WIST Quotations

Twain, Mark -- Story (1905-02-02), “The Czar’s Soliloquy,” North American Review, Vol. 180, No. 580 (1905-03)

Dave — Fri, 29 May 2026 07:25:06 +0000

Ah! what could our Family do without the moralist? He has always been our stay, our support, our friend; today he is our only friend. Whenever there has been dark talk of assassination, he has come forward and saved us with his impressive maxim, “Forbear: nothing politically valuable was ever yet achieved by violence.” He probably believes it. It is because he has by him no child’s book of world-history to teach him that his maxim lacks the backing of statistics. All thrones have been established by violence; no regal tyranny has ever been overthrown except by violence; by violence my fathers set up our throne; by murder, treachery, perjury, torture, banishment and prison they have held it for four centuries, and by these same arts I hold it today. There is no Romanoff of learning and experience but would reverse the maxim and say: “Nothing politically valuable was ever yet achieved except by violence.”

Mark Twain (1835–1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
Story (1905-02-02), “The Czar’s Soliloquy,” North American Review, Vol. 180, No. 580 (1905-03)
(Source)

Meant to be the musings of Czar Alexander III, whom Twain detested, about the morality of assassinating people such as himself.

Lincoln, Abraham -- Speech (1856-05-29), Republican State Convention of Illinois, Bloomington [ed. Whitney]

Dave — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 22:29:58 +0000

I will not say that we may not sooner or later be compelled to meet force by force; but the time has not yet come, and, if we are true to ourselves, may never come. Do not mistake that the ballot is stronger than the bullet. Therefore let the legions of slavery use bullets; but let us wait patiently till November and fire ballots at them in return; and by that peaceful policy I believe we shall ultimately win.

Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861–65)
Speech (1856-05-29), Republican State Convention of Illinois, Bloomington [ed. Whitney]
(Source)

The speech is based on contemporaneous notes by William C. Whitney, who was present at the speech. The speech was reconstructed from the notes in 1896; Whitney said that it was not literal, but followed Lincoln's arguments and used many of his sentences.

Usually given in a shorter form: "The ballot is stronger than the bullet."

Lincoln used the juxtaposition of ballots and bullets a number of times (e.g., 1858, 1863). This is the earliest of the instances I can find.

Johnson, Lyndon -- Speech (1965-03-15), “The American Promise,” Joint Session of Congress [04:25]

Dave — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 21:39:41 +0000

At times history and fate meet at a single time in a single place to shape a turning point in man’s unending search for freedom. So it was at Lexington and Concord. So it was a century ago at Appomattox. So it was last week in Selma, Alabama.
There, long-suffering men and women peacefully protested the denial of their rights as Americans. Many were brutally assaulted. One good man, a man of God, was killed.
There is no cause for pride in what has happened in Selma. There is no cause for self-satisfaction in the long denial of equal rights of millions of Americans. But there is cause for hope and for faith in our democracy in what is happening here tonight.
For the cries of pain and the hymns and protests of oppressed people have summoned into convocation all the majesty of this great Government — the Government of the greatest Nation on earth.

Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–1973) American politician, educator, US President (1963–69)
Speech (1965-03-15), “The American Promise,” Joint Session of Congress [04:25]
(Source)

A nationally broadcast address, introducing the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The mention of Selma is in reference to the events of "Bloody Sunday" on 7 March 1965.

Herzog, Werner -- (Spurious)

Dave — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 20:44:18 +0000

Dear America: You are waking up as Germany once did, to the awareness that 1/3 of your people would kill another 1/3, while 1/3 watches.

Werner Herzog (b. 1942) German film director, screenwriter, author, actor
(Spurious)

Though frequently showing up in social media attributed to Herzog, this was first published by the @wernertwertzog Twitter parody account (23 Aug 2017). The account is operated by William Pannapacker, American literature professor at Hope College, Holland, Michigan.

More information about this quotation:

Frye, Northrop -- Anatomy of Criticism, “Polemical Introduction” (1957)

Dave — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 17:38:31 +0000

The only way to forestall the work of criticism is through censorship, which has the same relation to criticism that lynching has to justice.

Northrop Frye (1912–1991) Canadian literary critic and literary theorist
Anatomy of Criticism, “Polemical Introduction” (1957)
(Source)

Sinclair, Upton -- The EPIC Plan for California (1934)

Dave — Thu, 23 Jul 2020 14:28:34 +0000

Fascism is capitalism plus murder.

Upton Sinclair (1878–1968) American writer, journalist, activist, politician
The EPIC Plan for California (1934)
(Source)

Often cited to his novel Presidential Agent (1944), he used the phrase often, starting at least with his run for governor of California.

Monty Python -- Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

Dave — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 15:19:52 +0000

KING ARTHUR: Shut up!

DENNIS: Oh, now we see the violence inherent in the system. Come and see the violence inherent in the system! Help! Help! I’m being repressed!

KING ARTHUR: Bloody peasant!

DENNIS: Oh, what a giveaway! Did you hear that? Did you hear that, eh? That’s what I’m on about! Did you see him repressing me? You saw him, didn’t you?

Monty Python (b. 1969) British comedy troupe [Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin]
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

Pratchett, Terry -- Discworld No. 29, Night Watch [Vimes] (2002)

Dave — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 14:46:27 +0000

Here’s some advice boy. Don’t put your trust in revolutions. They always come around again. That’s why they’re called revolutions.

Terry Pratchett (1948–2015) English author
Discworld No. 29, Night Watch [Vimes] (2002)
(Source)

Lincoln, Abraham -- Letter (1863-08-26) to James C. Conkling

Dave — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 15:05:00 +0000

Peace does not appear so distant as it did. I hope it will come soon, and come to stay; and so come as to be worth the keeping in all future time. It will then have been proved that, among free men, there can be no successful appeal from the ballot to the bullet; and that they who take such appeal are sure to lose their case, and pay the cost.

Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861–65)
Letter (1863-08-26) to James C. Conkling
(Source)

Sent as a letter to Conkling to read to a rally of Union supporters in Springfield, Illionis (1863-09-03).

Lincoln used the juxtaposition of ballots and bullets a number of times (e.g., 1856, 1858).

Johnson, Lyndon -- Speech (1964-05-09), Dedication of the John F. Kennedy Cultural Center, Mitchell Field, New York

Dave — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 11:13:50 +0000

John F. Kennedy was the victim of the hate that was a part of our country. It is a disease that occupies the minds of the few but brings danger to the many.

Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–1973) American politician, educator, US President (1963–69)
Speech (1964-05-09), Dedication of the John F. Kennedy Cultural Center, Mitchell Field, New York
(Source)

Berry, Wendell -- Essay (2003-02-09), “A Citizen’s Response,” sec. 1, paid advertisment, New York Times

Dave — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:06:48 +0000

The National Security Strategy defines terrorism as “premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against innocents” (p. 5). This is truly a distinct kind of violence, but to imply by the word “terrorism” that this sort of terror is the work exclusively of “terrorists” is misleading. The “legitimate” warfare of technologically advanced nations likewise is premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against innocents. The distinction between the intention to perpetrate violence against innocents, as in “terrorism,” and the willingness to do so, as in “war,” is not a source of comfort.

Wendell Berry (b. 1934) American farmer, educator, poet, conservationist
Essay (2003-02-09), “A Citizen’s Response,” sec. 1, paid advertisment, New York Times
(Source)

The essay, including this passage, was also published in a longer form in Orion Magazine (2003-03/04), and collected in his Citizenship Papers (2003). In the latter, the second sentence is extended:

This is truly a distinct kind of violence, but it is a kind old and familiar, even in the United States. All that was really new about the events of September 11, 2001, was that they raised the scale of such violence to that of "legitimate" modern warfare. To imply ...

Roosevelt, Franklin Delano -- Speech (1941-01-06), “State of the Union [Four Freedoms Speech],” Washington, D. C.

Dave — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 09:41:36 +0000

Since the beginning of our American history, we have been engaged in change — in a perpetual peaceful revolution — a revolution which goes on steadily, quietly adjusting itself to changing conditions — without the concentration camp or the quick-lime in the ditch.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882–1945) American lawyer, politician, statesman, US President (1933–1945)
Speech (1941-01-06), “State of the Union [Four Freedoms Speech],” Washington, D. C.
(Source)