WIST Quotations

Ivins, Molly -- Essay (1990-02), “The Czar is Hooked,” The Progressive

Dave — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 17:23:55 +0000

The War on Drugs is the perfect substitute for the Cold War. We can continue to pursue policies that don’t work on the cheerful assumption that if we just do more of what doesn’t work, it will solve the problem.

Molly Ivins (1944–2007) American writer, political columnist [Mary Tyler Ivins]
Essay (1990-02), “The Czar is Hooked,” The Progressive
(Source)

Collected in Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She? (1991).

Twain, Mark -- Note (1896-02), Mark Twain’s Notebook, ch. 24 “Ceylon and India” (1935) [ed. Albert Bigelow Paine]

Dave — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 01:22:18 +0000

Why, it is the prohibition that makes anything precious. There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable.

Mark Twain (1835–1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
Note (1896-02), Mark Twain’s Notebook, ch. 24 “Ceylon and India” (1935) [ed. Albert Bigelow Paine]
(Source)

Speaking of Adam and the original Forbidden Fruit. Written while in Bombay, India.

Artaud, Antonin -- “Sûreté générale: La liquidation de l’opium,” La Révolution Surréaliste (Jan 1925) [tr. L. Dejardin]

Dave — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 17:37:30 +0000

There are souls that are incurable and lost to the rest of society. Deprive them of one means of folly, they will invent ten thousand others. They will create subtler, wilder methods, methods that are absolutely desperate.

Antonin Artaud (1896–1948) French playwright, actor, director
“Sûreté générale: La liquidation de l’opium,” La Révolution Surréaliste (Jan 1925) [tr. L. Dejardin]
(Source)

Nash, Ogden -- “Invocation,” New Yorker (Jan 1930)

Dave — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 18:28:28 +0000

Senator Smoot is an institute
Not to be bribed with pelf;
He guards our homes from erotic tomes
By reading them all himself.

Ogden Nash (1902–1971) American poet
“Invocation,” New Yorker (Jan 1930)
(Source)

Nash's poem was about US Senator Reed Smoot (R-Utah) (1862-1941), who had announced an effort in his tariff bill to ban the importation of pornography, leading to headlines of "Smoot Smites Smut." The bill went on to become the Smoot-Hawley Tariff, passed in June 1930.

Vidal, Gore -- “The State of the Union”, Esquire (May 1975)

Dave — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:23:17 +0000

The period of Prohibition — called the noble experiment — brought on the greatest breakdown of law and order the United States has known until today. I think there is a lesson here. Do not regulate the private morals of people. Do not tell them what they can take or not take. Because if you do, they will become angry and antisocial and they will get what they want from criminals who are able to work in perfect freedom because they have paid off the police.

Gore Vidal (1925–2012) American novelist, dramatist, critic
“The State of the Union”, Esquire (May 1975)

Roosevelt, Eleanor -- Column (1939-07-14), “My Day”

Dave — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:16:27 +0000

I was one of those who was very happy when the original prohibition amendment passed. I thought innocently that a law in this country would automatically be complied with, and my own observation led me to feel rather ardently that the less strong liquor anyone consumed the better it was. During prohibition I observed the law meticulously, but I came gradually to see that laws are only observed with the consent of the individuals concerned and a moral change still depends on the individual and not on the passage of any law.

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) First Lady of the US (1933–1945), politician, diplomat, activist
Column (1939-07-14), “My Day”
(Source)

Roosevelt, Eleanor -- Column (1939-07-14), “My Day”

Dave — Tue, 13 May 2008 10:21:16 +0000

Little by little it dawned upon me that this law [Prohibition] was not making people drink any less, but it was making hypocrites and law breakers of a great number of people. It seemed to me best to go back to the old situation in which, if a man or woman drank to excess, they were injuring themselves and their immediate family and friends and the act was a violation against their own sense of morality and no violation against the law of the land.

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) First Lady of the US (1933–1945), politician, diplomat, activist
Column (1939-07-14), “My Day”
(Source)

Einstein, Albert -- “My First Impression of the U.S.A.” (1921)

Dave — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 10:26:05 +0000

The prestige of government has undoubtedly been lowered considerably by the prohibition law. For nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced. It is an open secret that the dangerous increase of crime in the United States is closely connected with this.

Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-American physicist
“My First Impression of the U.S.A.” (1921)
(Source)

Later published as "Some Notes on my American Impressions" in The World As I See It (1949)

Horace -- Odes [Carmina], Book 4, # 4, l. 22 (4.4.22) (23 BC)

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

To know all things is not permitted.

[Nec scire fas est omnia.]

Horace (65–8 BC) Roman poet, satirist, soldier, politician [Quintus Horatius Flaccus]
Odes [Carmina], Book 4, # 4, l. 22 (4.4.22) (23 BC)
(Source)

Common English translation, dating back to at least the late 19th Century.

In a number of translations, this phrase is elided or blurred into the surrounding text. Only distinct expressions of the sentiment are given below.

(Source (Latin)). Other translations:

Not all of truth
We seekers find.
[tr. Conington (1872)]

Neither is it possible to discover everything.
[tr. Smart/Buckley (1853)]

Nor everything to know, may any mortal dare.
[tr. Martin (1864)]

Nor is the lore
Of all things lore allowed.
[tr. Bulwer-Lytton (1870)]

Neither is it lawful to know all things.
[tr. Elgood (1893)]

For us to know
All things is not heaven's will.
[tr. Garnsey (1907)]

All things man may not learn.
[tr. Marshall (1908)]

Nor is it vouchsafed to know all things.
[tr. Bennett (Loeb) (1912)]

Not all things may one know.
[tr. Mills (1924)]

Nor should men sound all knowledge.
[tr. Michie (1963)]

It is not lawful to know all things.
[tr. Alexander (1999)]

It’s not right to know everything.
[tr. Kline (2015)]

Butler, Samuel -- The Way of All Flesh, ch. 52 [Pryer] (1903)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 19:00:00 +0000

The limits of vice and virtue are wretchedly ill-defined. Half the vices that the world condemns most loudly have seeds of good in them and require moderate use rather than total abstinence.

Samuel Butler (1835–1902) English novelist, satirist, scholar
The Way of All Flesh, ch. 52 [Pryer] (1903)
(Source)