WIST Quotations

Eddings, David -- The Shining Ones, Part 1, ch. 7 [Fontan] (1993)

Dave — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 16:38:58 +0000

A man my age is willing to accept almost anything. After the initial shock of astonishment that comes each morning when I wake up and discover that I’m still alive, I can face the day with an open mind.

David Eddings (1931–2009) American writer
The Shining Ones, Part 1, ch. 7 [Fontan] (1993)

Bierce, Ambrose -- “Reasonable,” The Devil’s Dictionary (1911)

Dave — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 19:07:12 +0000

REASONABLE, adj. Accessible to the infection of our own opinions. Hospitable to persuasion, dissuasion and evasion.

Ambrose Bierce (1842–1914?) American writer and journalist
“Reasonable,” The Devil’s Dictionary (1911)

Originally published in the "Cynic's Dictionary" column in the San Francisco Examiner.

Harris, Sydney J. -- Pieces of Eight (1982)

Dave — Mon, 27 May 2019 18:56:01 +0000

Youth finds no value in the views it disagrees with, but maturity includes discovering that even an opinion contrary to ours may contain a vein of truth we could profitably assimilate to our own views.

Sydney J. Harris (1917–1986) Anglo-American columnist, journalist, author
Pieces of Eight (1982)

Adams, John -- Diary (1761-08-01)

Dave — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 21:09:08 +0000

The English Constitution is founded, tis bottomed And grounded on the Knowledge and good sense of the People. The very Ground of our Liberties, is the freedom of Elections. Every Man has in Politicks as well as Religion, a Right to think and speak and Act for himself. No man either King or Subject, Clergyman or Layman has any Right to dictate to me the Person I shall choose for my Legislator and Ruler. I must judge for myself, but how can I judge, how can any Man judge, unless his Mind has been opened and enlarged by Reading.

John Adams (1735–1826) American lawyer, Founder, statesman; US President (1797–1801)
Diary (1761-08-01)

Forbes, Malcolm -- (Attributed)

Dave — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 12:58:10 +0000

Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.

Malcolm Forbes (1919–1990) American billionaire
(Attributed)

Pratchett, Terry -- Bromeliad No. 2, Diggers, ch. 3 (1990)

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

The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.

Terry Pratchett (1948–2015) English author
Bromeliad No. 2, Diggers, ch. 3 (1990)