WIST Quotations

Cicero, Marcus Tullius -- Tusculan Disputations [Tusculanae Disputationes], Book 1, ch. 16 (1.16) / sec. 38 (1.38) (45 BC) [ed. Harbottle (1897)]

Dave — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 19:42:45 +0000

MARCUS: The power of separating the intellect from the senses, and reason from instinct, is characteristic of the highest genius.

[Magni autem est ingenii sevocare mentem a sensibus et cogitationem ab consuetudine abducere.]

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 BC) Roman orator, statesman, philosopher
Tusculan Disputations [Tusculanae Disputationes], Book 1, ch. 16 (1.16) / sec. 38 (1.38) (45 BC) [ed. Harbottle (1897)]
(Source)

On being able to consider the immortality a disembodied soul without instinctively visualizing animate human bodies in an afterlife.

(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:

Now it is the part of a noble Wit, to call the Mind off from the Senses, and take it out of the common Road.
[tr. Wase (1643)]

To withdraw the mind from sensual objects, and abstract our thoughts from what we are accustomed to, is the property of a great genius.
[tr. Main (1824)]

But it is the part of great genius to call off the mind from the senses, and to abstract the thought from custom.
[tr. Otis (1839)]

To withdraw the mind from sensual objects, and abstract our thoughts from what we are accustomed to, is an attribute of great genius.
[tr. Yonge (1853)]

It is the work of surpassing genius to separate the mind from the senses, and to divert thought from its accustomed channels.
[tr. Peabody (1886)]

Now it is an attribute of great genius; to distract the mind from the senses, and to withdraw the thoughts from every-day associations.
[tr. Black (1889)]

It calls for great intelligence to separate the mind from the senses and to sever thought from mere habit.
[tr. Douglas (1985)]

Still, it takes a great talent to isolate the mind from the senses and to redirect thought from its habitual patterns.
[tr. Habinek (1996)]

Now, it requires considerable intelligence to separate the mind from the senses and to divide thought from mere habit.
[tr. Davie (2017)]

Wheatley, Phyllis -- Letter (1774-02-11) to Samson Occom

Dave — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 22:53:04 +0000

In every human Breast, God has implanted a Principle, which we call Love of Freedom; it is impatient of Oppression, and pants for Deliverance.

Phyllis Wheatley (1753–1784) African-American poet, manumitted (1773) enslaved person [also "Phillis" and/or "Wheatly"]
Letter (1774-02-11) to Samson Occom
(Source)

Regarding slavery. First printed in the Connecticut Gazette (1774-03-11) through Rev. Occom, her longtime friend.

Aaronovitch, Ben -- False Value (2020)

Dave — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 15:03:56 +0000

It’s one of those weird truths you learn early on as police that quite a high percentage of the public have all the survival instinct of a moth in a candle factory. They run the wrong way, they refuse to move, some will run toward the danger, and others will instantly whip out their phones and take footage.

Ben Aaronovitch (b. 1964) British author
False Value (2020)
(Source)

Van Gogh, Vincent -- Letter to Theo Van Gogh (Jul 1889)

Dave — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 15:05:31 +0000

Let’s not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives, and we obey them without realizing it.

Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) Dutch painter
Letter to Theo Van Gogh (Jul 1889)
(Source)

Stout, Rex -- In “Author Rex Stout vs. the FBI,” Interview with Sandra Schmidt, Life (10 Dec 1965)

Dave — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 13:36:26 +0000

The only difference between me and most people is that I’m perfectly aware that all my important decisions are made for me by my subconscious. My frontal lobes are just kidding themselves that they decide anything at all. All they do is think up reasons for the decisions that are already made.

Rex Stout (1886–1975) American writer
In “Author Rex Stout vs. the FBI,” Interview with Sandra Schmidt, Life (10 Dec 1965)

Butler, Samuel -- The Note-Books of Samuel Butler, “Life and Love” (1912)

Dave — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 19:48:18 +0000

To live is like to love — all reason is against it, and all healthy instinct for it.

Samuel Butler (1835–1902) English novelist, satirist, scholar
The Note-Books of Samuel Butler, “Life and Love” (1912)
(Source)

Butler, Samuel -- The Note-Books of Samuel Butler, ch. 1, “Life” (1912)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 19:00:00 +0000

Life is like music, it must be composed by ear, feeling and instinct, not by rule. Nevertheless one had better know the rules, for they sometimes guide in doubtful cases, though not often.

Samuel Butler (1835–1902) English novelist, satirist, scholar
The Note-Books of Samuel Butler, ch. 1, “Life” (1912)
(Source)