WIST Quotations

Barzun, Jacques -- Essay (1989), “Culture High and Dry,” The Culture We Deserve

Dave — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 22:22:56 +0000

Scholarship has yielded to the irresistible pull that science exerts on our minds by its self-confidence and the promise of certified knowledge. But, to repeat, the objects of culture are not analyzable, not graspable by the geometric mind. Great works of art are great by virtue of being syntheses of the world; they qualify as art by fusing form and contents into an indivisible whole; what they offer is not “discourse about,” nor a cipher to be decoded, but a prolonged incitement to finesse. So it is paradoxical that our way of introducing young minds to such works should be the way of scholarship.

Jacques Barzun (1907–2012) French-American historian, educator, polymath
Essay (1989), “Culture High and Dry,” The Culture We Deserve

An earlier version of this essay was published as "Scholarship versus Culture," Atlantic Monthly (1984-11).

Johnson, Lyndon -- Speech (1964-09-28), Convocation, Brown University

Dave — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 23:16:41 +0000

If we turn away from knowledge and truth, we will not succeed. If we believe the worst and suspect the best, we alone will suffer. If we deny our progress, if we are against all of it, if we tear down our accomplishments, we will fill the world with sorrow, and we will blemish our own name with shame.
But if we are courageous and farsighted and farseeing, if we have no fear of the truth, if we seek only after light, then we and our children and our children’s children shall know the greatness of this wonderful, beautiful land we call America.

Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–1973) American politician, educator, US President (1963–69)
Speech (1964-09-28), Convocation, Brown University

On government support of higher education, research, and scholarship.

Gandhi, Mohandas -- Speech to students, Agra, in Young India (19 Sep 1929)

Dave — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 17:49:31 +0000

All of your scholarship, all your study of Shakespeare and Wordsworth would be vain if at the same time you did not build your character and attain mastery over your thoughts and your actions.

Mohandas Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, political ethicist [Mahatma Gandhi]
Speech to students, Agra, in Young India (19 Sep 1929)

Chesterfield (Lord) -- Letter to his son, #133 (11 Dec 1747)

Dave — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 15:08:54 +0000

Knowledge is a comfortable and necessary retreat and shelter for us in an advanced age; and if we do not plant it while young, it will give us no shade when we grow old.

Lord Chesterfield (1694–1773) English statesman, wit [Philip Dormer Stanhope]
Letter to his son, #133 (11 Dec 1747)

Bacon, Francis -- “Of Studies,” Essays, No. 50 (1625)

Dave — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 14:54:34 +0000

Crafty men condemn studies; simple men admire them; and wise men use them.

Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English philosopher, scientist, author, statesman
“Of Studies,” Essays, No. 50 (1625)