WIST Quotations

Russell, Bertrand -- “On National Greatness,” New York American (1932-01-20)

Dave — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 16:36:06 +0000

Expect of the young the very best of which they are capable, and you will get it. Expect less, and it is only too likely that you will get no more than you expect.

Bertrand Russell (1872–1970) English mathematician and philosopher
“On National Greatness,” New York American (1932-01-20)

Boileau-Despréaux, Nicolas -- Satires, Satire 5, l. 43 (1716)

Dave — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 17:15:44 +0000

If your descent is from heroic sires,
Show in your life a remnant of their fires.

[Si vous êtes sorti de ces héros fameux,
Montrez-nous cette ardeur qu’on vit briller en eux.]

Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux (1636–1711) French poet and critic
Satires, Satire 5, l. 43 (1716)

Brewster, Kingman -- Baccalaureate address, Yale (12 Jun 1966)

Dave — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 14:25:24 +0000

There is no greater challenge than to have someone relying upon you; no greater satisfaction than to vindicate his expectation.

Kingman Brewster, Jr. (1919–1988) American educator, diplomat
Baccalaureate address, Yale (12 Jun 1966)

Steinbeck, John -- “America and Americans” (1966)

Dave — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:40:15 +0000

The President must be greater than anyone else, but not better than anyone else. We subject him and his family to close and constant scrutiny and denounce them for things that we ourselves do every day. A Presidential slip of the tongue, a slight error in judgment — social, political, or ethical — can raise a storm of protest. We give the President more work than a man can do, more responsibility than a man should take, more pressure than a man can bear. We abuse him often and rarely praise him. We wear him out, use him up, eat him up. And with all this, Americans have a love for the President that goes beyond loyalty or party nationality; he is ours, and we exercise the right to destroy him.

John Steinbeck (1902–1968) American writer
“America and Americans” (1966)