WIST Quotations

Sarton, May -- At Seventy: A Journal, “Wednesday, June 23rd” (1973)

Dave — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 17:48:18 +0000

A garden is always a series of losses set against a few triumphs, like life itself.

May Sarton (1912-1995) Belgian-American poet, novelist, memoirist [pen name of Eleanore Marie Sarton]
At Seventy: A Journal, “Wednesday, June 23rd” (1973)
(Source)

McLaughlin, Mignon -- The Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 4 (1963)

Dave — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 19:57:17 +0000

I’m afraid to win, and afraid to lose; I hate a draw and can’t stop competing; otherwise I’m fine.

Mignon McLaughlin (1913-1983) American journalist and author
The Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 4 (1963)
(Source)

Kissinger, Henry -- “The Viet Nam Negotiations,” Foreign Affairs (Jan 1969)

Dave — Wed, 03 May 2017 03:16:18 +0000

We fought a military war; our opponents fought a political one. We sought physical attrition; our opponents aimed for our psychological exhaustion. In the process we lost sight of one of the cardinal maxims of guerrilla war: the guerrilla wins if he does not lose. The conventional army loses if it does not win.

Henry Kissinger (1923-2024) German-American diplomat
“The Viet Nam Negotiations,” Foreign Affairs (Jan 1969)
(Source)

Sometimes paraphrased as "A conventional army loses if it does not win. The guerrilla army wins if he does not lose."

Lewis, Carl -- (Attributed)

Dave — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 15:26:09 +0000

If you don’t have confidence, you’ll always find a way not to win.

Carl Lewis (b. 1961) American Olympic athlete
(Attributed)

Johnson, Lyndon -- Quoted in Philip Geyelin, Lyndon B. Johnson and the World, ch. 6 (1966)

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

While you’re saving your face, you’re losing your ass.

Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973) American politician, educator, US President (1963-69)
Quoted in Philip Geyelin, Lyndon B. Johnson and the World, ch. 6 (1966)
(Source)

Geyelin said the phrase came up during "an august gathering of his most distinguished advisers when the question arose whether to honor an apparent US commitment to a proposition which Congress seemed unlikely to accept. Face-saving, the President observed, was not his major purpose in life," followed by the quote.

Colton, Charles Caleb -- Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Vol. 1, § 265 (1820)

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

To know a man, observe how he wins his object, rather than how he loses it; for when we fail, our pride supports us; when we succeed, it betrays us.

Charles Caleb "C. C." Colton (1780-1832) English cleric, writer, aphorist
Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Vol. 1, § 265 (1820)
(Source)

Carlin, George -- Book (1997), Brain Droppings, “Short Takes [Part 2]”

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

If you can’t beat them, arrange to have them beaten.

George Carlin (1937-2008) American comedian
Book (1997), Brain Droppings, “Short Takes [Part 2]”
(Source)