WIST Quotations

Commager, Henry Steele -- Essay (1947-09), “Who Is Loyal to America?” sec. 1, Harper’s Magazine, Vol. 195, No. 1168

Dave — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 17:00:36 +0000

We are shocked when we see educators, timid before criticism and confused about first principles, betray their trust. And we wonder what can be that “philosophy of education” which believes that young people can be trained to the duties of citizenship by wrapping their minds in cotton wool.

Henry Steele Commager (1902–1998) American historian, writer, activist
Essay (1947-09), “Who Is Loyal to America?” sec. 1, Harper’s Magazine, Vol. 195, No. 1168
(Source)

Regarding knee-jerk reactions from higher education when accused of disloyalty for having controversial speakers on campus. Reprinted in Freedom, Loyalty, Dissent (1954).

Thurber, James -- Essay (1958-12-07), “State of the Nation’s Humor: ‘On the Brink of Was,'” New York Times Magazine

Dave — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:06:51 +0000

America must learn that humor, whatever form it may take, can be one of our strongest allies, but it cannot flourish in a weather of fear and hysteria and intimidation.

James Thurber (1894–1961) American humorist, cartoonist, writer
Essay (1958-12-07), “State of the Nation’s Humor: ‘On the Brink of Was,'” New York Times Magazine
(Source)

McLaughlin, Mignon -- The Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 10 (1963)

Dave — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 20:52:58 +0000

In every group of intimidated people, each thinks “I will rebel,” but each waits for the others.

Mignon McLaughlin (1913–1983) American journalist and author
The Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 10 (1963)
(Source)

Cicero, Marcus Tullius -- Philippics [Philippicae; Antonian Orations], No. 1, ch. 14 / sec. 33 (1.14/1.33.9) (44-09-02 BC) [tr. McElduff (2011)]

Dave — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 16:16:53 +0000

But I am particularly afraid that, ignorant of the true path to glory, you may consider that it is more glorious for you to have more power than everyone else together and prefer to be feared rather than be respected by your fellow-citizens.

[Illud magis vereor, ne ignorans verum iter gloriae gloriosum putes plus te unum posse quam omnes et metui a civibus tuis.]

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 BC) Roman orator, statesman, philosopher
Philippics [Philippicae; Antonian Orations], No. 1, ch. 14 / sec. 33 (1.14/1.33.9) (44-09-02 BC) [tr. McElduff (2011)]
(Source)

Addressed to Mark Antony

(Source (Latin)). Other translations:

I see more reason to fear that through ignorance of the true road to glory you should think that it consists in being more powerful than all your fellow-citizens, and in being the object of their dread.
[tr. King (1877)]

What I am more afraid of is lest, being ignorant of the true path to glory, you should think it glorious for you to have more power by yourself than all the rest of the people put together, and lest you should prefer being feared by your fellow-citizens to being loved by them.
[tr. Yonge (1903)]

What I more fear is this -- that, blind to glory's true path, you may think it glorious to possess in your single self more power than all, and to be feared by your fellow-citizens.
[tr. Ker (Loeb) (1926)]

I fear more that, ignorant of the true path to glory, you may think it glorious for you alone to be more powerful than all, and feared by your fellow-citizens.
[tr Wiseman]

Martin, George R. R. -- A Game of Thrones, “Catelyn” 8 [Catelyn Stark] (1996)

Dave — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 22:54:26 +0000

Laughter is poison to fear.

George R. R. Martin (b. 1948) American author and screenwriter [George Raymond Richard Martin]
A Game of Thrones, “Catelyn” 8 [Catelyn Stark] (1996)
(Source)

Cicero, Marcus Tullius -- De Officiis [On Duties; On Moral Duty; The Offices], Book 2, ch. 7 (2.7) / sec. 24 (44 BC) [tr. Edinger (1974)]

Dave — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 14:29:19 +0000

Men who want to be feared must necessarily fear the very people who fear them.

[Etenim qui se metui volent, a quibus metuentur, eosdem metuant ipsi necesse est.]

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 BC) Roman orator, statesman, philosopher
De Officiis [On Duties; On Moral Duty; The Offices], Book 2, ch. 7 (2.7) / sec. 24 (44 BC) [tr. Edinger (1974)]
(Source)

(Source (Latin)). Other translations:

For those who desire to have others be afraid of them, must needs be afraid of those others in their turns.
[tr. Cockman (1699)]

For they who desire to become objects of terror to others, must dread those who regard them with fear.
[tr. McCartney (1798)]

For it is a necessary consequence, that men fear those very persons by whom they wish to be feared.
[tr. Edmonds (1865)]

For it is inevitable that those who wish to be feared should themselves fear the very persons by whom they are feared.
[tr. Peabody (1883)]

For men involuntarily fear those whom they intimidate.
[tr. Gardiner (1899)]

Those who wish to be feared must inevitably be afraid of those whom they intimidate.
[tr. Miller (1913)]

Commager, Henry Steele -- Essay (1953-02-21), “Is Freedom Really Necessary?” Saturday Review

Dave — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 15:26:25 +0000

A nation that silences or intimidates original minds is left only with unoriginal minds and cannot hope to hold its own in the competition of peace or of war.

Henry Steele Commager (1902–1998) American historian, writer, activist
Essay (1953-02-21), “Is Freedom Really Necessary?” Saturday Review
(Source)

Based on a discussion by the American Round Table, New York City (1951). Collected as "Free Enterprise in Ideas," Freedom, Loyalty and Dissent (1954).

Taylor, A. J. P. -- “What Else Indeed?” New York Review of Books (5 Aug 1965)

Dave — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 16:49:07 +0000

They had all been brought up, as we still are, to believe in “the deterrent.” Firm resolve, a readiness to threaten war, would avert war itself. Some Power would always give way. This usually happened, indeed happened so often that the wisdom of the method seemed sure. In 1914 all the Powers, for different reasons, expected the yielding to come from the other side.

A. J. P. Taylor (1906–1990) British historian, journalist, broadcaster [Alan John Percivale Taylor]
“What Else Indeed?” New York Review of Books (5 Aug 1965)
(Source)

Chesterfield (Lord) -- Letter to his son, #183 (22 May 1749)

Dave — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 14:37:40 +0000

Some people are to be reasoned, some flattered, some intimidated, and some teased into a thing; but, in general, all are to be brought into it at last, if skillfully applied to, properly managed, and indefatigably attacked in their several weak places.

Lord Chesterfield (1694–1773) English statesman, wit [Philip Dormer Stanhope]
Letter to his son, #183 (22 May 1749)
(Source)

Lincoln, Abraham -- Speech (1839-12-26), “The Sub-Treasury,” Illinois House of Representatives, Springfield

Dave — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 12:54:12 +0000

The probability that we may fall in the struggle ought not deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just; it shall not deter me.

Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861–65)
Speech (1839-12-26), “The Sub-Treasury,” Illinois House of Representatives, Springfield
(Source)

On defeating Martin Van Buren, the incumbent Democratic President, in the next election. Van Buren was in fact defeated in 1840 by Whig candidate William Henry Harrison.

Jefferson, Thomas -- Letter (1816-01-29) to Noah Worcester

Dave — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 12:44:20 +0000

The question [is] asked, “Is it common for a nation to obtain a redress of wrongs by war?” The answer to this question you will of course draw from history. In the meantime, reason will answer it on grounds of probability, that where the wrong has been done by a weaker nation, the stronger one has generally been able to enforce redress; but where by a stronger nation, redress by war has been neither obtained nor expected by the weaker. On the contrary, the loss has been increased by the expenses of the war in blood and treasure. Yet it may have obtained another object equally securing itself from future wrong. It may have retaliated on the aggressor losses of blood and treasure far beyond the value to him of the wrong he had committed, and thus have made the advantage of that too dear a purchase to leave him in a disposition to renew the wrong in future. In this way the loss by the war may have secured the weaker nation from loss by future wrong.

Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American political philosopher, polymath, statesman, US President (1801–09)
Letter (1816-01-29) to Noah Worcester
(Source)

Rand, Ayn -- The Virtue of Selfishness (1964)

Dave — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 14:01:53 +0000

The Argument from Intimidation is a confession of intellectual impotence.

Ayn Rand (1905–1982) Russian-American writer, philosopher
The Virtue of Selfishness (1964)

Hubbard, Elbert -- The Roycroft Dictionary (1914)

Dave — Tue, 11 May 2010 12:37:34 +0000

Fear: A club used by priests, presidents, kings and policemen to keep the people from recovering stolen goods.

Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American writer, businessman, philosopher
The Roycroft Dictionary (1914)
(Source)

Jackson, Robert H. -- American Communications Association v. Douds, 339 U.S. 382, 438-439 (1950) [concurrence and dissent]

Dave — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:17:54 +0000

It is not to be supposed that the age-old readiness to try to convert minds by pressure or suppression, instead of reason and persuasion, is extinct. Our protection against all kinds of fanatics and extremists, none of whom can be trusted with unlimited power over others, lies not in their forbearance, but in the limitations of our Constitution.

Robert H. Jackson (1892–1954) US Supreme Court Justice (1941–54), lawyer, jurist, politician
American Communications Association v. Douds, 339 U.S. 382, 438-439 (1950) [concurrence and dissent]
(Source)

Roosevelt, Eleanor -- Speech (1950-04-02), Americans for Democratic Action

Dave — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:51:34 +0000

The day I’m afraid to sit down with people I do not know because five years from now someone will say five of those people were Communists and therefore you are a Communist — that will be a bad day.
I want to be able to sit down with anyone who may have a new idea and not be afraid of contamination by association. In a democracy you must be able to meet with people and argue your point of view — people whom you have not screened beforehand. That must be part of the freedom of people in the United States.

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) First Lady of the US (1933–1945), politician, diplomat, activist
Speech (1950-04-02), Americans for Democratic Action
(Source)

On the rise of McCarthyism in the US.

Gaiman, Neil -- Neverwhere, ch. 2 [Mr. Croup] (1996)

Dave — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 10:47:20 +0000

“What a brain, Mister Vandemar. Keen and incisive isn’t the half of it. Some of us are so sharp,” he said as he leaned in closer to Richard, went up on tiptoes into Richard’s face, “we could just cut ourselves.”

Neil Gaiman (b. 1960) British author, screenwriter, fabulist
Neverwhere, ch. 2 [Mr. Croup] (1996)
(Source)

Kennedy, John F. -- Inaugural Address (20 Jan 1961)

Dave — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:52:51 +0000

So let us begin anew — remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.

John F. Kennedy (1917–1963) American politician, author, journalist, US President (1961–63)
Inaugural Address (20 Jan 1961)
(Source)

Hoffer, Eric -- Passionate State of Mind, Aphorism 222 (1955)

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

You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you.

Eric Hoffer (1902–1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
Passionate State of Mind, Aphorism 222 (1955)
(Source)

Montaigne, Michel de -- Essays, Book 3, ch. 11 (3.11), “Of Cripples [Des Boyteux]” (1587) [tr. Frame (1943)]

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

He who imposes his argument by bravado and command shows that it is weak in reason.

[Qui establit son discours par braverie et commandement, montre que la raison y est foible.]

Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592) French essayist
Essays, Book 3, ch. 11 (3.11), “Of Cripples [Des Boyteux]” (1587) [tr. Frame (1943)]
(Source)

(Source (French)). Other translations:

He that with braverie and by comaundement will establish his discourse, declareth his reason to be weake.
[tr. Florio (1603), "Of the Lame or Cripple"]

Who will establish his Discourse by Authority and Huffing, discovers his Reason to be very weak.
[tr. Cotton (1686)]

He who will establish this proposition by authority and huffing discovers his reason to be very weak.
[tr. Cotton/Hazlitt (1877), "On the Lame"]

He who establishes his argument by defiance and by command shews that his reasoning is weak.
[tr. Ives (1925)]

Any man who supports his opinion with challenges and commands demonstrates that his reasons for it are weak.
[tr. Screech (1987), "On the Lame"]

He who establishes his argument by noise and command shows that his reason is weak.
[Source]