WIST Quotations

Gorman, Amanda -- “The Hill We Climb” (2021)

Dave — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 17:34:19 +0000

When day comes we step out of the shade,
aflame and unafraid.
The new dawn blooms as we free it,
For there is always light,
if only we’re brave enough to see it,
If only we’re brave enough to be it.

Amanda Gorman (b. 1998) American poet and activist
“The Hill We Climb” (2021)
(Source)

Read at the Presidential Inauguration (20 Jan 2021).

Carville, James -- Interview with Joan Walsh, Salon (11 Mar 2002)

Dave — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 23:50:03 +0000

What I’m suggesting is, stand for yourself, be for something and the hell with it. Because the hand-wringers and the editorialists and the sigh-and-pontificate crowd will be against you, whatever you do.

James Carville (b. 1944) American political consultant
Interview with Joan Walsh, Salon (11 Mar 2002)
(Source)

Artaud, Antonin -- Letter to André Breton (28 Feb 1947)

Dave — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 01:00:25 +0000

There are circumstances which have to do with simple human honor. No matter the risk. To resist and not surrender.

Antonin Artaud (1896-1948) French playwright, actor, director
Letter to André Breton (28 Feb 1947)

Jefferson, Thomas -- Letter (1816-01-29) to Noah Worcester

Dave — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 12:44:20 +0000

The question [is] asked, “Is it common for a nation to obtain a redress of wrongs by war?” The answer to this question you will of course draw from history. In the meantime, reason will answer it on grounds of probability, that where the wrong has been done by a weaker nation, the stronger one has generally been able to enforce redress; but where by a stronger nation, redress by war has been neither obtained nor expected by the weaker. On the contrary, the loss has been increased by the expenses of the war in blood and treasure. Yet it may have obtained another object equally securing itself from future wrong. It may have retaliated on the aggressor losses of blood and treasure far beyond the value to him of the wrong he had committed, and thus have made the advantage of that too dear a purchase to leave him in a disposition to renew the wrong in future. In this way the loss by the war may have secured the weaker nation from loss by future wrong.

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) American political philosopher, polymath, statesman, US President (1801-09)
Letter (1816-01-29) to Noah Worcester
(Source)

Ali, Muhammad -- Quoted in New York Times (21 Nov 1965)

Dave — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 12:19:19 +0000

I am America. I am the part you won’t recognize. But get used to me. Black, confident, cocky; my name, not yours; my religion, not yours; my goals, my own; get used to me.

Muhammad Ali (1942-2016) American boxer, activist [b. Cassius Clay]
Quoted in New York Times (21 Nov 1965)

Roosevelt, Eleanor -- Column (1944-11-08), “My Day”

Dave — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:54:28 +0000

In political life I have never felt that anything really mattered but the satisfaction of knowing that you stood for the things in which you believed, and had done the very best you could.

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) First Lady of the US (1933–1945), politician, diplomat, activist
Column (1944-11-08), “My Day”
(Source)

King, Martin Luther -- Sermon, Selma, Alabama (8 Mar 1965)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) American clergyman, civil rights leader, social activist, preacher
Sermon, Selma, Alabama (8 Mar 1965)

Possibly the source of the uncited attributions (or variants) "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter" and "The day we see the truth and cease to speak is the day we begin to die."