WIST Quotations

Nash, Ogden -- “I Have It On Good Authority,” New York American (3 Sep 1935)

Dave — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 18:42:48 +0000

Another good thing about gossip is that it is within everybody’s reach,

And it is much more interesting than any other form of speech,

Because suppose you eschew gossip and just say

Mr. Smith is in love with his wife.

Why that disposes the Smiths as a topic of conversation for the rest of their life,

But suppose you say with a smile, that poor little Mrs. Smith thinks her husband is in love with her, he must be very clever,

Why then you can enjoyably talk about the Smiths forever.

Ogden Nash (1902-1971) American poet
“I Have It On Good Authority,” New York American (3 Sep 1935)
(Source)

Moliere -- Le Misanthrope, Act 3, sc. 7 (1666) [tr. Wormeley (1894)]

Dave — Fri, 08 May 2020 15:58:52 +0000

ALCESTE: This is a subject on which, no matter what is learned, doubts are more cruel than the worst of truths.

[Mais sur ce sujet quoi que l’on nous expose,
Les doutes sont fâcheux plus que toute autre chose.]

Molière (1622-1673) French playwright, actor [stage name for Jean-Baptiste Poquelin]
Le Misanthrope, Act 3, sc. 7 (1666) [tr. Wormeley (1894)]
(Source)

On being told by Arsinoé that he is betrayed by Célimène.

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

But whatever may be openly said on this subject is not half so annoying as hints thrown out.
[tr. Van Laun (1878), 3.7]

But on this subject, whatever we may be told, doubts are of all things the most tormenting.
[tr. Mathew (1890) 3.4]

But whatever we may be told on this subject is not half so disturbing as hints and innuendoes.
[tr. Waller (1903), 3.5]

In such a case, whatever we may learn,
Doubts are more torturing than any truth.
[tr. Page (1913), 3.7]

Madam, you know that doubt and vague suspicion
Are painful to a man in my position.
[tr. Wilbur (1954), 3.7]

No matter what one says on such a theme,
It's doubt which is the most distressing thing.
[tr. Bishop (1957)]

Whatever we are told in this domain,
Doubt is the thing that gives the greatest pain.
[tr. Frame (1967), 3.5]

Whedon, Joss -- Firefly, 1×06 “Our Mrs. Reynolds” (2 Oct 2002)

Dave — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 12:44:50 +0000

MAL: I would appreciate it if one person on this boat would not assume I’m an evil, lecherous hump.

ZOE: No one’s saying that, sir.

WASH: Yeah, we’re pretty much just giving each other significant glances and laughing incessantly.

Joss Whedon (b. 1964) American screenwriter, author, producer [Joseph Hill Whedon]
Firefly, 1×06 “Our Mrs. Reynolds” (2 Oct 2002)

Martin, Steve -- Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (1982) [with Carl Reiner, George Gipe]

Dave — Wed, 30 May 2012 13:04:07 +0000

JULIET: If you need me, just call. You know how to dial, don’t you? You just put your finger in the hole and make tiny little circles.

Steve Martin (b. 1945) American comedian, actor, writer, producer, musician
Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (1982) [with Carl Reiner, George Gipe]