Moffat, Steven -- Coupling, 01×03 “Sex, Death and Nudity” (2000-05-26)

Dave — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 18:27:47 +0000

JEFF: You’re not ready for the Giggle Loop. […] Basically, it’s like a feedback loop. You’re somewhere quiet. There’s people. It’s a — it’s a solemn occasion. A wedding. No — it’s a minute’s silence for someone who’s died. […] Minute’s silence ticking away. Tick. Tick. Tick. The Giggle Loop begins. Suddenly, out of nowhere, this thought comes into your head: the worst thing I could possibly do during a minute’s silence is laugh. (Overturns an empty beer glass) And as soon as you think that, you almost do laugh, automatic reaction. But you don’t, you control yourself. You’re fine. Whoo — but then you think how terrible it would have been if you’d laughed out loud in the middle of a minute’s silence. And so you nearly do it again, only this time it’s a bigger laugh. (Stacks a beer glass on top of the first one) And then you think how awful this bigger laugh would have been. And so you nearly laugh again, only this time it’s a very big laugh. (Stacks another glass) It’s an enormous laugh! Let this bastard out, and you get whiplash! (Stacks another glass) Suddenly, you’re in the middle of this completely silent room (Stacks another glass) and your shoulders are going like you’re drilling the road! And what do you think of this situation? Oh, dear Christ, you think it’s funny!

Steven Moffat (b. 1961) Scottish television writer, producer
Coupling, 01×03 “Sex, Death and Nudity” (2000-05-26)

Slightly edited from the transcript at Wikiquote. as verified from the video. The transcript at IMDb is much rougher.

Thomas a Kempis -- The Imitation of Christ [De Imitatione Christi], Book 1, ch. 25, v. 10 (1.25.10) (c. 1418-27) [tr. Anon. (1901)]

Dave — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 17:29:10 +0000

He that avoideth not small faults, by little and little falleth into greater.

[Qui parvos non devitat defectus, paulatim labitur ad majora.]

Thomas à Kempis (c. 1380–1471) German-Dutch priest, author
The Imitation of Christ [De Imitatione Christi], Book 1, ch. 25, v. 10 (1.25.10) (c. 1418-27) [tr. Anon. (1901)]
(Source)

Cross-referenced in some sources to Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 19:1 -- "One who despises small things will fail little by little."

(Source (Latin)). Other translations:

He that will not flee small sins, shall by little and little fall into greater.
[tr. Whitford/Raynal (1530/1871)]

He who will not flee small sins will, by little and little, fall into greater sins.
[tr. Whitford/Gardner (1530/1955)]

He that avoideth not small slips, by litle and litle may take a great fall.
[tr. Page (1639), 1.25.39]

He who does not inure himself to vanquishing by subduing less temptations, will never be able to grapple with more violent and trying ones; and infirmities once yielded to, grow insensibly to stubborn habits of vice.
[tr. Stanhope (1696; 1809 ed.), "The Christian's Pattern"]

He who is not careful to resist and subdue small sins, will insensibly fall into greater.
[tr. Payne (1803), 1.25.12]

He that avoideth not small faults, by little and little falleth into greater.
[ed. Parker (1841)]

He who is not careful to resist small sins, will insensibly fall into greater.
[tr. Dibdin (1851)]

He that does not shun small defects, by little and little falls into greater.
[ed. Bagster (1860)]

He who shunneth not small faults falleth little by little into greater.
[tr. Benham (1874)]

He who does not overcome small faults, shall fall little by little into greater ones.
[tr. Croft/Bolton (1940)]

He who does not try to shun small faults slips little and little into greater ones.
[tr. Daplyn (1952)]

The man who doesn't keep clear of petty faults will gradually slip into graver ones.
[tr. Knox-Oakley (1959)]

The man who does not avoid small failings gradually drifts into greater ones.
[tr. Knott (1962)]

If you do not avoid small faults, you will soon commit greater ones.
[tr. Rooney (1979)]

The person who does not avoid small faults, little by little slips into greater ones.
[tr. Creasy (1989)]

WIST Quotations

Moffat, Steven -- Coupling, 01×03 “Sex, Death and Nudity” (2000-05-26)

Thomas a Kempis -- The Imitation of Christ [De Imitatione Christi], Book 1, ch. 25, v. 10 (1.25.10) (c. 1418-27) [tr. Anon. (1901)]