WIST Quotations

Orwell, George -- Essay (1941-02-19), “The Lion and the Unicorn: Socialism and the English Genius,” Part 1 “England Your England,” sec. 2, The Searchlight Books [ed. Fyvel and Orwell]

Dave — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:21:54 +0000

Why is the goose-step not used in England? There are, heaven knows, plenty of army officers who would be only too glad to introduce some such thing. It is not used because the people in the street would laugh. Beyond a certain point, military display is only possible in countries where the common people dare not laugh at the army.

George Orwell (1903-1950) English journalist, essayist, writer [pseud. of Eric Arthur Blair]
Essay (1941-02-19), “The Lion and the Unicorn: Socialism and the English Genius,” Part 1 “England Your England,” sec. 2, The Searchlight Books [ed. Fyvel and Orwell]
(Source)

Part of Part 1, "England Your England" with the title "The Ruling Class" was previously published in Horizon (1940-12).

Bailey, Philip James -- Festus, Sc. “A Metropolis – Public Place” [Lucifer] (1839)

Dave — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 17:34:37 +0000

Man is a military animal,
Glories in gunpowder, and loves parade;
Prefers them to all things.

Philip James Bailey (1816-1902) English poet, lawyer
Festus, Sc. “A Metropolis – Public Place” [Lucifer] (1839)
(Source)

Howard, Robert E. -- “The Phoenix on the Sword” (1932)

Dave — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 13:06:20 +0000

When I was a fighting man, the kettle-drum they beat,
The people scattered gold-dust before my horse’s feet;
But now I am a great king, the people hound my track
With poison in my wine-cup, and daggers at my back.

Robert E. Howard (1906-1936) American author
“The Phoenix on the Sword” (1932)

Rogers, Will -- (Attributed)

Dave — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:56:08 +0000

We can’t all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by.

Will Rogers (1879-1935) American humorist
(Attributed)

Variant: "We all can't be heroes, for someone has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by."

No citations found, and not found in primary sources of Rogers' works.