WIST Quotations

Bierce, Ambrose -- “Competitor,” “Devil’s Dictionary” column, San Francisco Wasp (1881-08-05)

Dave — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 22:17:14 +0000

COMPETITOR, n. A scoundrel who desires that which we desire.

Ambrose Bierce (1842–1914?) American writer and journalist
“Competitor,” “Devil’s Dictionary” column, San Francisco Wasp (1881-08-05)
(Source)

Not collected in later books.

Hugo, Victor -- Les Misérables, Part 5 “Jean Valjean,” Book 6 “The White Night,” ch 2 (5.6.2) (1862) [tr. Donougher (2013)]

Dave — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 18:15:54 +0000

You’ve landed the winning number in the lottery: love in matrimony. You’ve won the big prize, look after it well, keep it under lock and key, don’t squander it, adore each other, and never mind the rest. Believe what I’m telling you. It’s good sense. Good sense cannot lie. Be a religion to each other. Every man has his own way of adoring God. Heavens above! the best way to adore God is to love your wife.

[Vous avez chipé à la loterie le bon numéro, l’amour dans le sacrement ; vous avez le gros lot, gardez-le bien, mettez-le sous clef, ne le gaspillez pas, adorez-vous, et fichez-vous du reste. Croyez ce que je dis là. C’est du bon sens. Bon sens ne peut mentir. Soyez-vous l’un pour l’autre une religion. Chacun a sa façon d’adorer Dieu. Saperlotte ! la meilleure manière d’adorer Dieu, c’est d’aimer sa femme.]

Victor Hugo (1802–1885) French writer, journalist, human rights activist, politician
Les Misérables, Part 5 “Jean Valjean,” Book 6 “The White Night,” ch 2 (5.6.2) (1862) [tr. Donougher (2013)]
(Source)

Toast by M. Gillenormand at the wedding of Marius and Cosette.

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

You have filched the good number in the lottery, a love-match; you have the highest prize, take good care of it, put it under lock and key, don’t squander it, worship each other, and snap your fingers at the rest. Believe what I tell you. It is good sense. Good sense cannot lie. Be a religion to each other. Every one has his own way of worshipping God. Zounds! the best way to worship God is to love your wife.
[tr. Wilbour (1862)]

You have drawn the good number in the lottery, love in the sacrament. You have the prize number, so keep it carefully under lock and key. Do not squander it. Adore each other, and a fig for the rest. Believe what I tell you, then, for it is good sense, and good sense cannot deceive. Be to one another a religion, for each man has his own way of adoring God. Saperlotte! the best way of adoring God is to love one’s wife.
[tr. Wraxall (1862)]

You have filched the winning number in the lottery; you have gained the great prize, guard it well, keep it under lock and key, do not squander it, adore each other and snap your fingers at all the rest. Believe what I say to you. It is good sense. And good sense cannot lie. Be a religion to each other. Each man has his own fashion of adoring God. Saperlotte! the best way to adore God is to love one's wife.
[tr. Hapgood (1887)]

You have drawn the winning number in the lottery and you must treasure it. Each must be a religion to the other. We all have our own way of worshipping God, but the best of all, Heaven knows, is to love one’s wife.
[tr. Denny (1976)]

You have filched the good number in the lottery, a love match; you have the big prize, take good care of it, put it under lock and key, don't squander it, worship each other, and snap your fingers at the rest. Believe what I tell you. It is good sense. Good sense cannot lie. Be a religion to each other. Everyone has his own way of worshiping God. The best way to worship God is to love your wife.
[tr. Wilbour/Fahnestock/MacAfee (1987)]

Shakespeare, William -- Much Ado About Nothing, Act 4, sc. 1, l. 228ff (4.1.228-233) (1598)

Dave — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 22:02:09 +0000

FRIAR: For it so falls out
That what we have we prize not to the worth,
Whiles we enjoy it, but being lacked and lost,
Why then we rack the value, then we find
The virtue that possession would not show us
Whiles it was ours.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
Much Ado About Nothing, Act 4, sc. 1, l. 228ff (4.1.228-233) (1598)
(Source)

Steinbeck, John -- Speech (1962-12-10), Nobel Prize acceptance, Stockholm

Dave — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:01:25 +0000

In my heart there may be doubt that I deserve the Nobel award over other men of letters whom I hold in respect and reverence — but there is no question of my pleasure and pride in having it for myself.

John Steinbeck (1902–1968) American writer
Speech (1962-12-10), Nobel Prize acceptance, Stockholm
(Source)

Roosevelt, Theodore -- Speech (1903-09-07), “The Square Deal,” Labor Day, New York State Agricultural Association, New York State Fair, Syracuse

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

Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.

Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American politician, statesman, conservationist, writer; US President (1901–09)
Speech (1903-09-07), “The Square Deal,” Labor Day, New York State Agricultural Association, New York State Fair, Syracuse
(Source)