WIST Quotations

Billings, Josh -- Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1871-01 (1871 ed.)

Dave — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 23:17:35 +0000

Mankind loves misterys, a hole in the ground excites more wonder than a star up in heaven.

[Mankind loves mysteries; a hole in the ground excites more wonder than a star in the heaven.]

Josh Billings (1818-1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1871-01 (1871 ed.)
(Source)

Reused in Everybody's Friend, Or; Josh Billing's Encyclopedia and Proverbial Philosophy of Wit and Humor, ch. 148 "Affurisms: Ink Brats" (1874):

Mankind loves misterys -- a hole in the ground, excites more wonder than a star in the heavens.

Cleaned up and expanded in Wit and Wisdom of Josh Billings (1913) [ed. H. Montague]:

Mankind in general love MYSTERIES. A hole in the ground generally excites more wonder and stirs up more curiosity than a strange star in the heavens.

Asimov, Isaac -- Foundation’s Edge, ch. 12 “Agent” (1982)

Dave — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 12:53:57 +0000

Once you get it into your head that somebody is controlling events, you can interpret everything in that light and find no reasonable certainty anywhere.

Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) Russian-American author, polymath, biochemist
Foundation’s Edge, ch. 12 “Agent” (1982)

Brewster, Kingman -- Speech, British Institute of Management (13 Dec 1977)

Dave — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 13:28:55 +0000

Incomprehensible jargon is the hallmark of a profession.

Kingman Brewster, Jr. (1919-1988) American educator, diplomat
Speech, British Institute of Management (13 Dec 1977)

Eisenhower, Dwight David -- Commencement Speech, Dartmouth College (14 Jun 1953)

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

Don’t join the book burners. Don’t think you are going to conceal thoughts by concealing evidence that they ever existed. Don’t be afraid to go in your library and read every book, as long as that document does not offend your own ideas of decency. That should be the only censorship.

Dwight David Eisenhower (1890-1969) American general, US President (1953-61)
Commencement Speech, Dartmouth College (14 Jun 1953)