WIST Quotations

Russell, Bertrand -- Conquest of Happiness, Part 2, ch. 16 “Effort and Resignation” (1930)

Dave — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 17:51:16 +0000

It is better to do nothing than to do harm. Half the useful work in the world consists of combating the harmful work.

Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) English mathematician and philosopher
Conquest of Happiness, Part 2, ch. 16 “Effort and Resignation” (1930)
(Source)

Shakespeare, William -- Macbeth, Act 2, sc. 2, l. 48ff (2.2.48-52) (1606)

Dave — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 22:12:00 +0000

MACBETH:The innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care,
The death of each day’s life, sore labor’s bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course,
Chief nourisher in life’s feast.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet
Macbeth, Act 2, sc. 2, l. 48ff (2.2.48-52) (1606)
(Source)

Herbert, George -- Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 527 (1640 ed.)

Dave — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 18:49:20 +0000

A foole may throw a stone into a well, which a hundred wise men cannot pull out.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 527 (1640 ed.)
(Source)

Johnston, Lynn -- For Better or For Worse (31 May 1994)

Dave — Sat, 17 Aug 2019 04:27:29 +0000

An apology is the superglue of life! It can repair just about anything.

Lynn Johnston (b. 1947) Canadian cartoonist
For Better or For Worse (31 May 1994)
(Source)

For more discussion, see here.

Mitchell, Margaret -- Gone with the Wind, ch. 57 [Rhett] (1936)

Dave — Tue, 10 May 2016 13:23:19 +0000

“Scarlett, I was never one to patiently pick up broken fragments and glue them together and tell myself that the mended whole was as good as new. What is broken is broken — and I’d rather remember it as it was at its best than mend it and see the broken places as long as I lived. Perhaps if I were younger–” he sighed. “But I’m too old to believe in such sentimentalities as clean slates and starting all over. I’m too old to shoulder the burden of constant lies that go with living in polite disillusionment. I couldn’t live with you and lie to you and I certainly couldn’t lie to myself. I can’t even lie to you now. I wish I could care what you do or where you go, but I can’t.”

He drew a short breath and said lightly but softly:

“My dear, I don’t give a damn.”

Margaret Mitchell (1900-1949) American author and journalist.
Gone with the Wind, ch. 57 [Rhett] (1936)
(Source)

Johnson, Samuel -- The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia, ch. 4 (1759)

Dave — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 12:49:35 +0000

That what cannot be repaired is not to be regretted.

Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) English writer, lexicographer, critic
The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia, ch. 4 (1759)
(Source)

Tocqueville, Alexis de -- Democracy in America, Vol. 1, ch. 13 (1835)

Dave — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 17:51:33 +0000

The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.

Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859) French writer, diplomat, politician
Democracy in America, Vol. 1, ch. 13 (1835)

Shakespeare, William -- Macbeth, Act 3, sc. 2, l. 13ff [Lady Macbeth] (1606)

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

LADY MACBETH: Things without all remedy
Should be without regard: what’s done is done.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet
Macbeth, Act 3, sc. 2, l. 13ff [Lady Macbeth] (1606)
(Source)