WIST Quotations

La Rochefoucauld, Francois -- Réflexions ou sentences et maximes morales [Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims], ¶168 (1665–1678) [ed. Gowens (1851), ¶171]

Dave — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 16:44:54 +0000

Hope, deceitful as she is, serves at least to conduct us through life by an agreeable path.

[L’espérance, toute trompeuse qu’elle est, sert au moins à nous mener à la fin de la vie par un chemin agréable.]

François VI, duc de La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680) French epigrammatist, memoirist, noble
Réflexions ou sentences et maximes morales [Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims], ¶168 (1665–1678) [ed. Gowens (1851), ¶171]
(Source)

Appeared in the 1st (1665) edition. In the manuscript, the maxim read: "L’espérance, toute vaine et fourbe qu’elle est d’ordinaire ..."

(Source (French)). Other translations:

Though Hope be exceeding deceitful, yet it is of this good use to us, that while we are Travelling through this Life, it conducts us an easier and more pleasant Way to our Journey's End.
[tr. Stanhope (1694), ¶169]

Hope, deceitful as it is, carries us agreeably through life.
[pub. Donaldson (1783), ¶223; ed. Lepoittevin-Lacroix (1797), ¶162; ed. Carvill (1835), ¶448]

However deceitful hope may be, yet she carries us on pleasantly to the end of life.
[tr. Bund/Friswell (1871), ¶168]

Our hopes, often though they deceive us, lead us pleasantly along the path of life.
[tr. Heard (1917), ¶169]

Hope, deceitful jade though she be, at least leads us to life's end by pleasant paths.
[tr. FitzGibbon (1957), ¶168]

Hope, utter charlatan though she be, at least lures us to life's end along a pretty road.
[tr. Kronenberger (1959), ¶168]

Hope may be a lying jade, but she does at any rate lead us to the end of our lives along a pleasant path.
[tr. Tancock (1959), ¶168]

Hope, deceitful as it is, serves, at least, to guide us to the end of life by an agreeable path.
[tr. Whichello (2016) ¶168]

Shulman, Naomi -- Essay (2016-11-17), “No Time To Be Nice: Now Is Not the Moment to Remain Silent,” WBUR, National Public Radio

Dave — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 03:38:31 +0000

Nice people made the best Nazis.
Or so I have been told. My mother was born in Munich in 1934, and spent her childhood in Nazi Germany surrounded by nice people who refused to make waves. When things got ugly, the people my mother lived alongside chose not to focus on “politics,” instead busying themselves with happier things. They were lovely, kind people who turned their heads as their neighbors were dragged away.

Naomi Shulman (contemp.), American writer, essayist, editor
Essay (2016-11-17), “No Time To Be Nice: Now Is Not the Moment to Remain Silent,” WBUR, National Public Radio
(Source)

This is a revised version of the following, more commonly-seen quotation, which I have seen suggested was an earlier iteration of the above on her Facebook account (though it does not appear to be posted there any longer):

Nice people made the best Nazis. My mom grew up next to them. They got along, refused to make waves, looked the other way when things got ugly and focused on happier things than “politics.” They were lovely people who turned their heads as their neighbors were dragged away. You know who weren’t nice people? Resisters.

The earliest quotation I can find of this earlier version is from 2016-11-13 (followed by these two from 2016-11-22).

Gaiman, Neil -- Speech (2012-05-17), Commencement, University of the Arts, Philadelphia [14:10]

Dave — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 21:17:48 +0000

People keep working in a freelance world, and more and more of today’s world is freelance, because their work is good, and because they are easy to get along with, and because they deliver the work on time. And you don’t even need all three. Two out of three is fine. People will tolerate how unpleasant you are if your work is good and you deliver it on time. People will forgive the lateness of the work if it’s good, and if they like you. And you don’t have to be as good as the others if you’re on time and it’s always a pleasure to hear from you.

Neil Gaiman (b. 1960) British author, screenwriter, fabulist
Speech (2012-05-17), Commencement, University of the Arts, Philadelphia [14:10]
(Source)

(Source (Video))

Chesterfield (Lord) -- Letter to his son, #128 (9 Oct 1747)

Dave — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 16:35:18 +0000

As I have often told you, politeness and good beeding are absolutely necessary to adorn any, or all other good qualities or talents. Without them, no knowledge, no perfection whatever, is seen in its best light. The scholar, without good breeding, is a pedant; the philosopher, a cynic; the soldier, a brute; and every man disagreeable.

Lord Chesterfield (1694–1773) English statesman, wit [Philip Dormer Stanhope]
Letter to his son, #128 (9 Oct 1747)
(Source)

Fuller, Thomas (1654) -- Introductio ad Prudentiam, Vol. 1, # 1395 (1725)

Dave — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 14:40:12 +0000

Some by their continual grinning, and shewing their Teeth, make Men doubt whether they honor them, or laugh at them.

Thomas Fuller (1654–1734) English physician, preacher, aphorist, writer
Introductio ad Prudentiam, Vol. 1, # 1395 (1725)
(Source)