WIST Quotations

Democritus -- Frag. 53 (Diels) [tr. Bakewell, 1907)]

Dave — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 21:32:05 +0000

Many who have not learned wisdom live wisely.

[Πολλοὶ λόγον μὴ μαθόντες ζῶσι κατὰ λόγον. ]

Democritus (c. 460 BC - c. 370 BC) Greek philosopher
Frag. 53 (Diels) [tr. Bakewell, 1907)]
(Source)

Diels citation "53. (122a N.) DEMOKRATES. 19.1."; collected in Joannes Stobaeus (Stobaios) Anthologium II, 15, 33. Often combined with fragment 53a. Bakewell lists this under "The Golden Sayings of Democritus." Freeman notes this as one of the Gnômae, from a collection called "Maxims of Democratês," but because Stobaeus quotes many of these as "Maxims of Democritus," they are generally attributed to the latter.

Alternate translations:

"Many who have not learnt Reason, nevertheless live according to reason." [tr. Freeman (1948)].
"Many live according to reason even if they have not learned it." [tr. @sentantiq (2020)]
"Many do not learn reason but live in accordance with reason." [tr. Barnes (1987)]

McEwan, Ian -- Amsterdam (1998)

Dave — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 00:06:41 +0000

We know so little about each other. We lie mostly submerged, like ice floes, with our visible social selves projecting only cool and white.

Ian McEwan (b. 1948) English novelist and screenwriter
Amsterdam (1998)

Nicoll, James -- LiveJournal post (17 Aug 2005)

Dave — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 15:06:36 +0000

I don’t mind hidden depths but I insist that there be a surface.

James Nicoll (b. 1961) Canadian reviewer, editor
LiveJournal post (17 Aug 2005)
(Source)

Chesterfield (Lord) -- Letter to his son, #118 (6 Mar 1747)

Dave — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 14:28:51 +0000

Virtue and learning, like gold, have their intrinsic value: but if they are not polished, they certainly lose a great deal of their lustre; and even polished brass will pass upon more people than rough gold.

Lord Chesterfield (1694-1773) English statesman, wit [Philip Dormer Stanhope]
Letter to his son, #118 (6 Mar 1747)
(Source)

Shakespeare, William -- Merchant of Venice, Act 2, sc. 7, l. 73ff [Morocco] (1597)

Dave — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 13:15:25 +0000

MOROCCO: All that glisters is not gold;
Often have you heard that told.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet
Merchant of Venice, Act 2, sc. 7, l. 73ff [Morocco] (1597)
(Source)

Usually modernized as "All that glitters is not gold."

See Herbert.