WIST Quotations

Russell, Bertrand -- “Competitive Ethics,” New York American (1934-03-19)

Dave — Thu, 04 May 2023 15:35:49 +0000

Competition, as an ideal, had its part to play in the pioneer days of both industrialism and Western agriculture. But its day is past, and a new type of man is needed. The problem of producing goods in sufficient quantities to make general material well-being technically possible was solved by the men of the competitive era. The problem that remains is one of distribution, not of production; it can be solved only by economic justice, not by economic war. For this problem, the mentality of the competitive era is unfitted, since it is only to be solved by co-operation.

Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) English mathematician and philosopher
“Competitive Ethics,” New York American (1934-03-19)
(Source)

Malory, Thomas -- Le Morte d’Arthur, Winchester Ed., Book 2 (1485)

Dave — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 18:48:08 +0000

Enough is as good as a feast.

Thomas Malory (c. 1415-1471) English writer
Le Morte d’Arthur, Winchester Ed., Book 2 (1485)
(Source)

In the original, "Inowghe is as good as a feste." This is the earliest surviving reference to this phrase, which is later labeled proverbial. The text is in the Winchester edition, not the Caxton one (at the end of Book 5, ch. 12).

Crabbe, George -- The Village, Book 1, line 136 (1783)

Dave — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 17:49:03 +0000

Where Plenty smiles — alas! she smiles for few,
And those who taste not, yet behold her store,
Are as the slaves that dig the golden ore,
The wealth around them makes them doubly poor.

George Crabbe (1754-1832) English poet, writer, surgeon, clergyman
The Village, Book 1, line 136 (1783)
(Source)

Roosevelt, Eleanor -- Speech (8 Dec 1959)

Dave — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 14:25:58 +0000

We cannot exist as a little island of well-being in a world where two-thirds of the people go to bed hungry every night.

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) First Lady of the US (1933–1945), politician, diplomat, activist
Speech (8 Dec 1959)