WIST Quotations

Russell, Bertrand -- Conquest of Happiness, Part 2, ch. 11 “Zest” (1930)

Dave — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:39:53 +0000

The more things a man is interested in, the more opportunities of happiness he has, and the less he is at the mercy of fate, since if he loses one thing he can fall back upon another. Life is too short to be interested in everything, but it is good to be interested in as many things as are necessary to fill our days. We are all prone to the malady of the introvert, who, with the manifold spectacle of the world spread out before him, turns away and gazes only upon the emptiness within.

Bertrand Russell (1872–1970) English mathematician and philosopher
Conquest of Happiness, Part 2, ch. 11 “Zest” (1930)
(Source)

Bukowski, Charles -- Journal entry (21 Sep 1991), The Captain is Out to Lunch (1998)

Dave — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 14:55:32 +0000

People empty me. I have to get away to refill.

Charles Bukowski (1920–1994) German-American author, poet
Journal entry (21 Sep 1991), The Captain is Out to Lunch (1998)

Bukowski, Charles -- Barfly (1987)

Dave — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 14:21:21 +0000

I don’t hate people, I just feel better when they aren’t around.

Charles Bukowski (1920–1994) German-American author, poet
Barfly (1987)
(Source)

From the movie screenplay by Bukowski.

This is the way the phrase is usually quoted, but it's actually a series of lines when Henry (a character standing in for Bukowski himself) first meets Wanda.

WANDA: I can't stand people. I hate them.
HENRY: Yeah?
WANDA: You hate them?
HENRY: No, but I seem to feel better when they're not around.

Bukowski is actually in the scene as the barfly closest to Wanda before Henry moves next to her. Video clip.

Sarton, May -- Journal of a Solitude (1973)

Dave — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 16:52:54 +0000

There is no doubt that solitude is a challenge and to maintain balance within it a precarious business. But I must not forget that, for me, being with people or even with one beloved person for any length of time without solitude is even worse. I lose my center. I feel dispersed, scattered, in pieces. I must have time alone in which to mull over my encounter, and to extract its juice, its essence, to understand what has really happened to me as a consequence of it.

May Sarton (1912–1995) Belgian-American poet, novelist, memoirist [pen name of Eleanore Marie Sarton]
Journal of a Solitude (1973)
(Source)

Roberts, Lillian M -- Riding for a Fall (1996)

Dave — Sat, 27 Jul 2019 02:02:42 +0000

Animals are a compromise between being alone and being with people.

Lillian M. Roberts (contemp.) American author, veterinarian
Riding for a Fall (1996)

Shakespeare, William -- Cymbeline, Act 4, sc. 2, l. 14ff (4.2.14-15) (1611)

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

IMOGEN: Society is not comfort
To one not sociable.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
Cymbeline, Act 4, sc. 2, l. 14ff (4.2.14-15) (1611)
(Source)