WIST Quotations

Hemingway, Ernest -- A Farewell to Arms, ch. 27 (1929)

Dave — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 21:12:06 +0000

I was always embarrassed by the words sacred, glorious, and sacrifice, and the expression in vain. We had heard them, sometimes standing in the rain almost out of earshot, so that only the shouted words came through, and had read them, on proclamations that were slapped up by billposters over other proclamations, now for a long time, and I had seen nothing sacred, and the sacrifices were like the stockyards in Chicago if nothing was done with the meat except to bury it.

Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) American writer
A Farewell to Arms, ch. 27 (1929)

The book is set in the Italian campaigns of World War I.

Ingersoll, Robert Green -- Lecture (1872-01-29), “The Gods,” Fairbury Hall, Fairbury, Illinois

Dave — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 17:03:20 +0000

The instant we admit that a book is too sacred to be doubted, or even reasoned about, we are mental serfs. It is infinitely absurd to suppose that a god would address a communication to intelligent beings, and yet make it a crime, to be punished in eternal flames, for them to use their intelligence for the purpose of understanding his communication. If we have the right to use our reason, we certainly have the right to act in accordance with it, and no god can have the right to punish us for such action.

Robert Green Ingersoll (1833–1899) American lawyer, freethinker, orator
Lecture (1872-01-29), “The Gods,” Fairbury Hall, Fairbury, Illinois

First given on the 135th birthday of Thomas Paine. Collected in The Gods and Other Lectures (1876).

Washington, George -- Essay (1796-09-17), “Farewell Address,” Claypoole’s American Daily Advertiser, Philadelphia (1796-09-19)

Dave — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:51:21 +0000

The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their Constitutions of Government. But the Constitution which at any time exists, ’till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole People, is sacredly obligatory upon all. The very idea of the power and the right of the People to establish Government presupposes the duty of every Individual to obey the established Government.

George Washington (1732–1799) American military leader, Founding Father, US President (1789–1797)
Essay (1796-09-17), “Farewell Address,” Claypoole’s American Daily Advertiser, Philadelphia (1796-09-19)

Twain, Mark -- Following the Equator (1897)

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

We despise all reverences and all objects of reverence which are outside the pale of our list of sacred things. And yet, with strange inconsistency, we are shocked when other people despise and defile the things which are holy to us.

Mark Twain (1835–1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
Following the Equator (1897)

Bierce, Ambrose -- “Scriptures,” The Devil’s Dictionary (1911)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 18:00:00 +0000

SCRIPTURES, n. The sacred books of our holy religion, as distinguished from the false and profane writings on which all other faiths are based.

Ambrose Bierce (1842–1914?) American writer and journalist
“Scriptures,” The Devil’s Dictionary (1911)

Originally published in The Devil's Dictionary [A-Z] as Vol. 7 of his Collected Works.