WIST Quotations

Johnson, Samuel -- Essay (1758-07-15), The Idler, No. 14

Dave — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 17:16:24 +0000

To put every man in possession of his own time, and rescue the day from the succession of usurpers, is beyond my power, and beyond my hope. Yet perhaps, some stop might be put to this unmerciful persecution, if all would seriously reflect, that whoever pays a visit that is not desired, or talks longer than the hearer is willing to attend, is guilty of an injury which he cannot repair, and takes away that which he cannot give.

Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) English writer, lexicographer, critic
Essay (1758-07-15), The Idler, No. 14
(Source)

Martin, Judith -- “Miss Manners,” syndicated column (1981-03-08)

Dave — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 17:41:10 +0000

Q: Should you tell your mother something if it is important when she is talking to company? I am 6.

A: Yes, you should (after saying “Excuse me”). Here are some of the things that are important to tell your mother, even though she is talking to company:
“Mommy, the kitchen is full of smoke.”
“Daddy’s calling from Tokyo.”
“Jennifer fell out of her crib and I can’t put her back.”
“There’s a policeman at the door and he says he wants to talk to you.”
“I was just reaching for my ball, and the goldfish bowl fell over.”

Now, here are some things that are not important, so they can wait until your mother’s company has gone home:
“Mommy, I’m tired of playing blocks. What shall I do now?”
“The ice-cream truck is coming down the street.”
“Can I give Jennifer the rest of my applesauce?”
“I can’t find my crayons.”

Judith Martin (b. 1938) American author, journalist, etiquette expert [a.k.a. Miss Manners]
“Miss Manners,” syndicated column (1981-03-08)
(Source)

A slightly different version was given in Miss Manners’ Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior, Part 3 "Basic Civilization," "Concerning Children" (1983):

DEAR MISS MANNERS:
Should you tell your mother something if it is important when she is talking to company? I am six.

GENTLE READER:
Yes, you should (after saying "Excuse me"). Here are some of the things that are important to tell your mother, even though she is talking to company:
"Mommy, the kitchen is full of smoke."
"Daddy's calling from Tokyo."
"Kristen fell out of her crib and I can't put her back."
"There's a policeman at the door and he says he wants to talk to you."
"I was just reaching for my ball, and the goldfish bowl fell over."

Now, here are some things that are not important, so they can wait until your mother's company has gone home:
"Mommy, I'm tired of playing blocks. What do I do now?"
"The ice-cream truck is coming down the street."
"Can I give Kristen the rest of my applesauce?"
"I can't find my crayons."
"When are we going to have lunch? I'm hungry.”

Franklin, Benjamin -- Poor Richard (1740 ed.)

Dave — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 15:26:24 +0000

Those who in quarrels interpose,
Must often wipe a bloody nose.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1740 ed.)
(Source)

Borrowed (without attribution) from John Gay (1727).

Martin, Judith -- “Miss Manners,” syndicated column (1985-07-10)

Dave — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 17:26:21 +0000

It is not rude to turn off your telephone by switching it on to an answering machine, which is cheaper and less disruptive than ripping it out of the wall. Those who are offended because they cannot always get through when they seek, at their own convenience, to barge in on people are suffering from a rude expectation.

Judith Martin (b. 1938) American author, journalist, etiquette expert [a.k.a. Miss Manners]
“Miss Manners,” syndicated column (1985-07-10)
(Source)

Collected in Miss Manners' Guide for the Turn-of-the-Millennium, Part 2 "Home Life," "Communications at Home" (1989).

Martin, Judith -- Common Courtesy, “In the Quest for Equality, Civilization Itself Is Maligned” (1985)

Dave — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 14:56:29 +0000

We are all born rude. No infant has ever appeared yet with the grace to understand how inconsiderate it is to disturb others in the middle of the night.

Judith Martin (b. 1938) American author, journalist, etiquette expert [a.k.a. Miss Manners]
Common Courtesy, “In the Quest for Equality, Civilization Itself Is Maligned” (1985)
(Source)

Sa'adi -- Gulistān [Rose Garden, گُلِستان], ch. 8 “Rules for Conduct in Life,” Maxim 82 (1258) [tr. Gladwin (1806)]

Dave — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 16:03:47 +0000

Whoseover interrupts the conversation of others to make a display of his own wisdom, certainly betrays his ignorance.

Sa'adi (1184-1283/1291?) Persian poet [a.k.a. Sa'di, Moslih Eddin Sa'adi, Mushrif-ud-Din Abdullah, Muslih-ud-Din Mushrif ibn Abdullah, Mosleh al-Din Saadi Shirazi, Shaikh Mosslehedin Saadi Shirazi]
Gulistān [Rose Garden, گُلِستان], ch. 8 “Rules for Conduct in Life,” Maxim 82 (1258) [tr. Gladwin (1806)]
(Source)

Alternate translations:

Whoever interrupts the conversation of others to display the extent of his wisdom, will assuredly discover the depth of his folly.
[tr. Eastwick (1852), #82]

Who interrupts the conversation of others that they may know his excellence, they will become acquainted only with the degree of his folly.
[tr. Burton (1888), #58]

Whoever interrupts the conversation of others to make a display of his own fund of knowledge, makes notorious his own stock of ignorance.
[tr. Ross (1900), #96]

If any one interrupts the speech of others in order that people may know his stock of learning, they will discover the extent of his ignorance.
[tr. Platts (1904), #86]

Those whose conversation has been interrupted by a man trying to show off his intelligence will know him instead by the depth of his ignorance.
[tr. Rehatsek/Newman (2004), #84]

Serling, Rod -- Patterns, Introduction (1957)

Dave — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 16:29:36 +0000

I don’t really believe there exists a “good” form of commercial. There are some that are less distasteful than others, but at best they’re intrusive. And even in the most absolutely palatable form, they thrust a cleaver into the overall effect of a television drama — and they do it three times during its all too brief playing, and even more during the 90-minute shows.

Rod Serling (1924-1975) American screenwriter, playwright, television producer, narrator
Patterns, Introduction (1957)
(Source)

Clement of Alexandria -- “To the Newly Baptized / Exhortation to Endurance” [tr. Butterworth]

Dave — Fri, 13 May 2022 14:09:03 +0000

Take care never to speak what you have not weighed and pondered beforehand; nor interject your own words on the spur of the moment and in the midst of another’s; for you must listen and converse in turn, with set times for speech and for silence.

Clement of Alexandria (c. AD 150 - c. 215 ) Christian theologian, philosopher, Church Father [Κλήμης ὁ Ἀλεξανδρεύς, Titus Flavius Clemens]
“To the Newly Baptized / Exhortation to Endurance” [tr. Butterworth]
(Source)

Lebowitz, Fran -- “Tips for Teens,” Social Studies (1981)

Dave — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 13:49:48 +0000

Remember that as a teenager you are at the last stage in your life when you will be happy to hear that the phone is for you.

Fran Lebowitz (b. 1950) American journalist, essayist
“Tips for Teens,” Social Studies (1981)
(Source)

Straczynski, J. Michael "Joe" -- Babylon 5, 1×01 “Midnight on the Firing Line” (26 Jan 1994)

Dave — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:45:46 +0000

IVANOVA: You’ll excuse me, but I’m in the middle of fifteen things, all of them annoying.

J. Michael (Joe) Straczynski (b. 1954) American screenwriter, producer, author [a/k/a "JMS"]
Babylon 5, 1×01 “Midnight on the Firing Line” (26 Jan 1994)

Twain, Mark -- Letter to the Editor of the New York World (23 Dec 1890)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

It is my heart-warm and world-embracing Christmas hope and aspiration that all of us — the high, the low, the rich, the poor, the admired, the despised, the loved, the hated, the civilized, the savage — may eventually be gathered together in a heaven of everlasting rest and peace and bliss — except the inventor of the telephone.

Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
Letter to the Editor of the New York World (23 Dec 1890)
(Source)

Gay, John -- Fables, “The Mastiffs,” pt. 1, ll. 1-2 (1727)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Those who in quarrels interpose
Must often wipe a bloody nose.

John Gay (1685-1732) English poet and playwright
Fables, “The Mastiffs,” pt. 1, ll. 1-2 (1727)
(Source)

Borrowed (without attribution) by Franklin (1740).