WIST Quotations

Pratchett, Terry -- Discworld No. 13, Small Gods (1992)

Dave — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 20:44:43 +0000

People think that professional soldiers think a lot about fighting, but serious professional soldiers think a lot more about food and a warm place to sleep, because these are two things that are generally hard to get, whereas fighting tends to turn up all the time.

Terry Pratchett (1948–2015) English author
Discworld No. 13, Small Gods (1992)

Johnson, Samuel -- The Rambler, #136 (6 Jul 1751)

Dave — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 13:21:37 +0000

Praise, like gold and diamonds, owes its value only to its scarcity.

Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) English writer, lexicographer, critic
The Rambler, #136 (6 Jul 1751)

Twain, Mark -- The Autobiography of Mark Twain, Vol. 3, 3 July 1908 (2010)

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

A strange and vanity-devoured, detestable woman! I do not believe I could ever learn to like her except on a raft at sea with no other provisions in sight.

Mark Twain (1835–1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
The Autobiography of Mark Twain, Vol. 3, 3 July 1908 (2010)

Shakespeare, William -- Henry IV, Part 1, Act 1, sc. 2, l. 211ff (1.2.211-212) (1597)

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

HAL: If all the year were playing holidays,
To sport would be as tedious as to work,
But when they seldom come, they wished-for come,
And nothing pleaseth but rare accidents.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
Henry IV, Part 1, Act 1, sc. 2, l. 211ff (1.2.211-212) (1597)