WIST Quotations

Carlyle, Thomas -- Sartor Resartus, Book 3, ch. 7 (1834)

Dave — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 21:32:20 +0000

It is a mathematical fact that the casting of this pebble from my hand alters the center of gravity of the Universe.

Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) Scottish essayist and historian
Sartor Resartus, Book 3, ch. 7 (1834)
(Source)

Quoting Herr Teufelsdröckh. This chapter first appeared in Fraser's Magazine for Town and Country, Vol. 10, No. 55 (1834-07).

Kissinger, Henry -- “The Viet Nam Negotiations,” Foreign Affairs (Jan 1969)

Dave — Wed, 03 May 2017 03:16:18 +0000

We fought a military war; our opponents fought a political one. We sought physical attrition; our opponents aimed for our psychological exhaustion. In the process we lost sight of one of the cardinal maxims of guerrilla war: the guerrilla wins if he does not lose. The conventional army loses if it does not win.

Henry Kissinger (1923-2024) German-American diplomat
“The Viet Nam Negotiations,” Foreign Affairs (Jan 1969)
(Source)

Sometimes paraphrased as "A conventional army loses if it does not win. The guerrilla army wins if he does not lose."

Galbraith, John Kenneth -- The Affluent Society, ch. 25, sec. 3 (1958)

Dave — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:23:24 +0000

Private enterprise did not get us atomic energy.

John Kenneth Galbraith (1908-2006) Canadian-American economist, diplomat, author
The Affluent Society, ch. 25, sec. 3 (1958)

Hazlitt, William -- Essay (1829-10), “American Literature — Dr. Channing,” Edinburgh Review, Vol. 50, No. 99, Art. 7

Dave — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 18:02:35 +0000

The least pain in our little finger gives more concern and uneasiness than the destruction of millions of our fellow beings.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
Essay (1829-10), “American Literature — Dr. Channing,” Edinburgh Review, Vol. 50, No. 99, Art. 7
(Source)

Emerson, Ralph Waldo -- Journal (1848-04/05)

Dave — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:19:01 +0000

I suppose you could never prove to the mind of the most ingenious mollusk that such a creature as a whale was possible.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American essayist, lecturer, poet
Journal (1848-04/05)

Thoreau, Henry David -- A Week on the Concord and Marrimack Rivers, “Monday” (1849)

Dave — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:46:42 +0000

All streams are but tributary to the ocean, which itself does not stream, and the shores are unchanged but in longer periods than man can measure. Go where we will, we discover infinite change in particulars only, not in generals.

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American philosopher and writer
A Week on the Concord and Marrimack Rivers, “Monday” (1849)
(Source)

Bukowski, Charles -- Tales of Ordinary Madness, “Too Sensitive” (1967)

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

You begin saving the world by saving one person at a time; all else is grandiose romanticism or politics.

Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) German-American author, poet
Tales of Ordinary Madness, “Too Sensitive” (1967)

Brooks, Mel -- Quoted (1978-10-30) in Kenneth Tynan, “Frolics and Detours of a Short Hebrew Man,” New Yorker

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

Tragedy is if I cut my finger. Comedy is if you walk into an open sewer and die.

Mel Brooks (b. 1926) American comedic actor, writer, producer [b. Melvyn Kaminsky]
Quoted (1978-10-30) in Kenneth Tynan, “Frolics and Detours of a Short Hebrew Man,” New Yorker
(Source)

See Hazlitt (1829).