WIST Quotations

Sagan, Carl -- Cosmos, ep. 13 “Who Speaks for Earth?” PBS TV (1980)

Dave — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:18:18 +0000

History is full of people who out of fear, or ignorance, or lust for power have destroyed treasures of immeasurable value which truly belong to us all. We must not let that happen again.

Carl Sagan (1934-1996) American scientist and writer
Cosmos, ep. 13 “Who Speaks for Earth?” PBS TV (1980)
(Source)

(Source (Video); dialog verified). Referring to the destruction of the Library at Alexandria. This text is not in the Cosmos book (it would fit in roughly here).

Goncourt, The Brothers -- Idées et sensations (1866)

Dave — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 16:54:53 +0000

A painting in a museum probably hears more foolish remarks than anything else in the world .

[Ce qui entend le plus de bêtises dans le monde est peut-être un tableau de musée.]

The Brothers Goncourt - Edmond (1822-96) & Jules (1830-70), French writers [a.k.a. J.E. de Goncourt]
Idées et sensations (1866)
(Source)

Often mis-cited to just Edmond. Alternate translations:

"A painting in a museum hears more ridiculous opinions than anything else in the world."
"What hears the most stupid remarks in the world is perhaps a painting in a museum." [Source]
"Perhaps what hears the most nonsense in the world is a museum painting." [Source]

Adams, John Quincy -- Report on the Establishment of the Smithsonian Institution (c. 1846)

Dave — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 00:18:51 +0000

To furnish the means of acquiring knowledge is the greatest benefit that can be conferred upon mankind. It prolongs life itself and enlarges the sphere of existence.

John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) US President (1825-29)
Report on the Establishment of the Smithsonian Institution (c. 1846)

Gaiman, Neil -- Neverwhere, ch. 1 (1996)

Dave — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 15:16:41 +0000

Richard found himself, on otherwise sensible weekends, accompanying her to places like the National Gallery and the Tate Gallery, where he learned that walking around museums too long hurts your feet, that the great art treasures of the world all blur into each other after a while, and that it is almost beyond the human capacity for belief to accept how much museum cafeterias will brazenly charge for a slice of cake and a cup of tea.

Neil Gaiman (b. 1960) British author, screenwriter, fabulist
Neverwhere, ch. 1 (1996)
(Source)