WIST Quotations

Russell, Bertrand -- Lecture (1949-01-30), “Individual and Social Ethics,” Reith Lecture, “Authority and the Individual” No. 6, BBC Radio

Dave — Wed, 06 May 2026 14:43:19 +0000

In our own day […] there has been too much of a tendency towards authority, and too little care for the preservation of initiative. Men in control of vast organisations have tended to be too abstract in their outlook, to forget what actual human beings are like, and to try to fit men to systems rather than systems to men.

Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) English mathematician and philosopher
Lecture (1949-01-30), “Individual and Social Ethics,” Reith Lecture, “Authority and the Individual” No. 6, BBC Radio
(Source)

Transcript. As collected, with edits, in Authority and the Individual (1949).

Billings, Josh -- Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1874-01 (1874 ed.)

Dave — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 20:51:25 +0000

I hav known people who waz virtewous just bekauze they waz lazy, they hadn’t snap enuff in them tew brake one of the 10 commandments.

[I have known people who were virtuous just because they were lazy; they hadn’t snap enough in them to break one of the Ten Commandments.]

Josh Billings (1818-1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1874-01 (1874 ed.)

See La Rochefoucauld ¶169, ¶237 (1665).

Arendt, Hannah -- The Origins of Totalitarianism, Part 3, ch. 10 “A Classless Soceity” (1958 ed.)

Dave — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 19:42:45 +0000

The consistent persecution of every higher form of intellectual activity by the new mass leaders springs from more than their natural resentment against everything they cannot understand. Total domination does not allow for free initiative in any field of life, for any activity that is not entirely predictable. Totalitarianism in power invariably replaces all first-rate talents, regardless of their sympathies, with those crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is still the best guarantee of their loyalty.

Hannah Arendt (1906-1975) German-American philosopher, political theorist
The Origins of Totalitarianism, Part 3, ch. 10 “A Classless Soceity” (1958 ed.)
(Source)

McLaughlin, Mignon -- The Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 10 (1963)

Dave — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 20:52:58 +0000

In every group of intimidated people, each thinks “I will rebel,” but each waits for the others.

Mignon McLaughlin (1913-1983) American journalist and author
The Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 10 (1963)
(Source)

L'Amour, Louis -- (Attribute)

Dave — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 15:38:30 +0000

Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.

Louis L'Amour (1908-1988) American writer
(Attribute)

Widely and credibly attributed to L'Amour, but I was unable to find any citations to the source.

Carlyle, Thomas -- Sartor Resartus, Book 2, ch. 4 (1834)

Dave — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 17:18:26 +0000

Not what I Have but what I Do is my Kingdom.

Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) Scottish essayist and historian
Sartor Resartus, Book 2, ch. 4 (1834)
(Source)

Quoting Herr Teufelsdröckh.

This chapter first appeared in Fraser's Magazine for Town and Country, Vol. 9, No. 50 (1834-02).

Banksy -- Wall and Piece, “Street Furniture,” “Advice on Making Stencils” (2005)

Dave — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 21:08:37 +0000

Nothing in the world is more common than unsuccessful people with talent, leave the house before you find something worth staying in for.

Banksy (b. 1974?) England-based pseudonymous street artist, political activist, film director
Wall and Piece, “Street Furniture,” “Advice on Making Stencils” (2005)
(Source)

Mill, John Stuart -- On Liberty, ch. 5 “Applications” (1859)

Dave — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 18:24:11 +0000

A State which dwarfs its men, in order that they may be more docile instruments in its hands even for beneficial purposes — will find that with small men no great thing can really be accomplished; and that the perfection of machinery to which it has sacrificed everything, will in the end avail it nothing, for want of the vital power which, in order that the machine might work more smoothly, it has preferred to banish.

John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) English philosopher and economist
On Liberty, ch. 5 “Applications” (1859)
(Source)

Closing words of the book.

Ennius -- Fragment 315 [tr. Warmington]

Dave — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 17:14:24 +0000

No sooner said than done — so acts your man of worth.

[Dictum factumque facit frux.]

Ennius (239-169 BC) Roman poet, writer [Quintus Ennius]
Fragment 315 [tr. Warmington]
(Source)

Quoted in Priscianus, Ars Prisciani, Book 6.

Brown, Rita Mae -- (Attributed)

Dave — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 17:44:47 +0000

A life of reaction is a life of slavery, intellectually and spiritually. One must fight for a life of action, not reaction.

Rita Mae Brown (b. 1944) American author, playwright
(Attributed)

Nelson, Horatio -- Memorandum before the Battle of Trafalgar (9 Oct 1805)

Dave — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 23:33:06 +0000

In case signals can neither be seen nor perfectly understood, no captain can do very wrong if he places his ship alongside that of an enemy.

Horatio Nelson (1758-1805) British admiral
Memorandum before the Battle of Trafalgar (9 Oct 1805)
(Source)

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich -- Letter to Renate and Eberhard Bethge (1944)

Dave — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 00:46:40 +0000

Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) German Lutheran pastor, theologian, martyr
Letter to Renate and Eberhard Bethge (1944)
(Source)

Alt. trans.: "It is not the thought but readiness to take responsibility that is the mainspring of action."

Boetcker, William J. H. -- “The Industrial Decalogue” (1916)

Dave — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 22:25:50 +0000

You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.
You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot establish security on borrowed money.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away men’s initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.

William J. H. Boetcker (1873-1962) German-American religious leader, author, public speaker [William John Henry Boetcker]
“The Industrial Decalogue” (1916)

Often referred to as "The Ten Cannots," and also often misattributed to Abraham Lincoln.

Lichtenberg, Georg C. -- Aphorisms, Notebook D, #96 [p. 604] (1773-75) [tr. Tester (2012)]

Dave — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 21:13:22 +0000

To do exactly the opposite of something is also a form of imitation, namely an imitation of its opposite.

Georg C. Lichtenberg (1742-1799) German physicist, writer
Aphorisms, Notebook D, #96 [p. 604] (1773-75) [tr. Tester (2012)]
(Source)

Alternate translations:

"To do just the opposite is also a form of imitation." [tr. Mautner and Hatfield]
"To do the opposite of something is also a form of imitation, namely an imitation of its opposite." [tr. Hollingdale (1990)]

Bronte, Emily -- Wuthering Heights, ch. 7 (1847) [Nelly]

Dave — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 02:15:17 +0000

A person who has not done one half his day’s work by ten o’clock runs a chance of leaving the other half undone.

Emily Brontë (1818-1848) British novelist, poet [pseud. Ellis Bell]
Wuthering Heights, ch. 7 (1847) [Nelly]
(Source)

Douglass, Frederick -- (Attributed)

Dave — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 22:09:51 +0000

I prayed for freedom for twenty years, but received no answer until I prayed with my legs.

Frederick Douglass (1817-1895) American abolitionist, orator, writer
(Attributed)

Mentioned frequently as being part of his earlier speeches, but unsourced. Also found as "failed to see the slightest scintillation of an answer until I prayed with my legs."

Roosevelt, Theodore -- Autobiography, ch. 5 “Applied Idealism” (1913)

Dave — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 12:50:30 +0000

Unrestricted individualism spells ruin to the individual himself. But so does the elimination of individualism, whether by law or custom.

Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American politician, statesman, conservationist, writer, US President (1901–1909)
Autobiography, ch. 5 “Applied Idealism” (1913)
(Source)

Rossetti, Christina -- Time Flies: A Reading Diary, “January 5” (1886)

Dave — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 22:59:04 +0000

Can anything be sadder than work left unfinished? Yes: work never begun.

Christina Rossetti (1830-1894) English poet
Time Flies: A Reading Diary, “January 5” (1886)
(Source)

Hope, Bob -- In Merla Zellerbach, “Revealing Secrets of Their Success,” San Francisco Chronicle (11 Jul 1979)

Dave — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 19:35:32 +0000

I’ve always been in the right place at the right time. Of course, I steered myself there.

Bob Hope (1903-2003) American comedian, actor, humanitarian (b. Leslie Townes Hope)
In Merla Zellerbach, “Revealing Secrets of Their Success,” San Francisco Chronicle (11 Jul 1979)

Lao-tzu -- Tao-te Ching ch. 64 [tr. Wing-Tsit Chan]

Dave — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 14:17:35 +0000

A tower of nine storeys begins with a heap of earth.
The journey of a thousand li starts from where one stands.

Lao-tzu (604?-531? BC) Chinese philosopher, poet [also Lao-tse, Laozi]
Tao-te Ching ch. 64 [tr. Wing-Tsit Chan]

Popularized in the west by John F. Kennedy, "A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step," announcing the atmospheric nuclear test ban treaty (26 Jul 1963).

Lee, Robert E. -- (Attributed)

Dave — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 12:49:48 +0000

I was too weak to defend, so I attacked.

Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) American military leader
(Attributed)

On his strategy at the Battle of Chancellorsville (1863).

Russell, Bertrand -- Lecture (1949-01-30), “Individual and Social Ethics,” Reith Lecture, No. 6, BBC Radio

Dave — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:41:18 +0000

On the one hand, security and justice require centralized governmental control, which must extend to the creation of a world government if it is to be effective. Progress, on the contrary, requires the utmost scope for personal initiative that is compatible with social order.

Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) English mathematician and philosopher
Lecture (1949-01-30), “Individual and Social Ethics,” Reith Lecture, No. 6, BBC Radio
(Source)

As collected, with edits, in Authority and the Individual (1949).

Garfield, James A. -- “Elements of Success,” speech, Spencerian Business College, Washington, D.C. (29 Jul 1869)

Dave — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:57:59 +0000

A pound of pluck is worth a ton of luck.

James A. Garfield (1831-1881) US President (1881), lawyer, lay preacher, educator
“Elements of Success,” speech, Spencerian Business College, Washington, D.C. (29 Jul 1869)
(Source)

Herbert, George -- Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 537 (1640 ed.)

Dave — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 13:45:03 +0000

Helpe thy selfe, and God will helpe thee.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 537 (1640 ed.)
(Source)

For more discussion of this and other closely related quotations: God helps those who help themselves - Wikipedia

Straczynski, J. Michael "Joe" -- rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated, “At The Midpoint (Spoilers for everything)” (7 Apr 1995)

Dave — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:54:15 +0000

We are not powerless. We have tremendous potential for good or ill. How we choose to use that power is up to us; but first we must choose to use it. We’re told every day, “You can’t change the world.” But the world is changing every day. Only question is … who’s doing it? You or somebody else?

J. Michael (Joe) Straczynski (b. 1954) American screenwriter, producer, author [a/k/a "JMS"]
rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated, “At The Midpoint (Spoilers for everything)” (7 Apr 1995)
(Source)

See Straczynski.

Lowell, James Russell -- “Sonnet 4” (1840)

Dave — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:30:27 +0000

Be noble! And the nobleness that lies
In other men, sleeping, but never dead,
Will rise in majesty to meet thine own.

James Russell Lowell (1819-1891) American diplomat, essayist, poet
“Sonnet 4” (1840)
(Source)

Often presented as a simple sentence, rather than lines within a larger poem.

Smith, Sydney -- Lecture (1804-1806), Moral Philosophy, No. 9 “On the Conduct of the Understanding,” Royal Institution, London

Dave — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 20:14:25 +0000

A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little courage. Every day sends to their graves obscure men whose timidity prevented them from making a first effort.

Sydney Smith (1771-1845) English clergyman, essayist, wit
Lecture (1804-1806), Moral Philosophy, No. 9 “On the Conduct of the Understanding,” Royal Institution, London
(Source)

Collected in Elementary Sketches of Moral Philosophy (1849).

Lorimer, George Horace -- Old Gorgon Graham: More Letters from a Self-Made Merchant to His Son, ch. 3 (1903)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 18:00:00 +0000

The man who can make up his mind quick, makes up other people’s minds for them. Decision is a sharp knife that cuts clear and straight and lays bare the fat and the lean; indecision is a dull one that hacks and tears and leaves ragged edges behind it.

George Horace Lorimer (1867-1937) American journalist, author, magazine editor
Old Gorgon Graham: More Letters from a Self-Made Merchant to His Son, ch. 3 (1903)
(Source)

Chesterfield (Lord) -- Letter to his son, #298 (15 Jan 1758)

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

Young men are apt to think themselves wise enough, as drunken men are apt to think themselves sober enough. They look upon spirit to be a much better thing than experience, which they call coldness. They are but half mistaken; for though spirit without experience is dangerous, experience without spirit is languid and defective.

Lord Chesterfield (1694-1773) English statesman, wit [Philip Dormer Stanhope]
Letter to his son, #298 (15 Jan 1758)
(Source)

Milne, A. A. -- House at Pooh Corner, ch. 9 “Eeyore Finds the Wolery” (1928)

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

You’ve never been to see any of us. You just stay here in this one corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. Why don’t you go to them sometimes?

A. A. Milne (1882-1956) English poet and playwright [Alan Alexander Milne]
House at Pooh Corner, ch. 9 “Eeyore Finds the Wolery” (1928)
(Source)

Rabbit to Eeyore.

Sometimes paraphrased: "You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes."