to make everybody think you are a bigger fool than they are.]

Josh Billings (1818–1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
His Sayings, ch. 45 (1867)

Bible, Vol. 2. New Testament -- Book 1. Gospel of Matthew 23:11ff (Matt 23:11–12) (Jesus) [JB (1966)]

Dave — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 15:17:51 +0000

The greatest among you must be your servant. Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will exalted.

[ὁ δὲ μείζων ὑμῶν ἔσται ὑμῶν διάκονος. Ὅστις δὲ ὑψώσει ἑαυτὸν ταπεινωθήσεται καὶ ὅστις ταπεινώσει ἑαυτὸν ὑψωθήσεται.]

The Bible (The New Testament) (AD 1st - 2nd C) Christian sacred scripture
Book 1. Gospel of Matthew 23:11ff (Matt 23:11–12) (Jesus) [JB (1966)]

No Synoptic parallels.

(Source (Greek)). Other translations:

But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
[KJV (1611)]

The greatest one among you must be your servant. Whoever makes himself great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be made great.
[GNT (1976)]

The greatest among you must be your servant. Anyone who raises himself up will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be raised up.
[NJB (1985)]

But the one who is greatest among you will be your servant. All who lift themselves up will be brought low. But all who make themselves low will be lifted up.
[CEB (2011)]

The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
[NRSV (2021 ed.)]

Bernard, Claude -- Bulletin of New York Academy of Medicine, Vol. 4 (1928)

Dave — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 13:02:30 +0000

Science increases our power in proportion as it lowers our pride.

Claude Bernard (1813–1878) French physiologist, scientist
Bulletin of New York Academy of Medicine, Vol. 4 (1928)

Holmes, Oliver Wendell, Jr. -- Comment (8 Mar 1931)

Dave — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 13:22:04 +0000

Young man, the secret of my success is that at an early age I discovered I was not God.

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841–1935) American jurist, Supreme Court Justice
Comment (8 Mar 1931)

When asked by a reporter on his 90th birthday.

Self, Will -- In “Ten Rules for Writing Fiction,” The Guardian (20 Feb 2010)

Dave — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 13:59:53 +0000

You know that sickening feeling of inadequacy and over-exposure you feel when you look upon your own empurpled prose? Relax into the awareness that this ghastly sensation will never, ever leave you, no matter how successful and publicly lauded you become. It is intrinsic to the real business of writing and should be cherished.

Will Self (b. 1961) English author, journalist, television personality
In “Ten Rules for Writing Fiction,” The Guardian (20 Feb 2010)

Burgh, James -- The Dignity of Human Nature, Sec. 5 “Miscellaneous Thoughts on Prudence in Conversation” (1754)

Dave — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 10:28:52 +0000

There is an affected humility more unsufferable than downright pride, as hypocrisy is more abominable than libertinism. Take care that your virtues be genuine and unsophisticated.

James Burgh (1714–1775) British politician and writer
The Dignity of Human Nature, Sec. 5 “Miscellaneous Thoughts on Prudence in Conversation” (1754)

Enright, Anne -- In “Ten Rules for Writing Fiction,” The Guardian (20 Feb 2010)

Dave — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 15:22:58 +0000

Only bad writers think that their work is really good.

Anne Enright (b. 1962) Irish writer
In “Ten Rules for Writing Fiction,” The Guardian (20 Feb 2010)