WIST Quotations

McLaughlin, Mignon -- The Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 6 (1963)

Dave — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 20:45:33 +0000

Every group of six or more has its inner circle, its outer circle, and its hangers-on.

Mignon McLaughlin (1913–1983) American journalist and author
The Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 6 (1963)

Johnson, Lyndon -- Quoted in David Halberstam, book review, New York Times (1971-10-31)

Dave — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 13:28:17 +0000

It’s probably better to have him inside the tent pissing out, than outside the tent pissing in.

Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–1973) American politician, educator, US President (1963–69)
Quoted in David Halberstam, book review, New York Times (1971-10-31)

Review of the just-published Lyndon Johnson, Vantage Point: Perspectives of the Presidency 1963-1969, regarding the difficulty for him to fire FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover. Halberstam notes this as a Johnson quotation not found in the book, complaining that it's far too sanitized a retelling of Johnson's presidency. This is generally accepted as the earliest printed mention of the quotation.

Tutu, Desmond -- “And God Smiles,” Sermon, All Saints Church, Pasadena, California (6 Nov 2005)

Dave — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 03:09:59 +0000

This family has no outsiders. Everyone is an insider. When Jesus said, “I, if I am lifted up, will draw …” Did he say, “I will draw some”? “I will draw some, and tough luck for the others”? He said, “I, if I be lifted up, will draw all.” All! All! All! — Black, white, yellow; rich, poor; clever, not so clever; beautiful, not so beautiful. All! All! It is radical. All! Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Laden, Bush — all! All! All are to be held in this incredible embrace. Gay, lesbian, so-called “straight;” all! All! All are to be held in the incredible embrace of the love that won’t let us go.

Desmond Tutu (1931–2021) South African cleric, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Nobel Laureate
“And God Smiles,” Sermon, All Saints Church, Pasadena, California (6 Nov 2005)

The Bible passage referenced is John 12:32.