WIST Quotations

Burns, George -- Interview (1988-11-02), “Gracie Allen Still Steals the Show,” by Mervyn Rothstein, New York Times

Dave — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 17:39:09 +0000

If it’s a good script I’ll do it. And if it’s a bad script, and they pay me enough, I’ll do it.

George Burns (1896-1996) American comedian
Interview (1988-11-02), “Gracie Allen Still Steals the Show,” by Mervyn Rothstein, New York Times
(Source)

Most often cited from its reprint in the Paris International Herald Tribune (1988-11-09); at this time, the New York Times was part owner of the IHT (with the Washington Post and Whitney communications.

Taleb, Nassim Nicholas -- The Bed of Procrustes: Philosophical and Practical Aphorisms, “Ethics” (2010)

Dave — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 22:03:04 +0000

For soldiers, we use the term “mercenary,” but we absolve employees of responsibility with “everybody needs to make a living.”

Nassim Nicholas Taleb (b. 1960) Lebanese-American essayist, statistician, risk analyst, aphorist
The Bed of Procrustes: Philosophical and Practical Aphorisms, “Ethics” (2010)
(Source)

Gaiman, Neil -- Speech (2012-05-17), Commencement, University of the Arts, Philadelphia [06:33]

Dave — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 23:44:42 +0000

I don’t know that it’s an issue for anybody but me, but it’s true that nothing I did where the only reason for doing it was the money was ever worth it, except as bitter experience. Usually I didn’t wind up getting the money, either. The things I did because I was excited, and wanted to see them exist in reality have never let me down, and I’ve never regretted the time I spent on any of them.

Neil Gaiman (b. 1960) British author, screenwriter, fabulist
Speech (2012-05-17), Commencement, University of the Arts, Philadelphia [06:33]
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Obama, Barack -- Speech (2005-06-04), Commencement, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois

Dave — Thu, 16 May 2024 16:33:25 +0000

Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. You need to take up the challenges that we face as a nation and make them your own. Not because you have a debt to those who helped you get here, although you do have that debt. Not because you have an obligation to those who are less fortunate than you, although I do think you do have that obligation. It’s primarily because you have an obligation to yourself. Because individual salvation has always depended on collective salvation. Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.

Barack Obama (b. 1961) American politician, US President (2009-2017)
Speech (2005-06-04), Commencement, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois
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Apollonius of Tyana -- Letters from Apollonius of Tyana, ep. 15, Letter to Euphrates [tr. Jones (2006)]

Dave — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 18:28:54 +0000

Plato said that virtue has no master. If a person does not honor this principle and rejoice in it, but is purchasable for money, he creates many masters for himself.

Apollonius of Tyana (c. AD 15-100) Greek philosopher and religious leader [Ἀπολλώνιος]
Letters from Apollonius of Tyana, ep. 15, Letter to Euphrates [tr. Jones (2006)]
(Source)

The reference to Plato's Republic, X 617 E.

Whedon, Joss -- Firefly, 1×01 “Serenity” (pilot) (20 Dec 2002)

Dave — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 14:46:01 +0000

MAL: How come you didn’t turn on me, Jayne?
JAYNE: Money wasn’t good enough.
MAL: What happens when it is?
JAYNE: Well, that’ll be an interesting day.
MAL: I imagine it will.

Joss Whedon (b. 1964) American screenwriter, author, producer [Joseph Hill Whedon]
Firefly, 1×01 “Serenity” (pilot) (20 Dec 2002)

Watterson, Bill -- Calvin and Hobbes (1992-04-08)

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

CALVIN: If I’ve learned one thing in life, it’s that everyone has his price. Raise the ante high enough and there’s no such thing as scruples! People will do anything if the price is right!

HOBBES: What’s your price?

CALVIN: Two bucks cold cash up front.

HOBBES: I don’t know which is worse, … that everyone has his price, or that the price is always so low.

Bill Watterson (b. 1958) American cartoonist
Calvin and Hobbes (1992-04-08)
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