WIST Quotations

Howells, William Dean -- Their Wedding Journey, ch. 2 “Midsummer-Day’s Dream” [Basil] (1872)

Dave — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 17:10:51 +0000

Nothing is so hard to understand as that there are human beings in this world besides one’s self and one’s own set.

William Dean Howells (1837-1920) American author, literary critic, and playwright
Their Wedding Journey, ch. 2 “Midsummer-Day’s Dream” [Basil] (1872)
(Source)

Orwell, George -- Essay (1945-05), “Notes on Nationalism,” Polemic Magazine (1945-10)

Dave — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:05:39 +0000

By “nationalism” I mean first of all the habit of assuming that human beings can be classified like insects and that whole blocks of millions or tens of millions of people can be confidently labeled “good” or “bad.” But secondly — and this is much more important — I mean the habit of identifying oneself with a single nation or other unit, placing it beyond good and evil and recognizing no other duty than that of advancing its interests.

George Orwell (1903-1950) English journalist, essayist, writer [pseud. of Eric Arthur Blair]
Essay (1945-05), “Notes on Nationalism,” Polemic Magazine (1945-10)
(Source)

Pratchett, Terry -- Discworld No. 13, Small Gods [Simony] (1992)

Dave — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:51:48 +0000

“You’re not one of us.”
“I don’t think I’m one of them, either,” said Brutha. “I’m one of mine.”

Terry Pratchett (1948-2015) English author
Discworld No. 13, Small Gods [Simony] (1992)
(Source)