WIST Quotations

Thoreau, Henry David -- Walden; or, Life in the Woods, ch. 1 “Economy” (1854)

Dave — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:39:09 +0000

If I knew for a certainty that a man was coming to my house with the conscious design of doing me good, I should run for my life.

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American philosopher and writer
Walden; or, Life in the Woods, ch. 1 “Economy” (1854)
(Source)

Rogers, Will -- Column (1933-08-20), “Weekly Article: Don’t Get Excited” [No. 556]

Dave — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 22:30:19 +0000

Advice can get you into more trouble than a gun can.

Will Rogers (1879-1935) American humorist
Column (1933-08-20), “Weekly Article: Don’t Get Excited” [No. 556]
(Source)

On American political and diplomatic intervention in Latin America.

Billings, Josh -- Josh Billings’ Trump Kards, ch. 8 “Lager Beer and Spruce Gum” (1874)

Dave — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 18:14:37 +0000

It iz very eazy to manage our nabors bizzness, but our own sumtimes bothers us.

[It is very easy to manage our neighbors’ business, but our own sometimes bothers us.]

Josh Billings (1818-1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Josh Billings’ Trump Kards, ch. 8 “Lager Beer and Spruce Gum” (1874)
(Source)

Terence -- (Attributed)

Dave — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 16:19:48 +0000

Human nature is so constituted, that all see and judge better in the affairs of other men than in their own.

Terence (186?-159 BC) African-Roman dramatist [Publius Terentius Afer]
(Attributed)

Tolkien, J.R.R. -- The Lord of the Rings, Vol. 1: The Fellowship of the Ring, Book 1, ch. 3 “Three Is Company” [Gildor, to Frodo] (1954)

Dave — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 13:13:58 +0000

Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger.

J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973) English writer, fabulist, philologist, academic [John Ronald Reuel Tolkien]
The Lord of the Rings, Vol. 1: The Fellowship of the Ring, Book 1, ch. 3 “Three Is Company” [Gildor, to Frodo] (1954)
(Source)

Selden, John -- Table Talk, § 84.1 “Marriage” (1689)

Dave — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:45:02 +0000

Of all actions of a man’s life, his marriage does least concern other people, yet of all actions of our life ‘tis most meddled with by other people.

John Selden (1584-1654) English jurist, legal scholar, antiquarian, polymath
Table Talk, § 84.1 “Marriage” (1689)
(Source)

Franklin, Benjamin -- Poor Richard (1743 ed.)

Dave — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:35:07 +0000

The World is full of fools and faint hearts; and yet every one has courage enough to bear the misfortunes, and wisdom enough to manage the Affairs of his neighbour.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1743 ed.)
(Source)

Publilius Syrus -- Sententiae [Moral Sayings]

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 19:00:00 +0000

Never thrust your sickle into another’s corn.

Publilius Syrus (d. 42 BC) Assyrian slave, writer, philosopher [less correctly Publius Syrus]
Sententiae [Moral Sayings]

Pratchett, Terry -- Discworld No. 10, Moving Pictures (1990)

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

People who used magic without knowing what they were doing usually came to a sticky end.
All over the entire room, sometimes.

Terry Pratchett (1948-2015) English author
Discworld No. 10, Moving Pictures (1990)
(Source)