WIST Quotations

Lorenz, Konrad -- On Aggression, ch. 12 “On the Virtue of Scientific Humility” (1963)

Dave — Mon, 01 May 2017 22:11:05 +0000

If I thought of man as the final image of God, I should not know what to think of God. But when I consider that our ancestors, at a time fairly recent in relation to the earth’s history, were perfectly ordinary apes, closely related to chimpanzees, I see a glimmer of hope. It does not require very great optimism to assume that from us human beings something better and higher may evolve. Far from seeing in man the irrevocable and unsurpassable image of God, I assert — more modestly and, I believe, in greater awe of the Creation and its infinite possibilities — that the long-sought missing link between animals and the really humane being is ourselves!

Konrad Lorenz (1903–1989) Austrian zoologist, ethologist, ornithologist
On Aggression, ch. 12 “On the Virtue of Scientific Humility” (1963)

King, Stephen -- Cell, “Gaiten Academy,” ch. 16 (2006)

Dave — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 03:10:29 +0000

What Darwin was too polite to say, my friends, is that we came to rule the Earth not because we were the smartest, or even the meanest, but because we have always been the craziest, most murderous motherfuckers in the jungle.

Stephen King (b. 1947) American author
Cell, “Gaiten Academy,” ch. 16 (2006)

Baretti, Giuseppe -- (Attributed)

Dave — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 15:15:23 +0000

I hate mankind, for I think myself one of the best of them, and I know how bad I am.

Giuseppe Baretti (1719–1789) Italian-English literary critic and translator [a.k.a. Joseph Baretti]
(Attributed)

Quoted in James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791).

Twain, Mark -- Following the Equator, ch. 27, epigraph (1897)

Dave — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 17:53:24 +0000

Man is the Only Animal that Blushes. Or needs to.

Mark Twain (1835–1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
Following the Equator, ch. 27, epigraph (1897)

Handey, Jack -- Deeper Thoughts: All New, All Crispy (1993)

Dave — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 12:51:41 +0000

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself. Basically, it’s made up of two separate words — “mank” and “ind.” What do these words mean? It’s a mystery, and that’s why so is mankind.

Jack Handey (b. 1949) American humorist
Deeper Thoughts: All New, All Crispy (1993)

Stevenson, Adlai -- Speech (1965-07-09), “Strengthening the International Development Institutions,” sec. 12, United Nations Economic and Social Council, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland

Dave — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:12:27 +0000

We travel together, passengers on a little spaceship, dependent upon its vulnerable reserve of air and soil; all committed for our safety to its security and peace; preserved from annihilation only by the care, the work, and I will say, the love we give our fragile craft. We cannot maintain it half fortunate, half miserable, half confident, half despairing, half slave — to the ancient enemies of mankind — half free in the liberation of resources undreamed of until this day. No craft, no crew, can travel safely with such vast contradictions. On their resolutions depends the survival of us all.

Adlai Stevenson II (1900–1965) American politician, diplomat, statesman
Speech (1965-07-09), “Strengthening the International Development Institutions,” sec. 12, United Nations Economic and Social Council, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland

Stevenson was serving as UN Ambassador from the United States. He died of a heart attack on 1965-07-14, while in London after this trip. This was his last public address, and was read into the Congressional Record for the House of Representatives, 89th US Congress (1965-07-15) by Rep. Abraham Multer of New York.