WIST Quotations

Martin, Judith -- “Miss Manners,” syndicated column (1986-01-19)

Dave — Mon, 26 May 2025 18:22:16 +0000

Should you happen to notice that another person is extremely tall or overweight, eats too much or declines convivial drinks, has red hair or goes about in a wheelchair, ought to get married or ought not to be pregnant — see if you can refrain from bringing these astonishing observations to that person’s attention.

Judith Martin (b. 1938) American author, journalist, etiquette expert [a.k.a. Miss Manners]
“Miss Manners,” syndicated column (1986-01-19)

Ebner-Eschenbach, Marie von -- Aphorisms [Aphorismen], No. 219 (1880) [tr. Scrase/Mieder (1994)]

Dave — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:16:11 +0000

The greatest enemy of justice is privilege.

[Der größte Feind des Rechtes ist das Vorrecht.]

Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830–1916) Austrian writer
Aphorisms [Aphorismen], No. 219 (1880) [tr. Scrase/Mieder (1994)]

(Source (German)). Other translation:

The greatest enemy of the law of right is the law of prerogative.
[tr. Wister (1883)]

Gaiman, Neil -- Sandman, Book 9. The Kindly Ones, # 60 “The Kindly Ones: 4” (1994-06)

Dave — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:41:26 +0000

DREAM: It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes. But the half-wit remains a half-wit, and the emperor remains an emperor.

Neil Gaiman (b. 1960) British author, screenwriter, fabulist
Sandman, Book 9. The Kindly Ones, # 60 “The Kindly Ones: 4” (1994-06)

Gaiman, Neil -- Sandman, Book 3. Dream Country, # 19 “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (1990)

Dave — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:28:03 +0000

DREAM: It is a fool’s prerogative to utter truths that no one else will speak.

Neil Gaiman (b. 1960) British author, screenwriter, fabulist
Sandman, Book 3. Dream Country, # 19 “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (1990)

Because the story includes William Shakespeare as a character, and is named after Shakespeare's play (which is performed in the story), this line is sometimes misattributed to Shakespeare himself.

See also this later comment by Dream.

Shakespeare, William -- Troilus and Cressida, Act 1, sc. 3, l. 105ff (1.3.105-114) (1602)

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

ULYSSES: O, when degree is shaked,
Which is the ladder of all high designs,
The enterprise is sick. How could communities,
Degrees in schools and brotherhoods in cities,
Peaceful commerce from dividable shores,
The primogeneity and due of birth,
Prerogative of age, crowns, scepters, laurels,
But by degree stand in authentic place?
Take but degree away, untune that string,
And hark what discord follows.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
Troilus and Cressida, Act 1, sc. 3, l. 105ff (1.3.105-114) (1602)