WIST Quotations

Montaigne, Michel de -- Essays, Book 2, ch. 17 (2.17), “Of Presumption [De la Presomption]” (1578) [tr. Frame (1943)]

Dave — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 21:44:08 +0000

Deliberation, even about the slightest things, annoys me; and I feel my mind harder put to it to endure the various shocks and ups and downs of doubt and deliberation, than to settle down and accept any course whatever, after the die is cast. Few passions have troubled my sleep; but as for deliberations, the slightest one troubles it.

[Le deliberer, voire és choses plus legeres, m’importune. Et sens mon esprit plus empesché à souffrir le bransle, & les secousses diverses du doute, & de la consultation, qu’à se rassoir & resoudre à quelque party que ce soit, apres que la chance est livree. Peu de passions m’ont troublé le sommeil ; mais des deliberations, la moindre me le trouble.]

Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) French essayist
Essays, Book 2, ch. 17 (2.17), “Of Presumption [De la Presomption]” (1578) [tr. Frame (1943)]
(Source)

This essay was in the 1st (1580) edition, but this passage first showed up in the second (1588) edition.

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

To deliberate, be it but in sleight matters, doth importune me. And I feele my spirit more perplexed to suffer the motions of doubt, and shakings of consultation, then to be settled and resolved about any accident whatsoever, after the chaunce is once cast. Fewe passions have troubled my sleep; but of deliberations the leaste doth trouble it.
[tr. Florio (1603)]

Deliberation, even in things of lightest moment, is very troublesome to me; and I find my mind more put to it, to undergo the various tumbling and tossing of doubt and consultation, than to set up its rest, and to acquiesce in whatever shall happen after the die is thrown. Few passions break my sleep; but, of deliberations, the least disturbs me.
[tr. Cotton (1686)]

Deliberation, even in things of lightest moment, is very troublesome to me; and I find my mind more put to it to undergo the various tumblings and tossings of doubt and consultation, than to set up its rest and to acquiesce in whatever shall happen after the die is thrown. Few passions break my sleep, but of deliberations, the least will do it.
[tr. Cotton/Hazlitt (1877)]

Deliberation, indeed, even in the most trivial things, importunes me; and I feel my mind more pestered in suffering the actions and diverse shocks of doubt and consultation than, after the die is cast, in settling down and resolving upon some course, whatever it may be. Few passions have ever disturbed my sleep, but the least deliberation troubles me.
[tr. Ives (1925)]

Deliberation, even in things of lightest moment, is vexatious to me; and I find my mind more put to it to bear up under the various agitations and disturbances of doubt and deliberation than in settling down and acquiescing in whatever shall happen after the die is thrown. Few passions have troubled my sleep, but of deliberations the slightest one will trouble it.
[tr. Zeitlin (1934)]

Deliberation, even in the most trivial affairs, is irksome to me; and my mind is more put about when suffering the shocks and trepidations of uncertainty and doubt than in settling down and accepting whatever happens, once the die is cast. My sleep has been broken by few passions; but the slightest suspense will break it.
[tr. Cohen (1958)]

It bothers me to make up my mind even about the most trivial things, and I feel my spirits more hard-pressed in suffering the swings of doubt and the diverse shocks of decision-making than in remaining fixed, resigned to any outcome whatsoever once the dice have been thrown. Few emotions have ever disturbed my sleep, yet even the slightest need to decide anything can disturb it for me.
[tr. Screech (1987)]

Nin, Anais -- “Winter of Artifice” (1945)

Dave — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 14:08:03 +0000

To fight a real sorrow, a real loss, a real insult, a real disillusion, a real treachery was infinitely less difficult than to spend a night without sleep struggling with ghosts. The imagination is far better at inventing tortures than life because the imagination is a demon within us and it knows where to strike, where it hurts.

Anaïs Nin (1903-1977) Catalan-Cuban-French author, diarist
“Winter of Artifice” (1945)
(Source)

McLaughlin, Mignon -- The Second Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 10 (1966)

Dave — Thu, 20 May 2021 18:29:31 +0000

Loneliness, insomnia, and change: the fear of these is even worse than the reality.

Mignon McLaughlin (1913-1983) American journalist and author
The Second Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 10 (1966)

Krutch, Joseph Wood -- The Twelve Seasons, “February” (1949)

Dave — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 22:42:25 +0000

Cats are rather delicate creatures and they are subject to a good many ailments, but I never heard of one who suffered from insomnia.

Joseph Wood Krutch (1893-1970) American educator, writer, critic, naturalist
The Twelve Seasons, “February” (1949)
(Source)

Verne, Jules -- The Steam House, Book 2, ch. 5 (1880)

Dave — Sat, 27 Aug 2016 00:11:29 +0000

Though sleep is called our best friend, it is a friend who often keeps us waiting!

Jules Verne (1828-1905) French novelist, poet, playwright
The Steam House, Book 2, ch. 5 (1880)
(Source)

Peale, Norman Vincent -- Inspiring Messages for Daily Living (1981 ed.)

Dave — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 17:24:30 +0000

Don’t take tomorrow to bed with you.

Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993) American preacher, writer
Inspiring Messages for Daily Living (1981 ed.)

Haliburton, Thomas Chandler -- Sam Slick’s Wise Saws and Modern Instances, Vol. 2 (1853)

Dave — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 13:28:38 +0000

To carry care to bed is to sleep with a pack on your back.

Thomas Chandler Haliburton (1796-1865) Canadian politician, judge, humorist
Sam Slick’s Wise Saws and Modern Instances, Vol. 2 (1853)

Cooke, Edmund Vance -- “Don’t Take Your Troubles to Bed”, l. 7 (1903)

Dave — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 14:29:11 +0000

You may batter your way through the thick of the fray,
You may sweat, you may swear, you may grunt;
You may be a jack-fool, if you must, but this rule
Should ever be kept at the front:–
Don’t fight with your pillow, but lay down your head
And kick every worriment out of the bed.

Edmund Vance Cooke (1866-1932) Canadian poet
“Don’t Take Your Troubles to Bed”, l. 7 (1903)

~Proverbs and Sayings -- Arab proverb

Dave — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 12:43:52 +0000

The worst things:
To try to sleep and sleep not.
To wait for one who comes not.
To try to please and please not.

Proverbs, Sayings, and Adages
Arab proverb

Shakespeare, William -- Henry IV, Part 2, Act 3, sc. 1, l. 26ff (3.1.26-31) (c. 1598)

Dave — Tue, 31 May 2011 07:33:15 +0000

HENRY: Canst thou, O partial sleep, give thy repose
To the wet sea-boy in an hour so rude,
And, in the calmest and most stillest night,
With all appliances and means to boot,
Deny it to a king? Then, happy low, lie down.
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet
Henry IV, Part 2, Act 3, sc. 1, l. 26ff (3.1.26-31) (c. 1598)
(Source)