WIST Quotations

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:27:26 +0000

He that wrestleth with a turd shall be beshitt fall he over or under.

James Howell (c. 1594–1666) Welsh historian, writer, aphorist
Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]
(Source)

Kempton, Murray -- America Comes of Middle Age: Columns, 1950-1962 (1963)

Dave — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 14:55:13 +0000

As an organized political group, the Communists have done nothing to damage our society a fraction as much as what their enemies have done in the name of defending us against subversion.

Murray Kempton (1917–1997) American journalist.
America Comes of Middle Age: Columns, 1950-1962 (1963)

Jefferson, Thomas -- Letter (1816-01-29) to Noah Worcester

Dave — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 12:44:20 +0000

The question [is] asked, “Is it common for a nation to obtain a redress of wrongs by war?” The answer to this question you will of course draw from history. In the meantime, reason will answer it on grounds of probability, that where the wrong has been done by a weaker nation, the stronger one has generally been able to enforce redress; but where by a stronger nation, redress by war has been neither obtained nor expected by the weaker. On the contrary, the loss has been increased by the expenses of the war in blood and treasure. Yet it may have obtained another object equally securing itself from future wrong. It may have retaliated on the aggressor losses of blood and treasure far beyond the value to him of the wrong he had committed, and thus have made the advantage of that too dear a purchase to leave him in a disposition to renew the wrong in future. In this way the loss by the war may have secured the weaker nation from loss by future wrong.

Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American political philosopher, polymath, statesman, US President (1801–09)
Letter (1816-01-29) to Noah Worcester
(Source)

Shakespeare, William -- Henry VIII, Act 1, sc. 1, l. 168ff (1.1.168-169) (1613)

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

NORFOLK: Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot
That it do singe yourself.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
Henry VIII, Act 1, sc. 1, l. 168ff (1.1.168-169) (1613)
(Source)