WIST Quotations

Wodehouse, P. G. -- A Gentleman of Leisure, Dedication (1910)

Dave — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 17:57:36 +0000

To Herbert Westbrook, without whose never-failing advice, help, and encouragement, this book would have been finished in half the time.

P. G. Wodehouse (1881-1975) Anglo-American humorist, playwright and lyricist [Pelham Grenville Wodehouse]
A Gentleman of Leisure, Dedication (1910)
(Source)

Tocqueville, Alexis de -- Democracy in America, Vol. 1, pt. 2, ch. 14 (1835)

Dave — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 15:19:22 +0000

If an American were condemned to confine his activity to his own affairs, he would be robbed of one half of his existence.

Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859) French writer, diplomat, politician
Democracy in America, Vol. 1, pt. 2, ch. 14 (1835)

James, William -- “What Makes a Life Significant,” Lecture, Harvard (1899)

Dave — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 15:56:40 +0000

The first thing to learn in intercourse with others is non-interference with their own peculiar ways of being happy, provided those ways do not assume to interfere by violence with ours.

William James (1842-1910) American psychologist and philosopher
“What Makes a Life Significant,” Lecture, Harvard (1899)

Reprinted in Talks to Teachers on Psychology, Part 2, Lecture 3.

Lewis, C.S. -- The Screwtape Letters, ch. 26 (1982 ed. (1942))

Dave — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 13:31:27 +0000

She’s the sort of woman who lives for others — you can always tell the others by their haunted expression.

C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
The Screwtape Letters, ch. 26 (1982 ed. (1942))

Tolkien, J.R.R. -- The Lord of the Rings, Vol. 1: The Fellowship of the Ring, Book 1, ch. 3 “Three Is Company” [Gildor, to Frodo] (1954)

Dave — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 13:13:58 +0000

Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger.

J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973) English writer, fabulist, philologist, academic [John Ronald Reuel Tolkien]
The Lord of the Rings, Vol. 1: The Fellowship of the Ring, Book 1, ch. 3 “Three Is Company” [Gildor, to Frodo] (1954)
(Source)

Hoffer, Eric -- True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements, Part 1, ch. 2, § 10 (1951)

Dave — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:21:29 +0000

A man is likely to mind his own business when it is worth minding. When it is not, he takes his mind off his own meaningless affairs by minding other people’s business.

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements, Part 1, ch. 2, § 10 (1951)
(Source)

Emerson, Ralph Waldo -- Essay (1841), “Self-Reliance,” Essays: First Series, No. 2

Dave — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:33:46 +0000

You will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know it.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American essayist, lecturer, poet
Essay (1841), “Self-Reliance,” Essays: First Series, No. 2
(Source)

This essay was inspired by his reading of Walter Savage Landor in 1833, with passages pulled from his lecture "Individualism," last in his course on "The Philosophy of History" (1836–1837), with other passages from the lectures "School," "Genius," and "Duty" in his course on "Human Life" (1838–1839).

Selden, John -- Table Talk, § 84.1 “Marriage” (1689)

Dave — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:45:02 +0000

Of all actions of a man’s life, his marriage does least concern other people, yet of all actions of our life ‘tis most meddled with by other people.

John Selden (1584-1654) English jurist, legal scholar, antiquarian, polymath
Table Talk, § 84.1 “Marriage” (1689)
(Source)

Publilius Syrus -- Sententiae [Moral Sayings]

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

Never thrust your sickle into another’s corn.

Publilius Syrus (d. 42 BC) Assyrian slave, writer, philosopher [less correctly Publius Syrus]
Sententiae [Moral Sayings]