WIST Quotations

Roosevelt, Theodore -- Speech (1910-04-23), “Citizenship in a Republic [The Man in the Arena],” Sorbonne, Paris

Dave — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 23:52:07 +0000

The worth of the ideal must be largely determined by the success with which it can in practice be realized. We should abhor the so-called “practical” men whose practicality assumes the shape of that peculiar baseness which finds its expression in disbelief in morality and decency, in disregard of high standards of living and conduct. Such a creature is the worst enemy of the body politic. But only less desirable as a citizen is his nominal opponent and real ally, the man of fantastic vision who makes the impossible better forever the enemy of the possible good.

Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American politician, statesman, conservationist, writer, US President (1901–1909)
Speech (1910-04-23), “Citizenship in a Republic [The Man in the Arena],” Sorbonne, Paris
(Source)

Gracián, Baltasar -- The Art of Worldly Wisdom [Oráculo Manual y Arte de Prudencia], § 204 (1647) [tr. Fischer (1937)]

Dave — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 17:10:11 +0000

But the greatest undertakings should not be overly pondered, lest contemplation of difficulties too clearly foreseen appall you.

[Los grandes empeños aun no se han de pensar, basta ofrecerse, porque la dificultad, advertida, no ocasione el reparo.]

Baltasar Gracián y Morales (1601-1658) Spanish Jesuit priest, writer, philosopher
The Art of Worldly Wisdom [Oráculo Manual y Arte de Prudencia], § 204 (1647) [tr. Fischer (1937)]
(Source)

(Source (Spanish)). Alternate translations:

As to great enterprizes, we must not stand reasoning, it is enough that we embrace them when they present, lest the consideration of their difficulty make us abandon the attempt.
[Flesher ed. (1685)]

Great undertakings are not to be brooded over, lest their difficulty when seen causes despair.
[tr. Jacobs (1892)]

In moments of great danger, don't even think, simply act. Don't dwell on the difficulties.
[tr. Maurer (1992)]

Shakespeare, William -- All’s Well That Ends Well, Act 1, sc. 1, l. 89ff (1.1.89-97) (1602?)

Dave — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 17:41:51 +0000

HELENA: There is no living, none,
If Bertram be away. ’Twere all one
That I should love a bright particular star
And think to wed it, he is so above me.
In his bright radiance and collateral light
Must I be comforted, not in his sphere.
Th’ ambition in my love thus plagues itself:
The hind that would be mated by the lion
Must die for love.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet
All’s Well That Ends Well, Act 1, sc. 1, l. 89ff (1.1.89-97) (1602?)
(Source)

Mallet, Robert -- Apostilles: ou, L’Utile et le Futile (1972)

Dave — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 19:18:52 +0000

It is not impossibilities which fill us with deepest despair, but possibilities which we have failed to realize.

Robert Mallet (1915-2002) French novelist, poet, playwright, academician
Apostilles: ou, L’Utile et le Futile (1972)

Arany, Janos -- (Attributed)

Dave — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 16:31:26 +0000

In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities.

[Álomban és szerelemben nincs lehetetlenség.]

János Arany (1817-1882) Hungarian poet, writer, translator, journalist [John Arany]
(Attributed)
(Source)

Quoted in James Wood, Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources (1893).

Pratchett, Terry -- Discworld No. 27, The Last Hero [Leonard] (2001)

Dave — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 18:56:22 +0000

I have no use for people who have learned the limits of the possible.

Terry Pratchett (1948-2015) English author
Discworld No. 27, The Last Hero [Leonard] (2001)
(Source)

See also Clarke.

Nansen, Fridtjof -- Quoted in Listener (14 Dec 1939)

Dave — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 16:53:12 +0000

The difficult is what takes a little time; the impossible is what takes a little longer.

Fridtjof Nansen (1861-1930) Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian
Quoted in Listener (14 Dec 1939)
(Source)

Rommel, Erwin -- The Rommel Papers, ch. 11 [ed. B. H. Liddell Hart, (1953)]

Dave — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 00:27:07 +0000

Always in a moment of extreme danger things can be done which had previously been thought impossible. Mortal danger is an effective antidote for fixed ideas.

Erwin Rommel (1891-1944) German field marshal
The Rommel Papers, ch. 11 [ed. B. H. Liddell Hart, (1953)]
(Source)

Chesnutt, Charles -- The Marrow of Tradition (1901)

Dave — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 19:27:23 +0000

Impossibilities are merely things of which we have not learned, or which we do not wish to happen.

Charles Chesnutt (1858-1932) American author, essayist, civil rights activist, lawyer
The Marrow of Tradition (1901)
(Source)

Heinlein, Robert A. -- Stranger in a Strange Land, ch. 18 (1960 ed., publ. 1991)

Dave — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 23:46:50 +0000

The capacity of a human mind to believe devoutly in what seems to me to be the highly improbable — from table tapping to the superiority of their own children — has never been plumbed. Faith strikes me as intellectual laziness, but I don’t argue with it — especially as I am rarely in a position to prove that it is mistaken.

Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988) American writer
Stranger in a Strange Land, ch. 18 (1960 ed., publ. 1991)
(Source)

An elided version is found in the 1961 published edition, in ch. 13.

Aristotle -- Poetics [Περὶ ποιητικῆς, De Poetica], ch. 24 / 1461b.11 (c. 335 BC) [tr. Sachs (2006)]

Dave — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 14:16:37 +0000

With a view to poetry, an impossible thing that is believable is preferable to an unbelievable thing that is possible.

[πρός τε γὰρ τὴν ποίησιν αἱρετώτερον πιθανὸν ἀδύνατον ἢ ἀπίθανον καὶ δυνατόν.]

Aristotle (384-322 BC) Greek philosopher
Poetics [Περὶ ποιητικῆς, De Poetica], ch. 24 / 1461b.11 (c. 335 BC) [tr. Sachs (2006)]
(Source)

Original Greek. Alternate translations:

"The poet should prefer probable impossibilities to improbable possibilities." [tr. Butcher (1895)]
"A likely impossibility is always preferable to an unconvincing possibility." [tr. Bywater (1909)]
"You should prefer a plausible impossibility to an unconvincing possibility." [tr. Margoliouth (1911)]
"For poetic effect a convincing impossibility is preferable to that which is unconvincing though possible." [tr. Fyfe (1932)]
"Probable impossibilities are preferable to implausible possibilities." [tr. Halliwell (1986)]
"In relation to the needs of the composition, a believable impossibility is preferable to an unbelievable possibility." [tr. Janko (1987)]
"With respect to the requirement of art, the probable impossible is always preferable to the improbable possible."
"For the purposes of poetry a convincing impossibility is preferable to an unconvincing possibility."

Emerson, Ralph Waldo -- Journal (1848-04/05)

Dave — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:19:01 +0000

I suppose you could never prove to the mind of the most ingenious mollusk that such a creature as a whale was possible.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American essayist, lecturer, poet
Journal (1848-04/05)

Carlyle, Thomas -- Past and Present, Book 3, ch. 11 “Labour” (1843)

Dave — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:16:27 +0000

Every noble work is at first impossible. In very truth, for every noble work the possibilities will lie diffused through Immensity; inarticulate, undiscoverable except to faith.

Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) Scottish essayist and historian
Past and Present, Book 3, ch. 11 “Labour” (1843)
(Source)

Fontana, D. C. -- Star Trek, 2×02 “Charlie X” [Prod. 08] (1966-09-15) [with Gene Roddenberry]

Dave — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:55:53 +0000

KIRK: Charlie, there are a million things in this universe you can have and there are a million things you can’t have. It’s no fun facing that, but that’s the way things are.

CHARLIE: Then what am I going to do?

KIRK: Hang on tight and survive. Everybody does.

CHARLIE: You don’t.

KIRK: Everybody, Charlie. Me, too.

D. C. Fontana (1939-2019) television screenwriter, story editor [Dorothy Catherine Fontana]
Star Trek, 2×02 “Charlie X” [Prod. 08] (1966-09-15) [with Gene Roddenberry]
(Source)

(Source (Video); dialog verified.)

Doyle, Arthur Conan -- Story (1890-02), “The Sign of the Four,” ch. 6 [Holmes], Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine, Vol. 45 (US) / 1 (UK)

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

How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?

Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) British writer and physician
Story (1890-02), “The Sign of the Four,” ch. 6 [Holmes], Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine, Vol. 45 (US) / 1 (UK)
(Source)

The first appearance of the phrase in its most quoted form. However, earlier in the story, chapter 1, Holmes tells Watson:

Eliminate all other factors, and the one which remains must be the truth.

Similar expressions occur in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes ("The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet"), The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes ("Silver Blaze"), The Return of Sherlock Holmes ("The Adventure of the Priory School"), His Last Bow ("The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans"), and The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes ("The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier").

The original publication, and Doyle's manuscript (along with many other iterations across media) use "The Sign of the Four" as the title, while others (including the first book publications) use "The Sign of Four." The five-word form is used most commonly in the story, but the four-word form does show up. (More info.)

Published in novel form as The Sign of Four (1890-10).

Wooden, John -- Coach Wooden One-on-One, “Day 25” (2003) [with Jay Carty]

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

Do not permit what you cannot do to interfere with what you can do.

John Wooden (1910-2010) American basketball player and coach
Coach Wooden One-on-One, “Day 25” (2003) [with Jay Carty]
(Source)

Variant: "Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."

Clarke, Arthur C. -- “Hazards of Prophecy: The Failure of Imagination,” Profiles of the Future (1962)

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

But the only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.

Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008) British writer
“Hazards of Prophecy: The Failure of Imagination,” Profiles of the Future (1962)

Also known as Clarke's Second Law.