WIST Quotations

Orwell, George -- Essay (1941-08), “Wells, Hitler, and the World State,” Horizon

Dave — Fri, 30 May 2025 15:23:52 +0000

The early Bolsheviks may have been angels or demons, according as one chooses to regard them, but at any rate they were not sensible men. They were not introducing a Wellsian Utopia but a Rule of the Saints, which, like the English Rule of the Saints, was a military despotism enlivened by witchcraft trials.

George Orwell (1903-1950) English journalist, essayist, writer [pseud. of Eric Arthur Blair]
Essay (1941-08), “Wells, Hitler, and the World State,” Horizon
(Source)

Adams, John -- Letter (1816-11-04) to Thomas Jefferson

Dave — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 17:19:47 +0000

We have now, it seems a National Bible Society, to propagate King James Bible, through all Nations. Would it not be better, to apply these pious Subscriptions, to purify Christendom from the corruptions of Christianity; than to propagate those Corruptions in Europe, Asia, Africa and America!

John Adams (1735–1826) American lawyer, Founding Father, statesman, US President (1797–1801)
Letter (1816-11-04) to Thomas Jefferson
(Source)

After the founding of the American Bible Society (11 May 1816).

Gandhi, Mohandas -- Speech, All-India Radio (1948-01-16)

Dave — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 14:15:02 +0000

Do not worry about what others are doing. Each of us should turn the searchlight inward and purify his or her own heart as much as possible.

Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948) Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, political ethicist [Mahatma Gandhi]
Speech, All-India Radio (1948-01-16)
(Source)

Two weeks before his death. In Louis Fischer, The Life of Mahatma Gandhi, Part 3, ch. 9 "The Last Fast" (1957).