WIST Quotations

Bierce, Ambrose -- “Corrupt,” “Devil’s Dictionary” column, San Francisco Wasp (1881-10-07)

Dave — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 20:54:32 +0000

CORRUPT, adj. In politics, holding an office of trust or profit.

Ambrose Bierce (1842–1914?) American writer and journalist
“Corrupt,” “Devil’s Dictionary” column, San Francisco Wasp (1881-10-07)

Not collected in later books.

Commager, Henry Steele -- Essay (1947-09), “Who Is Loyal to America?” sec. 3, Harper’s Magazine, Vol. 195, No. 1168

Dave — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 15:25:55 +0000

Who are those who are really disloyal? Those who inflame racial hatreds, who sow religious and class dissensions. Those who subvert the Constitution by violating the freedom of the ballot box. Those who make a mockery of majority rule by the use of the filibuster. Those who impair democracy by denying equal educational facilities. Those who frustrate justice by lynch law or by making a farce of jury trials. Those who deny freedom of speech and of the press and of assembly. Those who press for special favors against the interest of the commonwealth. Those who regard public office as a source of private gain. Those who would exalt the military over the civil. Those who for selfish and private purposes stir up national antagonisms and expose the world to the ruin of war.

Henry Steele Commager (1902–1998) American historian, writer, activist
Essay (1947-09), “Who Is Loyal to America?” sec. 3, Harper’s Magazine, Vol. 195, No. 1168

Regarding disloyalty tests and loyalty oaths. Reprinted in Freedom, Loyalty, Dissent (1954).

Ivins, Molly -- Essay (1998-03), “A Dodge Too Far,” The Progressive, Vol. 62, No. 3

Dave — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:18:30 +0000

I do not believe the President’s sex life is any of our business. After thirty years of political reporting, I have been unable to establish a link between marital fidelity and high performance in public office. It really doesn’t matter who they screw in private, as long as they don’t screw the public.

Molly Ivins (1944–2007) American writer, political columnist [Mary Tyler Ivins]
Essay (1998-03), “A Dodge Too Far,” The Progressive, Vol. 62, No. 3

In an interview (2006-10-09), "Who's It Screw, and Who's Doing the Screwing?" by Rosalind Alexander, Seattle Weekly, Ivins used a similar line:

I have been watching politicians for 30 years, and I have never found a correlation between marital fidelity and high performance in public office. So I just decided a long time ago, I don’t care who they screw in private, as long as they’re not screwing the public.