WIST Quotations

Orwell, George -- Essay (1946-04), “Politics and the English Language,” Horizon Magazine

Dave — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 17:02:06 +0000

If thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.

George Orwell (1903-1950) English journalist, essayist, writer [pseud. of Eric Arthur Blair]
Essay (1946-04), “Politics and the English Language,” Horizon Magazine
(Source)

Addison, Joseph -- Essay (1711-09-05), The Spectator, No. 162

Dave — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 22:09:23 +0000

A cloudy day, or a little sunshine, have as great an influence on many constitutions as the most real blessings or misfortunes.

Joseph Addison (1672-1719) English essayist, poet, statesman
Essay (1711-09-05), The Spectator, No. 162
(Source)

Keynes, John Maynard -- The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money, Preface (1936)

Dave — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 20:17:49 +0000

The difficulty lies, not in the new ideas, but in escaping from the old ones, which ramify, for those brought up as most of us have been, into every corner of our minds.

John Maynard Keynes (1883-1946) English economist
The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money, Preface (1936)
(Source)

Becker, Carl -- The Heavenly City of the Eighteenth-century Philosophers (1932)

Dave — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 17:19:13 +0000

Great as our differences are, all of us — professors, politicians, preachers — would no doubt find that we had much in common after all if it were possible to meet in the flesh some distinguished representatives from a former age.

Carl L. Becker (1873-1945) American historian
The Heavenly City of the Eighteenth-century Philosophers (1932)

King, Stephen -- Christine, Part 1, ch. 5 (1983)

Dave — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 10:10:31 +0000

If being a kid is about learning how to live, then being a grown-up is about learning how to die.

Stephen King (b. 1947) American author
Christine, Part 1, ch. 5 (1983)
(Source)

Adams, John -- Letter (1815-08-24) to Thomas Jefferson

Dave — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 10:26:41 +0000

As to the history of the Revolution, my Ideas may be peculiar, perhaps Singular. What do we mean by the Revolution? The War? That was no part of the Revolution; it was only an Effect and Consequence of it. The Revolution was in the Minds of the People, and this was effected, from 1760 to 1775, in the course of fifteen Years, before a drop of blood was shed at Lexington.

John Adams (1735–1826) American lawyer, Founding Father, statesman, US President (1797–1801)
Letter (1815-08-24) to Thomas Jefferson
(Source)

Einstein, Albert -- Letter (1946-05-25), quoted in “Atomic Education Urged by Einstein,” New York Times

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

A new type of thinking is essential if mankind is to survive and move toward higher levels.

Albert Einstein (1879-1955) German-American physicist
Letter (1946-05-25), quoted in “Atomic Education Urged by Einstein,” New York Times
(Source)

This may be the source of some otherwise unsourced Einstein quotes:

"The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them"
"The world we have created today as a result of our thinking thus far has problems which cannot be solved by thinking the way we thought when we created them."
"The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without changing our thinking."
"This problem will not be solved by the same minds that created it."
"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them."
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking that created them."

The missive was sent by telegram to "several hundred prominent Americans."

Einstein revisited (alt. source) this theme in "The Real Problem Is in the Hearts of Men," New York Times Magazine (1946-06-23): "Many persons have inquired concerning a recent message of mine that 'a new type of thinking is essential if mankind is to survive and move toward higher levels.' [...] Past thinking and methods did not prevent world wars. Future thinking must prevent wars."

Edlund, Ben -- The Tick (cartoon), 02×09 “Ants in the Pants!” (1995-11-18) [w. Ralph Soll]

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

THE TICK: And isn’t sanity really just a one-trick pony anyway? I mean, all of you get is one trick, rational thinking. But when you’re good and crazy, oohoo-hoo-hoo-hoo, the sky’s the limit!

Ben Edlund (b. 1968) American cartoonist, writer, producer
The Tick (cartoon), 02×09 “Ants in the Pants!” (1995-11-18) [w. Ralph Soll]
(Source)