WIST Quotations

Mankiewicz, Herman -- Citizen Kane (1941) [with Orson Welles]

Dave — Mon, 09 Nov 2026 16:57:43 +0000

LELAND: I can remember absolutely everything, young man. That’s my curse. That’s one of the greatest curses ever inflicted on the human race, memory.

Herman J. Mankiewicz (1897–1953) American screenwriter, journalist, theater critic
Citizen Kane (1941) [with Orson Welles]

As scripted:

I can remember everything. That's my curse, young man. It's the greatest curse that's ever been inflicted on the human race. Memory.

There is still significant debate as to whether Mankiewicz or Welles should be given primary credit for the screenplay (as written and as filmed). For more, see here.

Tillotson, John -- Sermon (1694-07-29), “Of Sincerity towards God and Man”

Dave — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 17:38:17 +0000

But insincerity is very troublesome to manage; a man hath so many things to attend to, so many ends to bring together, as make his life a very perplexed and intricate thing. Oportet mendacem esse memorem, “A liar had need of a good memory,” lest he contradict at one time what he said at another: but truth is always consistent with itself, and needs nothing to help it out; it is always near at hand, and sits upon our lips, and is ready to drop out before we are aware: whereas a lie is troublesome, and sets a man’s invention upon the rack, and one trick needs a great many more to make it good.

John Tillotson (1630–1694) English prelate, Archbishop of Canterbury
Sermon (1694-07-29), “Of Sincerity towards God and Man”

Sermon preached on John 1:47. For other who have used this thought (including the Latin reference from Quintillian), see Montaigne (1572).

Montaigne, Michel de -- Essays, Book 1, ch. 9 (1.9), “Of Liars [Des Menteurs]” (1572) [tr. HyperEssays (2025)]

Dave — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 23:01:11 +0000

It makes sense to say that those without a solid memory should not get in the habit of telling lies.

[Ce n’est pas sans raison qu’on dict, que qui ne se sent point assez ferme de memoire, ne se doit pas mesler d’estre menteur.]

Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592) French essayist
Essays, Book 1, ch. 9 (1.9), “Of Liars [Des Menteurs]” (1572) [tr. HyperEssays (2025)]

This essay and passage were present in the 1st (1580) edition.

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

It is not without reason, men say, that hee who hath not a good and ready memorie, shoulde never meddle with telling of lies, and feare to become a liar.
[tr. Florio (1603)]

It is not without reason said, that he who has not a good memory, should never offer to tell lies.
[tr. Cotton (1686)]

It is not without good reason said "that he who has not a good memory should never take upon him the trade of lying.
[tr. Cotton/Hazlitt (1877)]

Not without reason is it said that he who does not know himself to be of sane memory should not meddle with lying.
[tr. Ives (1925)]

It is not unreasonably said that anyone who does not feel sufficiently strong in memory should not meddle with lying.
[tr. Frame (1943)]

Not without reason is it said that no one who is not conscious of having a sound memory should set up to be a liar.
[tr. Cohen (1958)]

It is not for nothing that it is said that he who does not feel his memory to be strong enough has no business lying.
[tr. Screech (1987)]

Note that Montaigne frames this as a common saying, and one translator attributes it to Quintilian, Instituio Oratoria, Book 4, 2.92, though that source notes it as already being proverbial (English, Latin):

And there is no doubt about the truth of the proverb that a liar should have a good memory.

[Verumque est illud, quod vulgo dicitur, mendacem memorem esse oportere.]

Kerr, Jean -- Essay (1957), “One Half of Two on the Aisle,” Please Don’t Eat the Daisies

Dave — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:15:06 +0000

An actor can remember his briefest notice well into senescence and long after he has forgotten his phone number and where he lives.

Jean Kerr (1922–2003) American author and playwright [b. Bridget Jean Collins]
Essay (1957), “One Half of Two on the Aisle,” Please Don’t Eat the Daisies

No earlier magazine publication found.

Johnson, Samuel -- In James Boswell, Life of Samuel Johnson, “September 15, 1777” (1791)

Dave — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:45:25 +0000

Men hate more steadily than they love; and if I have said something to hurt a man once, I shall not get the better of this by saying many things to please him.

Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) English writer, lexicographer, critic
In James Boswell, Life of Samuel Johnson, “September 15, 1777” (1791)