WIST Quotations

Shakespeare, William -- Julius Caesar, Act 1, sc. 2, l. 282ff (1.2.282–286) (1599)

Dave — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 16:44:42 +0000

CASCA:Three or four
wenches where I stood cried “Alas, good soul!” and
forgave him with all their hearts. But there’s no
heed to be taken of them; if Caesar had stabbed
their mothers, they would have done no less.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
Julius Caesar, Act 1, sc. 2, l. 282ff (1.2.282–286) (1599)

Carlyle, Thomas -- Sartor Resartus, Book 3, ch. 7 (1834)

Dave — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 18:42:27 +0000

Hero-worship exists, has existed, and will forever exist, universally among mankind.

Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish essayist and historian
Sartor Resartus, Book 3, ch. 7 (1834)

Quoting Herr Teufelsdröckh.

This passage first appeared in Fraser's Magazine for Town and Country, Vol. 10, No. 55 (1834-07).

Addison, Joseph -- Essay (1711-05-24), The Spectator, No. 73

Dave — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 18:05:15 +0000

The truth of it is, there is not a more unhappy being than a superannuated idol.

Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English essayist, poet, statesman
Essay (1711-05-24), The Spectator, No. 73

The essay in focuses in particular on women who are idolized by coteries of men around them.

Einstein, Albert -- “What I Believe,” Forum and Century (Oct 1930)

Dave — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:44:40 +0000

My political view is democracy. Everyone should be respected as an individual, but no one idolized.

Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-American physicist
“What I Believe,” Forum and Century (Oct 1930)

Variant: "My political ideal is that of democracy. Let every man be respected as an individual and no man idolized." "The World As I See It [Mein Weltbild]" [tr. Harris (1934)].