WIST Quotations

Russell, Bertrand -- Education and the Social Order [Education and the Modern World], ch. 2 “The Negative Theory of Education” (1932)

Dave — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 17:53:41 +0000

A life of uncertainty is nervously exhausting at all times, but especially in youth.

Bertrand Russell (1872–1970) English mathematician and philosopher
Education and the Social Order [Education and the Modern World], ch. 2 “The Negative Theory of Education” (1932)

On the need in child-rearing of providing some level of day-to-day routine.

Doyle, Arthur Conan -- Story (1891-08), “The Red-Headed League,” [Holmes], The Strand Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 2

Dave — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 17:48:40 +0000

I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own little adventures.

Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) British writer and physician
Story (1891-08), “The Red-Headed League,” [Holmes], The Strand Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 2

Collected in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, No. 2 (1892).

Lewis, C.S. -- Mere Christianity, “Let’s Pretend” (1952)

Dave — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 12:56:36 +0000

When a young man who has been going to church in a routine way honestly realises that he does not believe in Christianity and stops going — provided he does it for honesty’s sake and not just to annoy his parents — the spirit of Christ is probably nearer to him then than it ever was before.

C. S. Lewis (1898–1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
Mere Christianity, “Let’s Pretend” (1952)

Mantel, Hilary -- In “Ten Rules for Writing Fiction,” The Guardian (20 Feb 2010)

Dave — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 12:14:09 +0000

Concentrate your narrative energy on the point of change. This is especially important for historical fiction. When your character is new to a place, or things alter around them, that’s the point to step back and fill in the details of their world. People don’t notice their everyday surroundings and daily routine, so when writers describe them it can sound as if they’re trying too hard to instruct the reader.

Hilary Mantel (b. 1952) English writer
In “Ten Rules for Writing Fiction,” The Guardian (20 Feb 2010)

Vidal, Gore -- “Gore Vidal,” interview by Gerald Clarke (1974)

Dave — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 11:46:46 +0000

First coffee, then a bowel movement. Then the Muse joins me.

Gore Vidal (1925–2012) American novelist, dramatist, critic
“Gore Vidal,” interview by Gerald Clarke (1974)

In The Paris Review Interviews: Writers at Work, 5th series (1981)

Franklin, Benjamin -- Poor Richard (1745 ed.)

Dave — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:51:01 +0000

’Tis easier to prevent bad habits than to break them.

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1745 ed.)

Wodehouse, P. G. -- “The Man Upstairs” (1914)

Dave — Mon, 18 May 2009 12:40:12 +0000

Routine is the death to heroism.

P. G. Wodehouse (1881–1975) Anglo-American humorist, playwright and lyricist [Pelham Grenville Wodehouse]
“The Man Upstairs” (1914)

Pratchett, Terry -- Good Omens, 2. “Eleven Years Ago” (1990) [with Neil Gaiman]

Dave — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:36:26 +0000

Crowley thumped the wheel. Everything had been going so well, he’d had it really under his thumb these few centuries. That’s how it goes, you think you’re on top of the world, and suddenly they spring Armageddon on you.

Terry Pratchett (1948–2015) English author
Good Omens, 2. “Eleven Years Ago” (1990) [with Neil Gaiman]

Chandler, Raymond -- The Long Good-bye, ch. 12 (1954)

Dave — Fri, 16 May 2008 09:46:15 +0000

Alcohol is like love: the first kiss is magic, the second is intimate, the third is routine. After that you just take the girl’s clothes off.

Raymond Chandler (1888–1959) American novelist
The Long Good-bye, ch. 12 (1954)

Balzac, Honoré de -- Physiology of Marriage (1829)

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

Marriage must continually vanquish the monster that devours everything, the monster of habit.

Honoré de Balzac (1799–1850) French novelist, playwright
Physiology of Marriage (1829)

Other translations: "Marriage must constantly fight against a monster which devours everything: routine."