WIST Quotations

De Botton, Alain -- The Consolations of Philosophy, ch. 6 “Consolation for Difficulties” (2000)

Dave — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 21:01:00 +0000

To cut out every negative root would simultaneously mean choking off positive elements that might arise from it further up the stem of the plant. We should not feel embarrassed by our difficulties, only by our failure to grow anything beautiful from them.

Alain de Botton (b. 1969) Swiss-British author
The Consolations of Philosophy, ch. 6 “Consolation for Difficulties” (2000)
(Source)

Discussing Nietzsche.

Rommel, Erwin -- The Rommel Papers, ch. 11 [ed. B. H. Liddell Hart, (1953)]

Dave — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 00:27:07 +0000

Always in a moment of extreme danger things can be done which had previously been thought impossible. Mortal danger is an effective antidote for fixed ideas.

Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) German field marshal
The Rommel Papers, ch. 11 [ed. B. H. Liddell Hart, (1953)]
(Source)

Carlyle, Thomas -- Letter (1822-03-15) to John Carlyle

Dave — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 19:02:26 +0000

The last quality, perseverance, I particularly respect: it is the very hinge of all virtues. — On looking over the world, the cause of nine parts in ten of the lamentable failures which occur in men’s undertakings & darken and degrade so much of their history, lies not in the want of talents or the will to use them, but in the vacillating and desultory mode of using them — in flying from object to object, in starting away at each little disgust, and thus applying the force which might conquer any one difficulty to a series of difficulties so large that no human force can conquer them.
The smallest brook on earth, by continual running, has hollowed out for itself a considerable valley to flow in: the wildest tempest, by its occasional raging, over-turns a few cottages, uproots a few trees, and leaves after a short space no mark behind it. Commend me therefore to the Dutch virtue of perseverance! Without it all the rest are little better than fairy gold, which glitters in your purse, but when taken to the market proves to be — slate or cinders.

Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish essayist and historian
Letter (1822-03-15) to John Carlyle
(Source)

Writing to his brother.

Keller, Helen -- The Simplest Way to be Happy (1933)

Dave — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 12:30:24 +0000

A happy life consists not in the absence, but in the mastery of hardships.

Helen Keller (1880–1968) American author and lecturer
The Simplest Way to be Happy (1933)
(Source)

Merton, Thomas -- No Man Is an Island, 7.7 (1955)

Dave — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 13:49:25 +0000

When we are strong, we are always much greater than the things that happen to us.

Thomas Merton (1915–1968) French-American religious and writer [a.k.a. Fr. M. Louis]
No Man Is an Island, 7.7 (1955)

Washington, Booker T. -- Up from Slavery, ch. 2 (1901)

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

I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.

Booker T. Washington (1856–1915) American educator, writer
Up from Slavery, ch. 2 (1901)
(Source)

Keller, Helen -- “Optimism,” part 1 (1903)

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

Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it. My optimism, then, does not rest on the absence of evil, but on a glad belief in the preponderance of good and a willing effort always to cooperate with the good, that it may prevail. I try to increase the power God has given me to see the best in everything and every one, and make that Best a part of my life.

Helen Keller (1880–1968) American author and lecturer
“Optimism,” part 1 (1903)
(Source)

Goldsmith, Oliver -- The Citizen of the World: or, Letters from a Chinese Philosopher, Residing in London, to His Friends in the East, Letter 7 (1762)

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

Our greatest glory is, not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

Oliver Goldsmith (1730–1774) Irish poet, playwright, novelist
The Citizen of the World: or, Letters from a Chinese Philosopher, Residing in London, to His Friends in the East, Letter 7 (1762)
(Source)

Ostensibly from a Chinese visitor to London, Lien Chi Altangi, the letters were written by Goldsmith and published in The Public Ledger in 1760-61. Letter 22 has the similar "True magnanimity consists not in NEVER falling, but in RISING every time we fall."

The saying is often attributed to Confucius (Letter 7's introduction implied that they were), but is not found in Confucius' work. The saying is also sometimes attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson. See here for more discussion.