WIST Quotations

Hall, Christy -- (Attributed)

Dave — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 16:59:52 +0000

The night before a deadline, I usually am in desperate need of a back rub. And new wrists. And candy. And little mice to secretly finish the job while I am sleeping.

Christy Hall (contemp.) American playwright, screenwriter, film director
(Attributed)

Popularly ascribed to Hall, but I cannot find a primary source.

Cicero, Marcus Tullius -- Philippics [Philippicae; Antonian Orations], No. 2, ch. 16 / sec. 39 (2.16/2.39) (44-10-24 BC) [tr. Grant (1960)]

Dave — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 16:30:01 +0000

Yet however grim circumstances are, human beings, if they really are human, occasionally relax.

[Homines quamvis in turbidis rebus sint, tamen, si modo homines sunt, interdum animis rexantur.]

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 BC) Roman orator, statesman, philosopher
Philippics [Philippicae; Antonian Orations], No. 2, ch. 16 / sec. 39 (2.16/2.39) (44-10-24 BC) [tr. Grant (1960)]
(Source)

To Antony's accusations of his inappropriately telling jokes while in camp with Pompey's army.

(Source (Latin)). Other translations:

Men, so long as they are men, relax at times even amid the heaviest perplexities.
[tr. King (1877)]

Men, in whatever anxiety they may be, if they are men, sometimes indulge in relaxation.
[ed. Hoyt (1896)]

But men, in however troublous times -- if only they are human -- sometimes relax their minds.
[tr. Ker (Loeb) (1926)]

Although men are in great difficulties, still, provided they are men, they sometimes relax their minds.
[tr. Yonge (1903)]

In whatever trouble men may be, yet so long as they are men, they must occasionally have their moments of cheerfulness.
[ed. Harbottle (1906)]

Human beings, even in times of crisis, do sometimes unwind, if they are human at all.
[tr. Berry (2006)]

Even when they are in troubled situations, men, if they are human, still relax their minds from time to time.
[tr. McElduff (2011)]

Cox, Marcelene -- “Ask Any Woman” column, Ladies’ Home Journal (1955-10)

Dave — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 16:25:26 +0000

Worry is like sand in an oyster: a little produces a pearl, too much kills the animal.

Marcelene Cox (1900–1998) American writer, columnist, aphorist
“Ask Any Woman” column, Ladies’ Home Journal (1955-10)
(Source)

Hoffer, Eric -- “The Madhouse of Change,” Playboy (Dec 1968)

Dave — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 21:09:19 +0000

We used to think that revolution is the cause of change. Actually, it is the other way around: revolution is a by-product of change. Change comes first, and it is the difficulties and irritations inherent in change that set the stage for revolution. To say that revolution is the cause of change is like saying juvenile delinquency is the cause of the change from boyhood to manhood.

Eric Hoffer (1902–1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
“The Madhouse of Change,” Playboy (Dec 1968)
(Source)

Reprinted in Voices of Concern: The Playboy College Reader (1971).

Euripides -- Antiope [Αντιοπη], frag. 193 (TGF, Kannicht) [Amphion] (c. 410 BC) [tr. Wodhall (1809)]

Dave — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 16:00:02 +0000

He who without necessity embarks
In many matters, is a fool for slighting
The obvious blessings of a tranquil life.

[ὅστις δὲ πράσσει πολλὰ µὴ πράσσειν παρόν,
µῶρος, παρὸν ζῆν ἡδέως ἀπράγµονα.]

Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Antiope [Αντιοπη], frag. 193 (TGF, Kannicht) [Amphion] (c. 410 BC) [tr. Wodhall (1809)]
(Source)

Barnes fragment 104, Musgrave 25. (Source (Greek)). Other translation:

Whoever is very active when he may be inactive, is a moron,
when he may live pleasantly keeping clear from politics.
[tr. Will (2015)]

Whoever is overactive when he could relax
is foolish, for he misses out on a pleasant life.
[Source]

Bukowski, Charles -- What Matters Most is How Well You Walk Through the Fire (1999)

Dave — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 12:59:10 +0000

Things get bad for all of us, almost continually, and what we do under the constant stress reveals who/what we are.

Charles Bukowski (1920–1994) German-American author, poet
What Matters Most is How Well You Walk Through the Fire (1999)

Prentice, George -- Prenticeana (1860)

Dave — Tue, 12 May 2020 21:25:38 +0000

What some call health, if purchased by perpetual anxiety about diet, isn’t much better than tedious disease.

George D. Prentice (1802–1870) American newspaper editor
Prenticeana (1860)
(Source)

Toffler, Alvin -- Future Shock, Introduction (1970)

Dave — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 17:49:16 +0000

… “[F]uture shock” [is] the shattering stress and disorientation that we induce in individuals by subjecting them to too much change in too short a time.

Alvin Toffler (1928–2016) American writer and futurist
Future Shock, Introduction (1970)
(Source)

Taylor, Henry -- The Statesman: An Ironical Treatise on the Art of Succeeding, ch. 21 (1836)

Dave — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 00:32:45 +0000

The pretext for indecisiveness is commonly mature deliberation; but in reality indecisive men occupy themselves less in deliberation than others; for to him who fears to decide, deliberation (which has a foretaste of that fear) soon becomes intolerably irksome, and the mind escapes from the anxiety of it into alien themes.

Henry Taylor (1800–1886) English dramatist, poet, bureaucrat, man of letters
The Statesman: An Ironical Treatise on the Art of Succeeding, ch. 21 (1836)
(Source)

Landers, Ann -- “Ask Ann Landers,” syndicated column (1958)

Dave — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 03:04:47 +0000

You’re trying to drown your sorrows in alcohol and it won’t work. Sorrows know how to swim.

Ann Landers (1918–2002) American advice columnist [pseud. for Eppie Lederer]
“Ask Ann Landers,” syndicated column (1958)

Landers used the phrase multiple times, e.g.,

"And now an added P.S. In these days of political unrest, financial crisis and emotional upheaval, a word to those of you who are trying to drown your sorrow. Please be aware that sorrow knows how to swim." [The Ann Landers Encyclopedia: A to Z (1978)]
"People who drink to drown their sorrow should be told that sorrow knows how to swim."

However, the phrase predates her in a variety of anonymous sources; see here for more discussion.

Bensley, Connie -- “Entrails” (1987)

Dave — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 16:47:20 +0000

Entrails don’t care for travel,
Entrails don’t care for stress,
Entrails are better kept folded inside you
For outside, they make a mess.

Connie Bensley (b. 1929) British poet
“Entrails” (1987)
(Source)

Cerf, Bennett -- Laughter Incorporated, Foreword (1950)

Dave — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 17:54:08 +0000

Never in History has the average American citizen found more need for a saving sense of humor. Beset by threats of destruction by atomic bombs, inflation, mounting taxes, overcrowded cities, witch hunters, propagandists, caterwauling commentators, and the incessant clamor of radio and television commercials, he must laugh occasionally to keep from blowing his top altogether. It’s far too easy to see only the shadows, and ignore the patches of sunlight that remain.

Bennett Cerf (1898–1971) American publisher, humorist
Laughter Incorporated, Foreword (1950)
(Source)

Thurber, James -- “The Shrike and the Chipmunks”, The New Yorker (1939-02-18)

Dave — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 05:26:32 +0000

Early to rise and early to bed makes a male healthy and wealthy and dead.

James Thurber (1894–1961) American humorist, cartoonist, writer
“The Shrike and the Chipmunks”, The New Yorker (1939-02-18)

Often misquoted as "Early to rise and early to bed makes a man healthy, wealthy, and dead."

See Franklin.

Clarke, Arthur C. -- 2001: A Space Odyssey [HAL 9000] (1968) [with Stanley Kubrick]

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

Look, Dave … I can see you’re really upset about this …. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly …. Take a stress pill, and think things over.

Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008) British writer
2001: A Space Odyssey [HAL 9000] (1968) [with Stanley Kubrick]

Bible, Vol. 2. New Testament -- Book 1. Gospel of Matthew 6:34 (Matt 6:34) (Jesus) [KJV (1611)]

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 18:00:00 +0000

Take no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

[μὴ οὖν μεριμνήσητε εἰς τὴν αὔριον, ἡ γὰρ αὔριον μεριμνήσει ἑαυτῆς· ἀρκετὸν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἡ κακία αὐτῆς.]

The Bible (The New Testament) (AD 1st - 2nd C) Christian sacred scripture
Book 1. Gospel of Matthew 6:34 (Matt 6:34) (Jesus) [KJV (1611)]
(Source)

This overall passage (Matt. 6:25-34) is paralleled in Luke 12:22-32, but this particular verse is unique to Matthew.

(Source (Greek)). Other translations:

So do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
[JB (1966)]

So do not worry about tomorrow; it will have enough worries of its own. There is no need to add to the troubles each day brings.
[GNT (1976)]

So do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
[NJB (1985)]

Therefore, stop worrying about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
[CEB (2011)]

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
[NIV (2011 ed.)]

So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
[NRSV (2021 ed.)]

King, Martin Luther -- Stride Toward Freedom, ch. 2 “Montgomery Before the Protest” (1958)

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

True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968) American clergyman, civil rights leader, social activist, preacher
Stride Toward Freedom, ch. 2 “Montgomery Before the Protest” (1958)
(Source)

Response to a Montgomery resident who complained that race relations had been so "peaceful and harmonious" before King and other protesters arrived.