WIST Quotations

Franklin, Benjamin -- Poor Richard (1745 ed.)

Dave — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:23:32 +0000

He that resolves to mend hereafter, resolves not to mend now.

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1745 ed.)
(Source)

Stevenson, Robert Louis -- Essay (1878-03), “Crabbed Age and Youth,” Cornhill Magazine, Vol. 37

Dave — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 15:10:22 +0000

To be suddenly snuffed out in the middle of ambitious schemes, is tragical enough at best; but when a man has been grudging himself his own life in the meanwhile, and saving up everything for the festival that was never to be, it becomes that hysterically moving sort of tragedy which lies on the confines of farce.

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Essay (1878-03), “Crabbed Age and Youth,” Cornhill Magazine, Vol. 37
(Source)

Collected in Virginibus Puerisque and Other Papers, ch. 2 (1881)

Hillel -- Mishna, Seder Nezikin [Order of Damages], Pirkei Avot [Chapters of the Fathers] 2:4

Dave — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 21:20:22 +0000

Don’t say “When I have time I will learn,” lest you never have time.

[וְאַל תֹּאמַר לִכְשֶׁאִפָּנֶה אֶשְׁנֶה, שֶׁמָּא לֹא תִפָּנֶה:]

Hillel (1st C. BC-1st C. AD) Jewish sage, rabbi [הלל]
Mishna, Seder Nezikin [Order of Damages], Pirkei Avot [Chapters of the Fathers] 2:4
(Source)

(Source (Hebrew)). Alternate translations:

Say not, When I have leisure I will study; perchance thou mayest not have leisure.
[tr. Taylor (1897)]

Say not: ‘when I shall have leisure I shall study;’ perhaps you will not have leisure.
[tr. Gorfinkle (1913)]

Say not: ‘when I shall have leisure I shall study;’ perhaps you will not have leisure.
[tr. Kulp]

Do not say: When I can free myself [of my affairs] I shall learn (Torah); perhaps you will not free yourself.
[tr. Shraga Silverstein]

Do not say, "When I will be available I will study [Torah]," lest you never become available.
[Open Mishnah]

Do not say "When I have leisure, I will study," perhaps you will not have leisure.
[Source]

Say not, "When I have free time I shall study"; for you may perhaps never have any free time.