WIST Quotations

Ciardi, John -- In Vince Clemente, “‘A Man Is What He Does With His Attention’: A Conversation with John Ciardi,” Poesis, Vol. 7 #2 (1986)

Dave — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 19:09:40 +0000

It says in the Constitution that we all have a guaranteed right to make fools of ourselves. I have taken every chance to reap the rewards of that guarantee. If forced to action, I mean to fight to defend that right, which includes the right to be wrong, queer, or just kooky. And how can I defend that unless I defend those kooks and queers who think (wrongly, of course) that I am kooky and queer?

John Ciardi (1916-1986) American poet, writer, critic
In Vince Clemente, “‘A Man Is What He Does With His Attention’: A Conversation with John Ciardi,” Poesis, Vol. 7 #2 (1986)
(Source)

Milligan, Spike -- (Attributed)

Dave — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 19:27:15 +0000

Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light.

Terence Alan "Spike" Milligan (1918-2002) Anglo-Irish comedian, writer, actor
(Attributed)

Clarke, Susanna -- Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (2004)

Dave — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 14:09:29 +0000

“Well, I suppose one ought not to employ a magician and then complain that he does not behave like other people,” said Wellington.

Susanna Clarke (b. 1949) British author
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (2004)

Haldane, J.B.S. -- “On Being the Right Size,” Possible Worlds and Other Papers (1927)

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

I have no doubt that in reality the future will be vastly more surprising than anything I can imagine. Now my own suspicion is that the Universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose.

J.B.S. Haldane (1892-1964) English geneticist [John Burden Sanderson Haldane]
“On Being the Right Size,” Possible Worlds and Other Papers (1927)

Sometimes attributed to Arthur Stanley Eddington.