WIST Quotations

Nin, Anais -- The Four-Chambered Heart (1959)

Dave — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 01:50:37 +0000

Love never dies of a natural death. It dies because we don’t know how to replenish its source, it dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illnesses and wounds, it dies of weariness, of witherings, of tarnishings, but never of natural death.

Anaïs Nin (1903-1977) Catalan-Cuban-French author, diarist
The Four-Chambered Heart (1959)
(Source)

Djuna to Rango.

Russell, Bertrand -- Conquest of Happiness, Part 2, ch. 10 “Is Happiness Still Possible?” (1930)

Dave — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 15:50:55 +0000

A sense of duty is useful in work but offensive in personal relations. People wish to be liked, not to be endured with patient resignation.

Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) English mathematician and philosopher
Conquest of Happiness, Part 2, ch. 10 “Is Happiness Still Possible?” (1930)
(Source)

Hupfeld, Herman -- “As Time Goes By” (1931)

Dave — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 20:16:36 +0000

You must remember this:
A kiss is just a kiss,
A sigh is just a sigh.
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by.

Herman Hupfeld (1894-1951) American songwriter
“As Time Goes By” (1931)
(Source)

Hupfeld composed the music and lyrics for the song, which first appeared in the largely forgotten Broadway musical, Everybody's Welcome (1931). The song is more famous (and only remembered today) for its performance and use as a recurring theme in the film Casablanca (1942), where it was included over the objections of Max Steiner, who composed the rest of the music for the movie.

Malory, Thomas -- Le Morte d’Arthur, Book 18, ch. 25 (1485)

Dave — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 20:31:52 +0000

But nowadays men can not love seven night but they must have all their desires: that love may not endure by reason; for where they be soon accorded and hasty, heat soon it cooleth. Right so fareth love nowadays, soon hot soon cold: this is no stability. But the old love was not so; men and women could love together seven years, and no lycours lusts were between them, and then was love, truth, and faithfulness: and lo, in likewise was used love in King Arthur’s days.

Thomas Malory (c. 1415-1471) English writer
Le Morte d’Arthur, Book 18, ch. 25 (1485)
(Source)

Winkler, Henry -- Commencement Address, Emerson College (1995)

Dave — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 15:33:10 +0000

Assumptions are the termites of relationships.

Henry Winkler (b. 1945) American actor, director, producer, author
Commencement Address, Emerson College (1995)

Franklin, Benjamin -- Poor Richard (1735 ed.)

Dave — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 04:04:58 +0000

Be slow in chusing a Friend, slower in changing.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1735 ed.)
(Source)

Kasdan, Lawrence -- The Big Chill (1983) [written with Barbara Benedek]

Dave — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 17:28:24 +0000

MEG: They’re either married or gay. And if they’re not gay, they’ve just broken up with the most wonderful woman in the world, or they’ve just broken up with a bitch who looks exactly like me. They’re in transition from a monogamous relationship and they need more space. Or they’re tired of space, but they just can’t commit. Or they want to commit, but they’re afraid to get close. They want to get close, you don’t want to get near them.

Lawrence Kasdan (b. 1949) American screenwriter, director, producer
The Big Chill (1983) [written with Barbara Benedek]

Regarding men.

Lewis, Sinclair -- It Can’t Happen Here (1935)

Dave — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 15:15:35 +0000

Under a tyranny, most friends are a liability. One quarter of them turn “reasonable” and become your enemies, one quarter are afraid to speak, and one quarter are killed and you die with them. But the blessed final quarter keep you alive.

Sinclair Lewis (1885-1951) American novelist, playwright
It Can’t Happen Here (1935)

Richardson, James -- Vectors: Aphorisms and Ten-Second Essays, # 20 (2001)

Dave — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 14:47:44 +0000

If a couple could see themselves twenty years later they might not recognize their love, but they would recognize their argument.

James Richardson (b. 1950) American poet
Vectors: Aphorisms and Ten-Second Essays, # 20 (2001)
(Source)

Ustinov, Peter -- Interview, in Wendy Leigh, Speaking Frankly: What Makes a Woman Good in Bed (1978)

Dave — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 20:29:34 +0000

Sex is a conversation carried out by other means.

Peter Ustinov (1921-2004) English actor, author, director
Interview, in Wendy Leigh, Speaking Frankly: What Makes a Woman Good in Bed (1978)

Russell, Bertrand -- “Redbook Dialogue,” interview by Tommy Robbins, Redbook (1964-09)

Dave — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:43:18 +0000

I believe four ingredients are necessary for happiness: health, warm personal relations, sufficient means to keep you from want, and successful work.

Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) English mathematician and philosopher
“Redbook Dialogue,” interview by Tommy Robbins, Redbook (1964-09)
(Source)

Reprinted in Russell Society News, #37 (1983-02), p. 25.

Talmud -- (Unreferenced)

Dave — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:03:06 +0000

When man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not: “Have you believed in God?” or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual?” He is asked: “Have you dealt honorably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow man?”

The Talmud (AD 200-500) Collection of Jewish rabbinical writings
(Unreferenced)

~Other -- Jane O’Reilly, Ms., “View from the Bed” (Apr 1973)

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

The first great step is to like yourself enough to pick someone who likes you, too.

(Other Authors and Sources)
Jane O’Reilly, Ms., “View from the Bed” (Apr 1973)