WIST Quotations

Sevigne, Mme. -- Letter (1673-12-22) to Mme. de Grignan [ed. Hoyt and Ward (1896), No. 202]

Dave — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 01:09:18 +0000

Fortune is always on the side of the largest battalions.

[La fortune est toujours pour les gros bataillons]

Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, Marquise de Sévigné (1626-1696) French aristocrat, woman of letters [Madame de Sévigné, Mme de Sévigné]
Letter (1673-12-22) to Mme. de Grignan [ed. Hoyt and Ward (1896), No. 202]
(Source)

(Source (French), No. 118). Other translations:

Fortune generally declares in favor of numerous battalions.
[Source (1811), No. 274]

Providence is always on the side of the big battalions.
[Oxford Dict. of Proverbs]

Also attributed to her cousin Roger de Bussy-Rabutin ("God is usually on the side of the big squadrons against the small").

The phrase had become proverbial by at least the early 19th C. Other variants include:

God sides with the big battalions.
God sides with whichever side has the biggest battalions.

Milne, A. A. -- Winnie-the-Pooh, ch. 7 “Kanga and Baby Roo Come to the Forest” (1926)

Dave — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:11:37 +0000

“It is hard to be brave,” said Piglet, sniffing slightly, “when you’re only a Very Small Animal.”

A. A. Milne (1882-1956) English poet and playwright [Alan Alexander Milne]
Winnie-the-Pooh, ch. 7 “Kanga and Baby Roo Come to the Forest” (1926)
(Source)

Austen, Jane -- Emma, Vol. 3, ch. 6 (ch. 42) [Mr. Weston] (1816)

Dave — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 15:35:34 +0000

One cannot have too large a party. A large party secures its own amusement.

Jane Austen (1775-1817) English author
Emma, Vol. 3, ch. 6 (ch. 42) [Mr. Weston] (1816)
(Source)

Dyson, Freeman -- Infinite in All Directions, Part 1, ch. 1 “In Praise of Diversity” (1988)

Dave — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 17:16:40 +0000

An awareness of our smallness may help to redeem us from the arrogance which is the besetting sin of the scientists.

Freeman Dyson (1923-2020) English-American theoretical physicist, mathematician, futurist
Infinite in All Directions, Part 1, ch. 1 “In Praise of Diversity” (1988)
(Source)

Based on a lecture on "Science and Religion," National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Detroit (Sep 1986).

Martial -- Epigrams [Epigrammata], Book 9, epigram 33 (9.33) (AD 94) [tr. Juster (2016)]

Dave — Fri, 15 Apr 2022 18:37:02 +0000

When the bathhouse breaks into loud applause,
you will know that well-hung Mario is the cause.

[Audieris in quo, Flacce, balneo plausum,
Maronis illic esse mentulam scito.]

Martial (AD c.39-c.103) Spanish Roman poet, satirist, epigrammatist [Marcus Valerius Martialis]
Epigrams [Epigrammata], Book 9, epigram 33 (9.33) (AD 94) [tr. Juster (2016)]
(Source)

(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:

In whatever bath, Flaccus, you hear sounds resembling applause, know that there Maron's yard is to be found.
[tr. Bohn's Classical (1897); in earlier editions, just the Latin and an Italian translation were given.]

In the baths what is now the most pleasing diversion
Is to go and see Maro displaying his person.
[tr. Pott & Wright (1921), "The Wonder"]

If you’re passing the baths and you hear,
From within, an uproarious cheer,
You may safely conclude
Maron’s there, in the nude,
With that tool which has nowhere a peer.
[tr. Humphries (1963)]

It's easy to tell
by the roar of applause
in which of the baths
Maron is bathing.
[tr. Goertz (1971)]

If from the baths you hear a round of applause,
Maron's giant prick is bound to be the cause.
[tr. Michie (1972)]

When you hear applause in a bath, Flaccus, you may be sure that Maro's cock is there.
[tr. Shackleton Bailey (1993)]

The bath house applauds, with widening eyes,
When Maron reveals his astonishing size.
[tr. Ericsson (1995)]

The critics in the Baths rain bravos thick
For Marcus' coup de théâtre, his dick.
[tr. Wills (2007)]

If from the baths you hear a round of applause,
The giant prick of Maron is surely the cause.
[tr. Cooper]

Wilde, Larry -- The Merry Book of Christmas

Dave — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 20:30:34 +0000

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all thirty feet tall.

Larry Wilde (b. 1928) American humorist, actor, speaker, publisher [b. Herman Wildman]
The Merry Book of Christmas

Gracián, Baltasar -- The Art of Worldly Wisdom [Oráculo Manual y Arte de Prudencia], § 27 (1647) [tr. Fischer (1937)]

Dave — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 17:10:22 +0000

Some judge books by their thickness, as though they had been written to exercise the arms, instead of the mind.

[Estiman algunos los libros por la corpulencia, como si se escriviessen para exercitar antes los braços que los ingenios.]

Baltasar Gracián y Morales (1601-1658) Spanish Jesuit priest, writer, philosopher
The Art of Worldly Wisdom [Oráculo Manual y Arte de Prudencia], § 27 (1647) [tr. Fischer (1937)]
(Source)

(Source (Spanish)). Alternate translations:

Some value Books for their bulk, as if they were made rather to load the Arms than to exercise the mind.
[Flesher ed. (1685)]

Some reckon books by the thickness, as if they were written to try the brawn more than the brain.
[tr. Jacobs (1892)]

Some praise books for their girth, as if they were written to exercise our arms, not our wits.
[tr. Maurer (1992)]

Fuller, Thomas (1654) -- Gnomologia: Adages and Proverbs (compiler), # 3743 (1732)

Dave — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 16:41:38 +0000

One cloud is enough to eclipse all the sun.

Thomas Fuller (1654-1734) English physician, preacher, aphorist, writer
Gnomologia: Adages and Proverbs (compiler), # 3743 (1732)

Aesop -- Fables [Aesopica], “The Lion and the Mouse” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Dave — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 14:57:05 +0000

Little friends may prove great friends.

Aesop (620?-560? BC) Legendary Greek storyteller
Fables [Aesopica], “The Lion and the Mouse” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]
(Source)

Alternate translations:

"There is no creature so much below another but that he may have it in his power to return a good office." [tr. James (1848)]
"It is possible for even a Mouse to confer benefits on a Lion" [tr. Townsend (1887)]

Atwood, Margaret -- Cat’s Eye, ch. 22 (1988)

Dave — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 20:43:25 +0000

Little girls are cute and small only to adults. To one another they are not cute. They are life-sized.

Margaret Atwood (b. 1939) Canadian writer, literary critic, environmental activist
Cat’s Eye, ch. 22 (1988)
(Source)

Wodehouse, P. G. -- Very Good, Jeeves (1930)

Dave — Thu, 25 May 2017 16:42:20 +0000

The Right Hon. was a tubby little chap who looked as if he had been poured into his clothes and had forgotten to say “When!”

P. G. Wodehouse (1881-1975) Anglo-American humorist, playwright and lyricist [Pelham Grenville Wodehouse]
Very Good, Jeeves (1930)
(Source)

Kissinger, Henry -- “The Viet Nam Negotiations,” Foreign Affairs (Jan 1969)

Dave — Wed, 03 May 2017 03:16:18 +0000

We fought a military war; our opponents fought a political one. We sought physical attrition; our opponents aimed for our psychological exhaustion. In the process we lost sight of one of the cardinal maxims of guerrilla war: the guerrilla wins if he does not lose. The conventional army loses if it does not win.

Henry Kissinger (1923-2024) German-American diplomat
“The Viet Nam Negotiations,” Foreign Affairs (Jan 1969)
(Source)

Sometimes paraphrased as "A conventional army loses if it does not win. The guerrilla army wins if he does not lose."

Bacon, Francis -- Essays or Counsels Civil and Moral, No. 29 “Of the True Greatness of Kingdoms and Estates” (1612)

Dave — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 18:50:01 +0000

Nay, number (itself) in armies importeth not much, where the people is of weak courage; for (as Virgil saith) It never troubles a wolf how many the sheep be.

Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, scientist, author, statesman
Essays or Counsels Civil and Moral, No. 29 “Of the True Greatness of Kingdoms and Estates” (1612)
(Source)

The wolf reference is actually a common Latin proverb: "Non curat numerum lupus [The wolf doesn't care about the number]," or its longer form "Lupus non curat numerum ovium" [The wolf does not care about the number of sheep.].

Though Bacon explicitly notes the phrase in Virgil's Eclogues, the Latin saying is often attributed to Bacon.

Dante Alighieri -- The Divine Comedy [Divina Commedia], Book 3 “Paradiso,” Canto 1, l. 34 (1.34) (1320) [tr. Musa (1984)]

Dave — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 17:19:14 +0000

From one small spark can come a mighty blaze.

[Poca favilla gran fiamma seconda.]

Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) Italian poet
The Divine Comedy [Divina Commedia], Book 3 “Paradiso,” Canto 1, l. 34 (1.34) (1320) [tr. Musa (1984)]
(Source)

Dante, in a metaphorical prayer to Apollo, hoping his meager efforts describing Paradise will inspire better ones from future poets. The phrase has become proverbial in Italy.

(Source (Italian)). Alternate translations:

From a small spark
Great flame hath risen.
[tr. Cary (1814)]

The spark comes first, and then a mighty flame.
[tr. Bannerman (1850)]

A little spark is followed by great flame.
[tr. Longfellow (1867)]

A mighty flame follows a little spark.
[tr. Butler (1885)]

Great flame may follow from a spark but brief.
[tr. Minchin (1885)]

Great flame follows a little spark.
[tr. Norton (1892)]

A mighty flame followeth a tiny spark.
[tr. Wicksteed (1899)]

A great flame follows a little spark.
[tr. Sinclair (1939)]

A small spark kindles a great flame beyond.
[tr. Binyon (1943)]

From one small spark springs up a mighty flare.
[tr. Sayers/Reynolds (1962)]

Great flames are kindled where the small sparks fly.
[tr. Ciardi (1970)]

A great flame follows a little spark.
[tr. Singleton (1975)]

A little spark brings a great flame after it.
[tr. Sisson (1981)]

Great fire can follow a small spark.
[tr. Mandelbaum (1984)]

A tiny spark can result in a great flame.
[tr. Durling (2011)]

A great flame follows a tiny spark
[tr. Kline (2002)]

A minute spark precedes a towering flame.
[tr. Kirkpatrick (2007)]

Great fire leaps from the smallest spark.
[tr. Hollander/Hollander (2007)]

Tiny sparks can produce a noble flame.
[tr. Raffel (2010)]

A little spark, later a great flame.
[tr. Bang (2021)]

Twain, Mark -- (Misattributed)

Dave — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 13:52:54 +0000

It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.

Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
(Misattributed)

Scholarly research finds no actual connection between Twain and the origin of this phrase. It appears to have been first crafted by columnist Arthur G. Lewis, Book of the Royal Blue Magazine (1911-04):

It is not the size of the dog in the fight that counts, but the fight in the dog that wins.

For more discussion of the origins and variations, see Quote Origin: It’s Not the Size of the Dog in the Fight, It’s the Size of the Fight in the Dog – Quote Investigator®.

Martin, Steve -- L. A. Story (1991)

Dave — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:27:55 +0000

HARRIS: You know, you’re really nobody in L.A. unless you live in a house with a really big door.

Steve Martin (b. 1945) American comedian, actor, writer, producer, musician
L. A. Story (1991)
(Source)

(Source (Video))

Wodehouse, P. G. -- Very Good, Jeeves (1930)

Dave — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:35:33 +0000

She fitted into my biggest armchair as if it had been built round her by someone who knew they were wearing armchairs tight about the hips that season.

P. G. Wodehouse (1881-1975) Anglo-American humorist, playwright and lyricist [Pelham Grenville Wodehouse]
Very Good, Jeeves (1930)