WIST Quotations

Jacobs, Jane -- The Death and Life of Great American Cities, Part 2, ch. 12 (1961)

Dave — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 19:15:07 +0000

Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.

Jane Jacobs (1916-2006) American-Canadian journalist, author, urban theorist, activist
The Death and Life of Great American Cities, Part 2, ch. 12 (1961)
(Source)

Angelou, Maya -- “The Art of Fiction,” Paris Review, #116, Interview with George Plimpton (1990)

Dave — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 17:57:00 +0000

I’ve learned to write in the first-person singular while remembering always that my writing must speak to the first-person plural.

Maya Angelou (1928-2014) American poet, memoirist, activist [b. Marguerite Ann Johnson]
“The Art of Fiction,” Paris Review, #116, Interview with George Plimpton (1990)
(Source)

Markham, Edwin -- “Outwitted”, The Shoes of Happiness, and Other Poems (1913)

Dave — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 12:37:05 +0000

He drew a circle that shut me out —
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in.

Edwin Markham (1852-1940) American poet
“Outwitted”, The Shoes of Happiness, and Other Poems (1913)

Adams, John -- Letter (1820-07-08) to Simon Miller

Dave — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 12:26:59 +0000

I believe with Justin Martyr, that all good men are Christians, and I believe there have been, and are, good men in all nations, sincere and conscientious.

John Adams (1735–1826) American lawyer, Founding Father, statesman, US President (1797–1801)
Letter (1820-07-08) to Simon Miller
(Source)

Justin Martyr (c. AD 95–165) was an early Christian apologist and philosopher. He argued that many historical Greek philosophers, including Socrates and Plato, taught Christian virtues and were thus unknowingly Christian.

Ivins, Molly -- Essay (1987-09-11), “We the People,” Texas Observer

Dave — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:46:49 +0000

In my opinion, there’s not a thing wrong with the ideals and mechanisms outlined and the liberties set forth in the Constitution of the United States. The only problem was, the founders left a lot of people out of the Constitution. They left out poor people and black people and female people. It is possible to read the history of this country as one long struggle to extend the liberties established in our Constitution to everyone in America. And it still goes on today.

Molly Ivins (1944-2007) American writer, political columnist [Mary Tyler Ivins]
Essay (1987-09-11), “We the People,” Texas Observer
(Source)

Collected in Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She? (1991).

Bacon, Francis -- “Of Goodness, and Goodness of Nature,” Essays, No. 13 (1625)

Dave — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:42:59 +0000

If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world, and that his heart is no island cut off from other lands, but a continent that joins to them.

Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, scientist, author, statesman
“Of Goodness, and Goodness of Nature,” Essays, No. 13 (1625)
(Source)

Johnson, Lyndon -- Speech (1972-12-12), Civil Rights symposium, LBJ Library, Austin, Texas

Dave — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 00:31:32 +0000

I believe that the essence of government lies with unceasing concern for the welfare and dignity and decency and innate integrity of life for every individual. I don’t like to say this and wish I didn’t have to add these words to make it clear but I will — regardless of color, creed, ancestry, sex or age.

Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973) American politician, educator, US President (1963-69)
Speech (1972-12-12), Civil Rights symposium, LBJ Library, Austin, Texas
(Source)

(Source (Video)). Johnson's last public speech.