WIST Quotations

Steinbeck, John -- East of Eden, ch. 34 (1952)

Dave — Wed, 27 May 2026 18:39:20 +0000

We have only one story. All novels, all poetry, are built on the never-ending contest in ourselves of good and evil. And it occurs to me that evil must constantly re-spawn, while good, while virtue, is immortal. Vice has always a new fresh young face, while virtue is venerable as nothing else in the world is.

John Steinbeck (1902-1968) American writer
East of Eden, ch. 34 (1952)
(Source)

Poe, Edgar Allan -- (Spurious)

Dave — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 06:05:52 +0000

The scariest monsters are the ones that lurk within our souls.

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) American author, poet, editor, literary critic
(Spurious)

Not found prior to a Tweet (9 Nov 2011). For more information, see here.

Gaiman, Neil -- Sandman, Book 4. Season of Mists, # 25 “Chapter 4” (1991-04)

Dave — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 03:08:14 +0000

ROWLAND: I think Hell is something you carry around with you, not somewhere you go.

Neil Gaiman (b. 1960) British author, screenwriter, fabulist
Sandman, Book 4. Season of Mists, # 25 “Chapter 4” (1991-04)
(Source)

Charles Rowland to Edwin Paine (the "Dead Boy Detectives"). Paine disagrees in a following panel: "I think maybe Hell is a place. But you don't have to stay anywhere forever."

Ibsen, Henrik -- Letter to Ludwig Passarge (16 Jun 1890)

Dave — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 13:54:09 +0000

To live is to war with trolls in heart and soul.

Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) Norwegian poet and playwright
Letter to Ludwig Passarge (16 Jun 1890)

Discussing Peter Gynt, which Passarge was translating. Often paraphrased "To live is to war against the trolls."