WIST Quotations

Shakespeare, William -- Richard III, Act 1, sc. 1, l. 32ff (1.1.32) (1592)

Dave — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:52:48 +0000

RICHARD: Plots have I laid, inductions dangerous,
By drunken prophecies, libels, and dreams ….

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet
Richard III, Act 1, sc. 1, l. 32ff (1.1.32) (1592)
(Source)

Billings, Josh -- Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1875-10 (1875 ed.)

Dave — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 15:30:02 +0000

To lie about a man never hurts him, but to tell the truth about him sumtimes duz.

[To lie about a man never hurts him, but to tell the truth about him sometimes does.]

Josh Billings (1818-1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1875-10 (1875 ed.)
(Source)

Addison, Joseph -- Essay (1711-06-26), The Spectator, No. 101

Dave — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 17:24:31 +0000

“Censure,” says a late ingenious author, “is the tax a man pays for being eminent.” It is a folly for an eminent man to think of escaping it, and a weakness to be affected with it. All the illustrious persons of antiquity, and indeed of every age in the world, have passed through this fiery persecution. There is no defense against reproach but obscurity; it is a kind of concomitant to greatness, as satires and invectives were an essential part of a Roman triumph.

Joseph Addison (1672-1719) English essayist, poet, statesman
Essay (1711-06-26), The Spectator, No. 101
(Source)

The quotation is from Jonathan Swift.

Swift, Jonathan -- Essay (1706-10), “Thoughts on Various Subjects”

Dave — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 17:19:55 +0000

Censure is the tax a man pays to the public for being eminent.

Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) English writer and churchman
Essay (1706-10), “Thoughts on Various Subjects”
(Source)

Moliere -- Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite [Le Tartuffe, ou L’Imposteur], Act 5, sc. 3 (1669) [tr. Wilbur (1963)]

Dave — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 16:27:31 +0000

MME. PERNELLE: The tongues of spite are busy night and noon.
And to their venom no man is immune.

[Les langues ont toujours du venin à répandre,
Et rien n’est ici-bas qui s’en puisse défendre.]

Molière (1622-1673) French playwright, actor [stage name for Jean-Baptiste Poquelin]
Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite [Le Tartuffe, ou L’Imposteur], Act 5, sc. 3 (1669) [tr. Wilbur (1963)]
(Source)

Dismissing the accusations against Tartuffe by her son, Orgon.

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

Tongues never want for Venom to spit; nothing here below can be Proof against them.
[tr. Clitandre (1672)]

Evil tongues have always venom to scatter abroad, and nothing here below can guard against it.
[tr. Van Laun (1876)]

Evil tongues have always some venom to pour fourth; and here below there is nothing proof against them.
[tr. Wall (1879)]

Tongues never lack venom to spread about. Nothing in this world can be proof against them.
[tr. Mathew (1890), 5.2]

Tongues are always ready to spit venom: nothing here below is proof against them.
[tr. Waller (1903)]

Their tongues for spitting venom never lack,
There's nothing here below they'll not attack.
[tr. Page (1909)]

Many a tongue is ready to spread slander,
And nothing in this world is proof against it.
[tr. Bishop (1957)]

Venom is what their tongues will never lack,
And nothing here below escapes attack.
[tr. Frame (1967)]

No -- slanderous tongues on every hand,
All poisonous talk.
[tr. Bolt (2002)]

Nothing in this world can deflect the venom of malice.
[tr. Steiner (2008)]

Wicked tongues will always have poison to spread about.
[tr. Campbell (2013)]

La Bruyere, Jean de -- The Characters [Les Caractères], ch. 11 “Of Mankind [De l’Homme],” § 150 (11.150) (1688) [tr. Stewart (1970)]

Dave — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 17:20:26 +0000

You injure yourself by your own vindictiveness, and give your enemies too great an advantage, if you accuse them of things that are not true, and tell lies in order to disparage them.

[C’est se venger contre soi-même, et donner un trop grand avantage à ses ennemis, que de leur imputer de choses qui ne sont pas vraies, et de mentir pour les décrier.]

Jean de La Bruyère (1645-1696) French essayist, moralist
The Characters [Les Caractères], ch. 11 “Of Mankind [De l’Homme],” § 150 (11.150) (1688) [tr. Stewart (1970)]
(Source)

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

We are reveng'd on our selves, and give our Enemies too much advantage over us, when we say things of them which are not true, and lie to reproach 'em.
[Bullord ed. (1696)]

'Tis reproaching our selves, and giving our Enemies too much advantage over us, to say things of them which are not true, and lie to disparage them.
[Curll ed. (1713)]

We are vindictive to our own loss, and give the Staff into our Enemies Hands, when we say things of them which are not true, and lie to defame them.
[Browne ed. (1752)]

To say things of our enemies which are not true, and to lie to defame them, is to avenge ourselves on ourselves, and give them too great an advantage over us.
[tr. Van Laun (1885)]

Moliere -- Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite [Le Tartuffe, ou L’Imposteur], Act 1, sc. 1 (1669) [tr. Wilbur (1963)]

Dave — Fri, 01 May 2020 16:28:37 +0000

DORINE: Those who have the greatest cause for guilt and shame
Are quickest to besmirch a neighbor’s name.

[Ceux de qui la conduite offre le plus à rire
Sont toujours sur autrui les premiers à médire.]

Molière (1622-1673) French playwright, actor [stage name for Jean-Baptiste Poquelin]
Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite [Le Tartuffe, ou L’Imposteur], Act 1, sc. 1 (1669) [tr. Wilbur (1963)]
(Source)

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

People, whose own Conduct is the most ridiculous, are always readiest to detract from that of others.
[tr. Clitandre (1672)]

They whose own conduct is the most ridiculous are always the first to slander others.
[tr. Van Laun (1876)]

The people whose conduct offers the greatest hold to ridicule are always the first to speak unkindly of others.
[tr. Wall (1879)]

People whose conduct is the most ridiculous, are always the readiest to run down that of others.
[tr. Mathew (1890)]

Those who are the most ridiculous in their own conduct are always the first to libel others.
[tr. Waller (1903)]

Those whose own conduct's most ridiculous,
Are always quickest to speak ill of others.
[tr. Page (1909)]

Those whose behavior is ridiculous
Always are first to see the faults of others.
[tr. Bishop (1957)]

Those whose behavior is most asinine
Are always more than ready to malign.
[tr. Frame (1967)]

Since they are always talked about,
They're sniffing other scandal out.
[tr. Bolt (2002)]

It's always the most ridiculous people who are the first to slander others.
[tr. Steiner (2008)]

People with the most to hide are always the worst.
Always the first to criticize others.
[tr. Campbell (2013)]

Those whose conduct gives room for talk
Are always the first to attack their neighbors.
[Bartlett's]

Billings, Josh -- Everybody’s Friend, Or; Josh Billing’s Encyclopedia and Proverbial Philosophy of Wit and Humor, “Lobstir Sallad” (1874)

Dave — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 16:27:40 +0000

A slander iz like a hornet, if you kant kill it dead the fus blo, you better not strike at it.

[A slander is like a hornet, if you can’t kill it dead the first blow, you better not strike at it.]

Josh Billings (1818-1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Everybody’s Friend, Or; Josh Billing’s Encyclopedia and Proverbial Philosophy of Wit and Humor, “Lobstir Sallad” (1874)
(Source)

Epictetus -- Enchiridion, 33 (c. AD 135) [tr. Long (1888)]

Dave — Thu, 13 Sep 2018 02:52:19 +0000

If a man has reported to you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make any defense to what has been told you: but reply, The man did not know the rest of my faults, for he would not have mentioned these only.

Epictetus (c. 55-c. 135 AD) Greek (Phrygian) Stoic philosopher [Ἐπίκτητος, Epíktētos]
Enchiridion, 33 (c. AD 135) [tr. Long (1888)]
(Source)

Alt. trans.: "If anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make excuses about what is said of you, but answer, 'He was ignorant of my other faults, else he would have not mentioned these alone.'" [tr. Higginson (1948)]

Fuller, Thomas (1654) -- Gnomologia: Adages and Proverbs (compiler), # 1395 (1732)

Dave — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 00:49:23 +0000

Even doubtful Accusations leave a Stain behind them.

Thomas Fuller (1654-1734) English physician, preacher, aphorist, writer
Gnomologia: Adages and Proverbs (compiler), # 1395 (1732)
(Source)

Franklin, Benjamin -- Poor Richard (1744 ed.)

Dave — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 21:13:39 +0000

A soft Tongue may strike hard.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1744 ed.)
(Source)

See Howell (1659).

Publilius Syrus -- Sententiae [Moral Sayings], #1058 [tr. Lyman (1862)]

Dave — Tue, 31 May 2016 14:05:01 +0000

When we speak evil of others, we generally condemn ourselves.

Publilius Syrus (d. 42 BC) Assyrian slave, writer, philosopher [less correctly Publius Syrus]
Sententiae [Moral Sayings], #1058 [tr. Lyman (1862)]

Plautus -- Pseudolus, 1.5

Dave — Tue, 24 May 2016 13:50:07 +0000

The men who convey, and those who listen to calumnies, should, if I could have my way, all hang, the tale-bearers by their tongues, the listeners by their ears.

Plautus (c. 254-184 BC) Roman playright [Titus Maccius Plautus]
Pseudolus, 1.5

Milton, John -- An Apology for Smectymnuus (1642)

Dave — Mon, 16 May 2016 15:26:32 +0000

I will not deny but that the best apology against false accusers is silence and sufferance, and honest deeds set against dishonest words.

John Milton (1608-1674) English poet
An Apology for Smectymnuus (1642)
(Source)

Hubbard, Elbert -- The Roycroft Dictionary and Book of Epigrams (1923)

Dave — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 13:08:37 +0000

Every life is its own excuse for being, and to deny or refute the untrue things that are said of you is an error in judgment. All wrong recoils upon the doer, and the man who makes wrong statements about others is himself to be pitied, not the man he vilifies. It is better to be lied about than to lie. At the last no one can harm us but ourselves.

Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915) American writer, businessman, philosopher
The Roycroft Dictionary and Book of Epigrams (1923)
(Source)

Herbert, George -- Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 69 (1640 ed.)

Dave — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 14:10:46 +0000

Were there no hearers, there would be no backbiters.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 69 (1640 ed.)
(Source)

Sidney, Philip -- (Attributed)

Dave — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 13:02:58 +0000

Commonly they whose tongue is their weapon, use their feet for defense.

Philip Sidney (1554-1586) English poet, courtier, scholar, and soldier
(Attributed)

Kennedy, Anthony -- United States v. Alvarez, 567 U. S. ____, *16 (2012) [Plurality]

Dave — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 12:26:32 +0000

The remedy for speech that is false is speech that is true. This is the ordinary course in a free society. The response to the unreasoned is the rational; to the uninformed, the enlightened; to the straight-out lie, the simple truth.
.

Anthony Kennedy (b. 1936) US Supreme Court Justice
United States v. Alvarez, 567 U. S. ____, *16 (2012) [Plurality]

Burgh, James -- Political Disquisitions, Book 1 “Of Government, briefly” (1774)

Dave — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 13:23:10 +0000

No man ought to be hindered saying or writing what he pleases on the conduct of those who undertake the management of national affairs, in which all are concerned, and therefore have the right to inquire, and to publish their suspicions concerning them. For if you punish the slanderer, you deter the fair inquirer.

James Burgh (1714-1775) British politician and writer
Political Disquisitions, Book 1 “Of Government, briefly” (1774)
(Source)

Sa'adi -- The Maxims of Sa’di, 7 [tr. Nakosteen (1977)]

Dave — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 13:06:33 +0000

I complained before a learned man that someone had accused me of corruption. He said, “Put him to shame by your good conduct.”

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]
The Maxims of Sa’di, 7 [tr. Nakosteen (1977)]

Milton, John -- Observations upon the Articles of Peace with the Irish Rebels (1649)

Dave — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 14:03:14 +0000

Just deeds are the best answer to injurious words.

John Milton (1608-1674) English poet
Observations upon the Articles of Peace with the Irish Rebels (1649)

Lincoln, Abraham -- Letter (1864-07-14) to Edwin M. Stanton

Dave — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 12:14:11 +0000

Truth is generally the best vindication against slander.

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)
Letter (1864-07-14) to Edwin M. Stanton
(Source)

Fuller, Thomas (1654) -- Gnomologia: Adages and Proverbs (compiler), # 2107 (1732)

Dave — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 12:09:39 +0000

He that flings Dirt at another dirtieth himself most.

Thomas Fuller (1654-1734) English physician, preacher, aphorist, writer
Gnomologia: Adages and Proverbs (compiler), # 2107 (1732)
(Source)

Dickens, Charles -- American Notes, ch. 18 (1842)

Dave — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 12:35:07 +0000

Any man who attains a high place among you, from the President downwards, may date his downfall from that moment; for any printed lie that any notorious villain pens, although it militate directly against the character and conduct of a life, appeals at once to your distrust, and is believed. You will strain at a gnat in the way of trustfulness and confidence, however fairly won and well deserved; but you will swallow a whole caravan of camels, if they be laden with unworthy doubts and mean suspicions. Is this well, think you, or likely to elevate the character of the governors or the governed among you?

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) English writer and social critic
American Notes, ch. 18 (1842)
(Source)

Shakespeare, William -- Othello, Act 3, sc. 3, l. 182ff (3.3.182-188) (1603)

Dave — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 17:24:45 +0000

IAGO: Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls.
Who steals my purse steals trash. ’Tis something, nothing;
’Twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave to thousands.
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him
And makes me poor indeed.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet
Othello, Act 3, sc. 3, l. 182ff (3.3.182-188) (1603)
(Source)

Allingham, William -- Blackberries Picked Off Many Bushes (1884)

Dave — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:57:48 +0000

To think all you say, is but candour;
To say all you think, would be slander.

William Allingham (1824–1889) Irish poet, diarist
Blackberries Picked Off Many Bushes (1884)
(Source)

Jefferson, Thomas -- Document (1798), “Kentucky Resolutions,” Resolution 3

Dave — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 12:56:34 +0000

Another and more special provision has been made by one of the amendments to the Constitution, which expressly declares, that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press,” thereby guarding, in the same sentence, and under the same words, the freedom of religion, of speech, and of the press, insomuch that whatever violated either throws down the sanctuary which covers the others, — and that libels, falsehood, and defamation, equally with heresy and false religion, are withheld from the cognizance of federal tribunals.

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) American political philosopher, polymath, statesman, US President (1801-09)
Document (1798), “Kentucky Resolutions,” Resolution 3
(Source)

In protest of the Alien and Sedition Acts.

Bacon, Francis -- De Augmentis Scientiarum [Advancement of Learning] (1605)

Dave — Fri, 21 May 2010 14:55:39 +0000

Hurl your calumnies boldly; something is sure to stick.

[Audacter calumniare, semper aliquid haeret.]

Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, scientist, author, statesman
De Augmentis Scientiarum [Advancement of Learning] (1605)

Straczynski, J. Michael "Joe" -- Babylon 5: Thirdspace (1998)

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

SHERIDAN: Oh, now that is a lie!
DELENN: Minbari do not lie.
SHERIDAN: Well then it is slander.
DELENN: To be slander, it must be false. That’s two down.
SHERIDAN: Well then it’s damned inconvenient.
DELENN: The truth always is.

J. Michael (Joe) Straczynski (b. 1954) American screenwriter, producer, author [a/k/a "JMS"]
Babylon 5: Thirdspace (1998)

Black, Hugo -- New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254, 296-297 (1964) [concurring]

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

Freedom to discuss public affairs and public officials is unquestionably, as the Court today holds, the kind of speech the First Amendment was primarily designed to keep within the area of free discussion. To punish the exercise of this right to discuss public affairs or to penalize it through libel judgments is to abridge or shut off discussion of the very kind most needed. This Nation, I suspect, can live in peace without libel suits based on public discussions of public affairs and public officials. But I doubt that a country can live in freedom where its people can be made to suffer physically or financially for criticizing their government, its actions, or its officials.

Hugo Black (1886-1971) American politician and jurist, US Supreme Court Justice (1937-71)
New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254, 296-297 (1964) [concurring]
(Source)

Bierce, Ambrose -- “Rumor,” The Devil’s Dictionary (1911)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 18:00:00 +0000

RUMOR, n. A favorite weapon of the assassins of character.

Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914?) American writer and journalist
“Rumor,” The Devil’s Dictionary (1911)
(Source)

Originally published in The Devil's Dictionary [A-Z] as Vol. 7 of his Collected Works.