WIST Quotations

Roosevelt, Eleanor -- Column (1947-10-29), “My Day”

Dave — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 14:43:01 +0000

I have never liked the idea of an Un-American Activities Committee. I have always thought that a strong democracy should stand by its fundamental beliefs and that a citizen of the United States should be considered innocent until he is proved guilty.
If he is employed in a government position where he has access to secret and important papers, then for the sake of security he must undergo some special tests. However, I doubt whether the loyalty test really adds much to our safety, since no Communist would hesitate to sign it and he would be in good standing until he was proved guilty. So it seems to me that we might as well do away with a test which is almost an insult to any loyal American citizen.

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) First Lady of the US (1933–1945), politician, diplomat, activist
Column (1947-10-29), “My Day”
(Source)

On the House Un-American Activities Committee.

Le Carre, John -- The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, ch. 2 (1963)

Dave — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 22:36:54 +0000

We do disagreeable things so that ordinary people here and everywhere can sleep safely in their beds at night.

John le Carré (1931-2020) English novelist, intelligence officer [pseud. of David Moore Cornwell]
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, ch. 2 (1963)

Keynes, John Maynard -- “A Short View of Russia” (1925)

Dave — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 15:01:14 +0000

Comfort and habits let us be ready to forgo, but I am not ready for a creed which does not care how much it destroys the liberty and security of daily life, which uses deliberately the weapons of persecution, destruction and international strife. How can I admire a policy which finds a characteristic expression in spending millions to suborn spies in every family and group at home, and to stir up trouble abroad?

John Maynard Keynes (1883-1946) English economist
“A Short View of Russia” (1925)

Carriger, Gail -- Waistcoats & Weaponry (2014)

Dave — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 03:05:26 +0000

Lady Linette had warned them of this. “Try not to think it glamorous, ladies. Intelligencer work is nine-tenths discontented ennui, and one-tenth abject terror. Rather like falling in love.”

Gail Carriger (b. 1976) American archaeologist, author [pen name of Tofa Borregaard]
Waistcoats & Weaponry (2014)

Brust, Steven -- Tiassa (2011)

Dave — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 21:47:53 +0000

Khaavren stood. “I will go now.”

“If you don’t mind, I shall await you here.”

“Certainly,” said Khaavren, smiling. “That will make it easier for you to look through my files.”

“Now my friend, have you ever known me to do anything so obvious?”

“Never.” Khaavren stood and strode to the door. “Which is exactly what makes it subtle.”

Steven Brust (b. 1955) American writer, systems programmer
Tiassa (2011)

Carriger, Gail -- Etiquette & Espionage (2013)

Dave — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 04:02:47 +0000

Sophronia took a deep breath. “What, precisely, will I be expected to learn here?”

Lady Linette twirled one curl of blonde hair around the tip of one finger. “Information gathering and object retrieval, of course. But mostly, you should learn how to finish.”

“Finish what, exactly?”

“Why, anything or anyone who needs finishing, my dear.”

Gail Carriger (b. 1976) American archaeologist, author [pen name of Tofa Borregaard]
Etiquette & Espionage (2013)