WIST Quotations

Peters, Ellis -- Cadfael Chronicles No. 20, The Holy Thief, ch. 11 (1992)

Dave — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 17:24:20 +0000

He was about to urge her to let well alone and trust heaven to do justice, but then he had a sudden vision of heaven’s justice as the Church sometimes applied it, in good but dreadful faith, with all the virtuous narrowness and pitilessness of minds blind and deaf to the infinite variety of humankind, its failings, and aspirations, and needs, and forgetful of all the Gospel reminders concerning publicans and sinners.

Ellis Peters (1913-1995) English writer, translator [pseud. of Edith Mary Pargeter, who also wrote under the names John Redfern, Jolyon Carr, Peter Benedict]
Cadfael Chronicles No. 20, The Holy Thief, ch. 11 (1992)
(Source)

Bierce, Ambrose -- “Deluge,” The Cynic’s Word Book (1906)

Dave — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 16:05:22 +0000

DELUGE, n. A notable first experiment in baptism which washed away the sins (and sinners) of the world.

Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914?) American writer and journalist
“Deluge,” The Cynic’s Word Book (1906)
(Source)

Included in The Devil's Dictionary (1911). Originally published in the "Devil's Dictionary" column in the San Francisco Wasp (1882-01-20).

The original Wasp entry included a second sentence: "Since then it has been deemed advisable to let the sinners remain on their good behavior."

Tutu, Desmond -- Interview with Gyles Brandreth, Sunday Times (15 Apr 2001)

Dave — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:20:03 +0000

The wonderful thing about God’s love is that maybe we are going to be surprised at the people we find in Heaven that we didn’t expect, and possibly we’ll be surprised at those we’d thought would be there and aren’t. God has a particularly soft spot for sinners. Remember, Jesus says there is greater joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine needing no repentance. Ultimately it all hinges on one thing: our response to the divine invitation. There is hope for us all. God’s standards are quite low.

Desmond Tutu (1931-2021) South African cleric, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Nobel Laureate
Interview with Gyles Brandreth, Sunday Times (15 Apr 2001)
(Source)

Often paraphrased (possibly the version printed in the Sunday Times): "We may be surprised at the people we find in heaven. God has a soft spot for sinners. His standards are quite low."

Dante Alighieri -- The Divine Comedy [Divina Commedia], Book 3 “Paradiso,” Canto 19, l. 206ff (19.106-108) [The Eagle] (1320) [tr. Ciardi (1970)]

Dave — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:30:12 +0000

But see how many now cry out “Christ! Christ!”
Who shall be farther from him at the Judgment
Than many who, on earth, did not know Christ.

[Ma vedi: molti gridan “Cristo, Cristo!”,
che saranno in giudicio assai men prope
a lui, che tal che non conosce Cristo.]

Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) Italian poet
The Divine Comedy [Divina Commedia], Book 3 “Paradiso,” Canto 19, l. 206ff (19.106-108) [The Eagle] (1320) [tr. Ciardi (1970)]
(Source)

The Eagle, speaking to Dante. See the Bible, Matt. 7:21-23 and Matt. 8:11-12.

Ciardi and Musa note how here, as elsewhere, Dante only rhymes the name of Christ with itself.

(Source (Italian)). Alternate translations:

But many on his Name with boldness call,
Who underneath his righteous doom shall fall,
When virtuous Pagans soar to endless day.
[tr. Boyd (1802), st. 23]

But lo! of those
Who call ‘Christ, Christ,’ there shall be many found,
In judgment, further off from him by far,
Than such, to whom his name was never known.
[tr. Cary (1814)]

But, mark ! many a one shall call 'Christ, Christ,'
Who, in the judgment, shall be far less near
Than those who never chanced his name to hear.
[tr. Bannerman (1850)]

But look thou, many crying are, 'Christ, Christ!'
Who at the judgment shall be far less near
To him than some shall be who knew not Christ.
[tr. Longfellow (1867)]

But behold, many cry, Christ, Christ, who in the judgement shall be far less near to Him than such an one that knew not Christ.
[tr. Butler (1885)]

But many wilt thou see who cry, Christ, Christ!
Who in the judgment-day will be less near
To Him than some who never heard of Christ.
[tr. Minchin (1885)]

But behold, many cry Christ, Christ, who, at the Judgment, shall be far less near to him, than such an one who knew not Christ.
[tr. Norton (1892)]

But note, many cry Christ, Christ! who shall be far less near to Him at the Judgement than such as know not Christ.
[tr. Sinclair (1939)]

But look! how many are crying: ‘Christ! Christ!’
Who at the day of judgment shall be far
Less near to him than such as knew not Christ.
[tr. Binyon (1943)]

But see! full many shall cry aloud: Christ! Christ!
Who in the Last Day shall be sent to lodge
Farther from Him than they who know not Christ.
[tr. Sayers/Reynolds (1962)]

But see: many there are who cry “Christ, Christ"
Who at the judgement will be much less near
To him than some who do not know Christ.
[tr. Sisson (1981)]

But there are many who now cry ‘Christ! Christ!’
who at the Final Judgment shall be far
less close to Him than one who knows not Christ.
[tr. Mandelbaum (1984)]

But then there are all those who cry, ‘Christ, Christ!’
and at the Judgment Day will be less close
to Him than will be those who know not Christ.
[tr. Musa (1984)]

But see: many cry Christ, Christ! who at the judgment will be much less prope to him, than someone who does not know Christ.
[tr. Durling (2011)]

But see, many call out: “Christ, Christ” who shall be further from Him at the Judgement, than those who do not know of Christ.
[tr. Kline (2002)]

But see this: many cry out: “Christ! Christ! Christ!”
Yet many will, come Judgement, be to Him less prope
than are those who don’t know Christ.
[tr. Kirkpatrick (2007)]

But observe that many shout out 'Christ, O Christ!'
who shall be farther off from Him,
on Judgment Day, than such as know not Christ.
[tr. Hollander/Hollander (2007)]

And yet there are many crying out His name
Who at the Day of Judgment will be farther away
From Him than he who has never heard of Christ.
[tr. Raffel (2010)]