WIST Quotations

Zweig, Stefan -- Beware of Pity (1939)

Dave — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 14:57:20 +0000

It always demands a far greater degree of courage for an individual to oppose an organized movement than to let himself be carried along with the stream — individual courage, that is, a variety of courage that is dying out in these times of progressive organization and mechanization. During the war practically the only courage I ran across was mass courage, the courage that comes of being one of a herd, and anyone who examines this phenomenon more closely will find it to be compounded of some very strange elements: a great deal of vanity, a great deal of fear — yes, fear of staying behind, fear of being sneered at fear of independent action, and fear, above all, of taking up a stand against the mass enthusiasm of one’s fellows.

Stefan Zweig (1881–1942) Austrian novelist, playwright, journalist, biographer
Beware of Pity (1939)

Bunyan, John -- (Attributed)

Dave — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 14:14:54 +0000

I shall stay in jail to the end of my days before I make a butchery of my conscience.

John Bunyan (1628–1688) English Christian writer, preacher
(Attributed)

Quoted in M. L. King, Jr., "Letter from Birmingham City Jail" (16 Apr 1963).

Luther, Martin -- Speech before the Diet of Worms (18 Apr 1521)

Dave — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:41:20 +0000

I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I can do no other, so help me God. Amen.

Martin Luther (1483–1546) German priest, theologian, writer, religious reformer
Speech before the Diet of Worms (18 Apr 1521)

Safire, William -- “Giving War a Chance,” New York Times (2 Nov 1989)

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

Appeasement does not always lead to war; sometimes it leads to surrender.

William Safire (1929–2009) American author, columnist, journalist, speechwriter
“Giving War a Chance,” New York Times (2 Nov 1989)