WIST Quotations

La Rochefoucauld, Francois -- Réflexions ou sentences et maximes morales [Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims], ¶171 (1665-1678) [tr. Whichello (2016)]

Dave — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 23:43:58 +0000

Virtues are lost in self-interest as rivers are lost in the sea.

[Les vertus se perdent dans l’intérêt, comme les fleuves se perdent dans la mer.]

François VI, duc de La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680) French epigrammatist, memoirist, noble
Réflexions ou sentences et maximes morales [Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims], ¶171 (1665-1678) [tr. Whichello (2016)]
(Source)

Present in the 1st (1665) edition, which began the maxim with "Toutes les vertus se perdent [All virtues are lost] ...." See also ¶253.

(Source (French)). Other translations:

All the Virtues men so much pretend to, are swallow'd up in Interest, as Rivers lose their names when they fall into the Sea.
[tr. Davies (1669), ¶3]

Vertues are lost in Interest, as Rivers are swallowed up in the Sea.
[tr. Stanhope (1694), ¶172]

The virtues are lost in interest, as rivers are in the sea.
[pub. Donaldson (1783), ¶448; ed. Lepoittevin-Lacroix (1797), ¶165]

The virtues are lost in interest, as rivers are lost in the sea.
[ed. Gowens (1851), ¶174]

As rivers are lost in the sea so are virtues in self.
[tr. Bund/Friswell (1871), ¶171]

Virtues lose themselves in selfish motives like rivers in the sea.
[tr. Heard (1917), ¶171]

Our virtues lose themselves in selfishness as rivers are lost in the sea.
[tr. Stevens (1939), ¶171]

Our virtues are drowned in self-interest, as the rivers flow into the sea.
[tr. FitzGibbon (1957), ¶171]

Virtues are swallowed up by self-interest as rivers are lost in the sea.
[tr. Kronenberger (1959), ¶171]

The virtues lose themselves in self-interest like rivers in the sea.
[tr. Tancock (1959), ¶171]

Johnson, Samuel -- Essay (1753-11-27), The Adventurer, No. 111

Dave — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 23:44:52 +0000

To strive with difficulties, and to conquer them, is the highest human felicity; the next is, to strive, and deserve to conquer: but he whose life has passed without a contest, and who can boast neither success nor merit, can survey himself only as a useless filler of existence; and if he is content with his own character, must owe his satisfaction to insensibility.

Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) English writer, lexicographer, critic
Essay (1753-11-27), The Adventurer, No. 111
(Source)

Mauldin, Bill -- Back Home, ch. 14 (1947)

Dave — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 18:44:29 +0000

I have heard people say we should be strong so that if there is another war we can win it, then show the world the right way to live afterward. This is old stuff, and it is poppycock. Our behavior hardly qualifies us as world leaders. Ours is one of the most conservative governments in the world today, and one of the most bumbling. We have more provincialism and bigotry and superstition and prejudice per square mile than almost any other nation. We like to think of ourselves as a young, progressive country, but, while we do have energy, we have become smug and self-satisfied.

Bill Mauldin (1921-2003) American editorial cartoonist, writer
Back Home, ch. 14 (1947)
(Source)

Martin, Judith -- “Miss Manners,” syndicated column (1979-11-24)

Dave — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 19:35:55 +0000

In artful boasting, one states all the information necessary to impress people, but keeps the facts decently clothed in the language of humility. Useful approaches include Disbelief, Fear and Manic Elation. For some reason, these are considered to be more attractive human emotions than justifiable pride or self-satisfaction. Probably because they are not as much fun.

Judith Martin (b. 1938) American author, journalist, etiquette expert [a.k.a. Miss Manners]
“Miss Manners,” syndicated column (1979-11-24)
(Source)

Collected in Miss Manners’ Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior, Part 3 "Basic Civilization," "Social Intercourse" (1983).

Hurston, Zora Neale -- Dust Tracks on a Road, ch. 14 “Love” (1942)

Dave — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 23:15:13 +0000

Love, I find is like singing. Everybody can do enough to satisfy themselves, though it may not impress the neighbors as being very much.

Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960) American writer, folklorist, anthropologist
Dust Tracks on a Road, ch. 14 “Love” (1942)
(Source)

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

Dave — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 12:24:29 +0000

Write a book you’d like to read. If you wouldn’t read it, why would anybody else?

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