WIST Quotations

Butler, Octavia -- Essay (2000-05), “A Few Rules for Predicting the Future,” Essence Magazine

Dave — Mon, 25 May 2026 19:09:39 +0000

I mean there’s no single answer that will solve all our future problems. There’s no magic bullet. Instead there are thousands of answers — at least. You can be one of them if you choose to be.

Octavia Butler (1947–2006) American writer
Essay (2000-05), “A Few Rules for Predicting the Future,” Essence Magazine
(Source)

Rickover, Hyman -- Speech (1954-03-16), “Administering a Large Military Development Project,” US Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California

Dave — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 21:11:52 +0000

I have for some time thought that a few of our present day ills stem from this childish faith in the existence of perfect answers. It requires a degree of maturity to realize that all solutions are partial ones.

Hyman Rickover (1900–1986) Polish-American naval engineer, admiral [b. Chaim Gdala Rykower]
Speech (1954-03-16), “Administering a Large Military Development Project,” US Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California
(Source)

Smith, Sydney -- Lecture (1804-1806), Moral Philosophy, No. 19 “On the Conduct of the Understanding, Part 2” Royal Institution, London

Dave — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:50:31 +0000

It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little. Do what you can.

Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English clergyman, essayist, wit
Lecture (1804-1806), Moral Philosophy, No. 19 “On the Conduct of the Understanding, Part 2” Royal Institution, London
(Source)

Collected in Elementary Sketches of Moral Philosophy (1849).