WIST Quotations

Ibn Ezra, Abraham -- Sefer ha-Yashar (c. 1160)

Dave — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 22:19:55 +0000

A little sin is a big sin when committed by a big man.

Abraham Ibn Ezra (1092–1167) Spanish Jewish poet, philosopher, Biblical exegete [ר׳ אַבְרָהָם בֶּן מֵאִיר אִבְּן עֶזְרָא‎]
Sefer ha-Yashar (c. 1160)

Commentary on Genesis 32.9. Another translation:

Therefore, a minor sin committed by a great personality is considered a major transgression.
[tr. Strickman and Silver (1988)]

Arendt, Hannah -- Essay (1969-02-27), “Reflections on Violence,” The New York Review of Books

Dave — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 21:41:13 +0000

Where all are guilty, no one is; confessions of collective guilt are the best possible safeguard against the discovery of culprits, and the very magnitude of the crime the best excuse for doing nothing.

Hannah Arendt (1906–1975) German-American philosopher, political theorist
Essay (1969-02-27), “Reflections on Violence,” The New York Review of Books
(Source)

Revised and collected in Crises of the Republic, "On Violence" (1972).

Buxton, Charles -- Notes of Thought, #482 (1873)

Dave — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 21:38:16 +0000

A successful career has been full of great blunders.

Charles Buxton (1823–1871) English brewer, philanthropist, writer, politician
Notes of Thought, #482 (1873)
(Source)

Carlyle, Thomas -- Past and Present, Book 3, ch. 11 “Labour” (1843)

Dave — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:16:27 +0000

Every noble work is at first impossible. In very truth, for every noble work the possibilities will lie diffused through Immensity; inarticulate, undiscoverable except to faith.

Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish essayist and historian
Past and Present, Book 3, ch. 11 “Labour” (1843)
(Source)