WIST Quotations

La Bruyere, Jean de -- (Spurious)

Dave — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 01:16:27 +0000

The nearer we approach great men, the clearer we see that they are men. Barely do they appear great before their valets.

[Rarement ils sont grands vis-à-vis de leurs valets-de-chambre.]

Jean de La Bruyère (1645–1696) French essayist, moralist
(Spurious)

This passage, both English and French, is attributed to La Bruyere (and, more specifically, to his Characters [Les Caractères] (1688). It does not, however, appear in that work (in any translation or the native French) nor does it seem to appear in any other work of La Bruyere that I could find.

Both English and French show up in a passage in Samuel Arthur Bent, Short Sayings of Great Men (1882), about Mme. de Cornuel (d. 1694). Bent is discussing a quotation attributed to her, with parallels amongst Montaigne (1586) and Goethe (1805). (The passage is quoted at Bartleby.com, which may account for modern familiarity with it.) Bent cites the above from La Bruyere's Caractères.

Other versions, of each sentence, show up in quotations collections over the following decades, and today the French has a number of hits on Russian/Slavic websites, but nothing (not even on French search engines) that pins it to any source aside from the same pages in English language searches.

Brault, Robert -- (Attributed)

Dave — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 18:51:58 +0000

I like friends who, when you tell them you need a moment alone, know enough not to stray too far.

Robert Brault (b. c. 1945) American aphorist, programmer
(Attributed)

Apuleius -- On the God of Socrates [De Deo Socratis]

Dave — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 20:35:31 +0000

Familiarity breeds contempt, while rarity wins admiration.

[Parit enim conversatio contemptum; raritas conciliat admirationem.]

Apuleius (AD c. 124 - c. 170) Numidian Roman writer, philosopher, rhetorician [Lucius Apuleius Madaurensis]
On the God of Socrates [De Deo Socratis]

First recorded passage with this phrase. Discussing why the gods do not mingle with humanity. Other translations:

"Familiarity produces contempt, but infrequency conciliates admiration."
[tr. Taylor (1822)]
"Familiarity breeds contempt, but privacy gains admiration." [
Works of Apuleius (1853)]
"Familiarity breeds contempt, but concealment excites interest."
[National Review (1858-04)]

The first part of the phrase is also used as the modern moral the English translation of Aesop's "The Fox and the Lion." Applying this proverb to Aesop seems to have first happened in 1820; in classic Greek sources, the moral was more along the line that "acquaintance overcomes fear."

Ouida -- Friendship, ch. 11 (1878)

Dave — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 19:23:33 +0000

The longest absence is less perilous to love than the terrible trials of incessant proximity.

Ouida (1839–1908) English novelist [pseud. of Maria Louise Ramé]
Friendship, ch. 11 (1878)

Often attributed to Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892-1950).

See Propertius.

~Proverbs and Sayings -- English proverb

Dave — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 00:33:27 +0000

Absence and a friendly neighbor washes away love.

Proverbs, Sayings, and Adages
English proverb

See Propertius.

King, Martin Luther -- “Rediscovering Lost Values,” sermon, Second Baptist Church, Detroit (28 Feb 1954)

Dave — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 19:42:06 +0000

The real problem is that through our scientific genius we’ve made of the world a neighborhood, but through our moral and spiritual genius we’ve failed to make of it a brotherhood.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968) American clergyman, civil rights leader, social activist, preacher
“Rediscovering Lost Values,” sermon, Second Baptist Church, Detroit (28 Feb 1954)

Johnson, Lyndon -- Speech (1963-12-17), Pageant of Peace Ceremonies, Washington, D.C.

Dave — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:50:35 +0000

We hope that the world will not narrow into a neighborhood before it has broadened into a brotherhood.

Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–1973) American politician, educator, US President (1963–69)
Speech (1963-12-17), Pageant of Peace Ceremonies, Washington, D.C.

Johnson used this phrase many times in the early '60s to refer to how, as the world "shrank" through advances in travel (including for weapons), it had not resolved the ongoing problems within humanity, only brought them closer. Other examples:

We live in a world which has narrowed into a neighborhood before it broadened into a brotherhood.
[Reported (1961-08-01)]

The world has narrowed to a neighborhood before it has broadened to brotherhood.
[Speech, New York City (1963-12-17)]

Montaigne, Michel de -- Essays, Book 3, ch. 2 (3.2), “Of Repentance [Du Repentir]” (1586) [tr. Frame (1943)]

Dave — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:35:15 +0000

Men have seemed miraculous to the world, in whom their wives and valets have never seen anything even worth noticing. Few men have been admired by their own households.

[Tel a esté miraculeux au monde, auquel sa femme & son valet n’ont rien veu seulement de remerquable. Peu d’hommes ont esté admirez par leurs domestiques.]

Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592) French essayist
Essays, Book 3, ch. 2 (3.2), “Of Repentance [Du Repentir]” (1586) [tr. Frame (1943)]

See Cornuel (1728) and Goethe (1805). For discussion on this and related quotes, see here.

(Source (French)). Other translations:

Some have beene admirable to the world, in whom nor his wife, nor his servant ever noted any thing remarkeable. Few men have beene admired of their familiers.
[tr. Florio (1603)]

Such a one has been a Miracle to the World, in whom neither his Wife nor Servant have ever seen any thing so much as remarkable. Few men have been admired by their own Domesticks.
[tr. Cotton (1686)]

Such a one has been a miracle to the world, in whom neither his wife nor servant has ever seen anything so much as remarkable; few men have been admired by their own domestics.
[tr. Cotton/Hazlitt (1877)]

A man may appear wonderful to the world, in whom his wife and his servant see nothing even remarkable; few men have been admired by their household.
[tr. Ives (1925)]

Many a man has been a wonder to the world, whose wife and valet have seen nothing in him that was even remarkable. Few have been admired by their servants.
[tr. Cohen (1958)]

A man may appear to the world as a marvel: yet his wife and his manservant see nothing remarkable about him. Few men have been wonders to their families.
[tr. Screech (1987)]

Augustine of Hippo -- On Christian Doctrine [De Doctrina Christiana], Book 1, ch. 28 / § 29 (1.28.29) (AD 397) [tr. Green (1995), § 61]

Dave — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:30:55 +0000

All people should be loved equally. But you cannot do good to all people equally, so you should take particular thought for those who by the chance of place or time or anything else are, as if by lot, in particularly close contact with you.

[Omnes autem aeque diligendi sunt. Sed cum omnibus prodesse non possis, his potissimum consulendum est, qui pro locorum et temporum vel quarumlibet rerum opportunitatibus constrictius tibi quasi quadam sorte iunguntur.]

Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Christian church father, philosopher, saint [b. Aurelius Augustinus]
On Christian Doctrine [De Doctrina Christiana], Book 1, ch. 28 / § 29 (1.28.29) (AD 397) [tr. Green (1995), § 61]

(Source (Latin)). Other translations:

Further, all men are to be loved equally. But since you cannot do good to all, you are to pay special regard to those who, by the accidents of time, or place, or circumstance, are brought into closer connection with you.
[tr. Shaw (1858)]

All other men are to be loved equally; but since you cannot be of assistance to everyone, those especially are to be cared for who are most closely bound to you by place, time, or opportunity, as if by chance.
[tr. Robertson (1958)]

Greer, Germaine -- The Female Eunuch, “Love: Security” (1970)

Dave — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:16:53 +0000

Loneliness is never more cruel than when it is felt in close propinquity with someone who has ceased to communicate.

Germaine Greer (b. 1939) Australian-English feminist, reformer, author, educator
The Female Eunuch, “Love: Security” (1970)

Schopenhauer, Arthur -- Parerga and Paralipomena, Vol. 2, ch. 20 “On Judgement, Criticism, Approbation, and Fame [Über Urtheil, Kritik, Beifall und Ruhm],” § 242 (1851) [tr. Payne (1974)]

Dave — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:52:31 +0000

Great minds are related to the short span of time wherein they live as are large buildings to the narrow plot of ground on which they stand. Thus large buildings are not seen to their full extent because we are too close to them.

[Zu der kurzen Spanne Zeit, in der sie leben, verhalten sich die großen Geister wie große Gebäude zu einem engen Plage, auf dem sie stehn. Man sieht nämlich diese nicht in ihrer Größe, weil man zu nahe davor steht.]

Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German philosopher
Parerga and Paralipomena, Vol. 2, ch. 20 “On Judgement, Criticism, Approbation, and Fame [Über Urtheil, Kritik, Beifall und Ruhm],” § 242 (1851) [tr. Payne (1974)]

(Source (German)). Another translation:

Compared with the short span of time they live, men of great intellect are like huge buildings, standing on a small plot of ground. The size of the building cannot be seen by anyone, just in front of it.
[tr. Saunders (1890)]

Great minds are related to the brief span of time during which they live as great buildings are to a little square in which they stand: you cannot see them in all their magnitude because you are standing too close to them.
[tr. Hollingdale (1970)]

Goethe, Johann von -- Wahlverwandtschaften, II, 5, Aus Ottilien’s Tagebuche (1805)

Dave — Tue, 06 Jul 2004 22:13:47 +0000

To a valet no man is a hero.

[Es gibt fur den Kammerdiener keiner Helden.]

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German poet, statesman, scientist
Wahlverwandtschaften, II, 5, Aus Ottilien’s Tagebuche (1805)

See Montaigne (1586), Cornuel (1805).

For discussion on this and related quotes, see here.

Horace -- Epistles [Epistularum, Letters], Book 1, ep. 18 “To Lollius,” l. 84ff (1.18.84-85) (20 BC) [tr. A. B.; ed. Brome (1666)]

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

When thy next neighbours house is all on fire,
’Tis thy concern to make his flames expire;
For fire will gather strength if let alone,
And with thy neighbours house burn down thine owne.

[Nam tua res agitur, paries cum proximus ardet.
Et neglecta solent incendia sumere vires.]

Horace (65–8 BC) Roman poet, satirist, soldier, politician [Quintus Horatius Flaccus]
Epistles [Epistularum, Letters], Book 1, ep. 18 “To Lollius,” l. 84ff (1.18.84-85) (20 BC) [tr. A. B.; ed. Brome (1666)]

On the need to defend friends who are being slandered by others.

(Source (Latin)). Other translations:

The case is thyne, thy neighboures house when it doth flame up bright,
And burninges thowght but smal, or now have grown to dreedful might.
[tr. Drant (1567)]

For you're in danger when the Next's on fire,
And Flames neglected often blaze the higher.
[tr. Creech (1684)]

When flames your neighbour's dwelling seize,
Your own with instant rage shall blaze;
Then haste to stop the spreading fire,
Which, if neglected, rises higher.
[tr. Francis (1747)]

He that espies a neighbour's roof on fire
And calmly sees the flames to heaven aspire,
Will find them gather strength, till let alone
They with his neigbour's house burn down his own.
[tr. Howes (1845)]

For it is your own concern, when the adjoining wall is on fire: and flames neglected are wont to gain strength.
[tr. Smart/Buckley (1853)]

No time for sleeping with a fire next door;
Neglect such things, they only blaze the more.
[tr. Conington (1874)]

With the next house in flames, best look ahead —
A fire neglected's pretty sure to spread.
[tr. Martin (1881)]

For your own business is affected when your neighbor's wall is on fire, and flames neglected gather strength.
[tr. Dana/Dana (1911)]

'Tis your own safety that's at stake, when your neighbour's wall is in flames, and fires neglected are wont to gather strength.
[tr. Fairclough (Loeb) (1926)]

When your neighbor's house catches fire, your place is threatened,
And flames that are disregarded usually burn brighter.
[tr. Palmer Bovie (1959)]

If your neighbor's house is burning, your own is next;
for fires, if they're not put out, are apt to spread.
[tr. Fuchs (1977)]

Your own house is in danger when your neighbor's
House is on fire; a fire not watched can spread.
[tr. Ferry (2001)]

It's very much your affair when the house next door is ablaze.
Ignore a fire, and soon you're faced with a conflagration.
[tr. Rudd (2005 ed.)]

If your neighbour’s roof’s in flames, it’s your business too,
And neglected fires have a habit of gaining strength.
[tr. Kline (2015)]