WIST Quotations

Franklin, Benjamin -- Poor Richard’s Almanack (Oct 1758)

Dave — Fri, 17 Jul 2015 17:08:38 +0000

To serve the Public faithfully, and at the same time please it entirely, is impracticable.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard’s Almanack (Oct 1758)

King, Martin Luther -- “The Drum Major Instinct,” sermon, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta (4 Feb 1968)

Dave — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 15:42:23 +0000

And so Jesus gave us a new norm of greatness. If you want to be important — wonderful. If you want to be recognized — wonderful. If you want to be great — wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That’s a new definition of greatness. And this morning, the thing that I like about it: by giving that definition of greatness, it means that everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don’t have to know Einstein’s theory of relativity to serve. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. And you can be that servant.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) American clergyman, civil rights leader, social activist, preacher
“The Drum Major Instinct,” sermon, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta (4 Feb 1968)
(Source)

See Matthew 23:11-12.

Bible, Vol. 2. New Testament -- Matthew 23: 11-12 (Jesus) [JB (1966)]

Dave — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 15:17:51 +0000

The greatest among you must be your servant. Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will exalted.

[ὁ δὲ μείζων ὑμῶν ἔσται ὑμῶν διάκονος. Ὅστις δὲ ὑψώσει ἑαυτὸν ταπεινωθήσεται καὶ ὅστις ταπεινώσει ἑαυτὸν ὑψωθήσεται.]

The Bible (The New Testament) (AD 1st - 2nd C) Christian sacred scripture
Matthew 23: 11-12 (Jesus) [JB (1966)]
(Source)

No Synoptic parallels.

(Source (Greek)). Alternate translations:

But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
[KJV (1611)]

The greatest one among you must be your servant. Whoever makes himself great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be made great.
[GNT (1976)]

The greatest among you must be your servant. Anyone who raises himself up will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be raised up.
[NJB (1985)]

But the one who is greatest among you will be your servant. All who lift themselves up will be brought low. But all who make themselves low will be lifted up.
[CEB (2011)]

The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
[NRSV (2021 ed.)]

Francis I (Pope) -- “How the Church Will Change,” interview with Eugenio Scalfari, La Repubblica (1 Oct 2013) [tr. K Wallace]

Dave — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 12:11:41 +0000

I believe I have already said that our goal is not to proselytize but to listen to needs, desires and disappointments, despair, hope. We must restore hope to young people, help the old, be open to the future, spread love. Be poor among the poor. We need to include the excluded and preach peace.

Francis I (1936-2025) Argentinian Catholic Pope (2013–2025) [b. Jorge Mario Bergoglio]
“How the Church Will Change,” interview with Eugenio Scalfari, La Repubblica (1 Oct 2013) [tr. K Wallace]
(Source)