WIST Quotations

Billings, Josh -- Everybody’s Friend, Or; Josh Billing’s Encyclopedia and Proverbial Philosophy of Wit and Humor, ch. 156 “Affurisms: Embers on the Harth” (1874)

Dave — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 16:12:39 +0000

I am just az certain that thare iz sitch a thing az “Spiritual manafestashuns” az i am that there iz plenty ov superstishun and trickery.

[I am just as certain that there is such a thing as “spiritual manifestations” as I am that there is plenty of superstition and trickery.]

Josh Billings (1818-1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Everybody’s Friend, Or; Josh Billing’s Encyclopedia and Proverbial Philosophy of Wit and Humor, ch. 156 “Affurisms: Embers on the Harth” (1874)
(Source)

Somtow, S. P. -- “Lottery Night,” World Fantasy Convention Program Book (1989-10)

Dave — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 18:04:45 +0000

The ways of dead people are not our ways. They have a very oblique way of expressing themselves, and often they’ll tell you something that can be interpreted many ways; it gives them a way out while preserving their reputation for infallibility.

S. P. Somtow (b. 1952) Thai-American music composeer, conductor, author [Somtow Papinian Sucharitkul; สมเถา สุจริตกุล; Somthao Sucharitkun]
“Lottery Night,” World Fantasy Convention Program Book (1989-10)
(Source)

Collected in Gardner Dozois, ed., Year's Best Science Fiction 7 (1990) and Somtow, Dragon's Fin Soup (1998).

Nietzsche, Friedrich -- The Gay Science [Die fröhliche Wissenschaft], Book 3, § 126 (1882) [tr. Nauckhoff (2001)]

Dave — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 18:52:15 +0000

Mystical explanations are considered deep; the truth is, they are not even shallow.

[Die mystischen Erklärungen gelten für tief; die Wahrheit ist, dass sie noch nicht einmal oberflächlich sind.]

Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) German philosopher and poet
The Gay Science [Die fröhliche Wissenschaft], Book 3, § 126 (1882) [tr. Nauckhoff (2001)]
(Source)

Also known as La Gaya Scienza, The Joyful Wisdom, or The Joyous Science.

(Source (German)). Alternate translations:

Mystical explanations are regarded as profound; the truth is that they do not even go the length of being superficial.
[tr. Common (1911)]

Mystical explanations are considered deep. The truth is that they are not even superficial.
[tr. Kaufmann (1974)]

Mystical explanations are considered deep; the truth is they are not even shallow.
[tr. Hill (2018)]

Lewis, Charlton Miner -- Gawayne and the Green Knight, Canto 1 (1903)

Dave — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 16:42:26 +0000

“Miracles do not happen:” –‘t is plain sense,
If you italicize the present tense;
But in those days, as rare old Chaucer tells,
All Britain was fulfilled of miracles.
So, as I said, the great doors opened wide.
In rushed a blast of winter from outside,
And with it, galloping on the empty air,
A great green giant on a great green mare.

Charlton Miner Lewis (1866-1923) American scholar of English literature, author
Gawayne and the Green Knight, Canto 1 (1903)
(Source)

Stross, Charles -- The Nightmare Stacks, ch. 12 (2016)

Dave — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 19:23:21 +0000

Some people are just better than others at noticing things that don’t align with their concern, and Mum and Dad are simply oblivious to elves, vampires, vegans, and other esoteric manifestations of modernity.

Charles "Charlie" Stross (b. 1964) British writer
The Nightmare Stacks, ch. 12 (2016)
(Source)

Escher, M. C. -- “The Impossible”

Dave — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 18:44:46 +0000

It sometimes seems to me that we are all afflicted with an urge and possessed by a longing for the impossible. The reality around us, the three-dimensional world surrounding us, is too common, too dull, too ordinary for us. We hanker after the unnatural or supernatural, that which does not exist, a miracle. As if that everyday reality isn’t enigmatic enough!

M. C. Escher (1898-1972) Dutch artist [Maurits Cornelius Escher]
“The Impossible”

Aaronovitch, Ben -- Foxglove Summer (2014)

Dave — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 14:48:06 +0000

“There’s weird shit,” I said. “And we deal with the weird shit, but normally it turns out that there’s a perfectly rational explanation.” Which is often that a wizard did it.

Ben Aaronovitch (b. 1964) British author
Foxglove Summer (2014)

Hume, David -- An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Sec. 10 “Of Miracles,” Part 1 (1748)

Dave — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 14:03:25 +0000

In our reasonings concerning matter of fact, there are all imaginable degrees of assurance, from the highest certainty to the lowest species of moral evidence. A wise man, therefore, proportions his belief to the evidence. […] No testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle, unless the testimony be of such a kind, that its falsehood would be more miraculous, than the fact, which it endeavors to establish.

David Hume (1711-1776) Scottish philosopher, economist, historian, empiricist
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Sec. 10 “Of Miracles,” Part 1 (1748)

Often given as just, "A wise man proportions his belief to the evidence."

Bernard, Claude -- Leçons de Pathologie Expérimentale (1872)

Dave — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 17:20:55 +0000

Science admits no exceptions; otherwise there would be no determinism in science, or rather, there would be no science.

Claude Bernard (1813-1878) French physiologist, scientist
Leçons de Pathologie Expérimentale (1872)

Butcher, Jim -- Storm Front (2000)

Dave — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 12:58:10 +0000

Have you ever been approached by a grim-looking man, carrying a naked sword with a blade about ten miles long in his hand, in the middle of the night, beneath the stars on the shores of Lake Michigan? If you have, seek professional help. If you have not, then believe you me, it can scare the bejeezus out of you.

Jim Butcher (b. 1971) American author
Storm Front (2000)

Roberts, Stephen F. -- Usenet, alt.atheism, sig line (early 1995)

Dave — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 12:48:17 +0000

I contend we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

Stephen F. Roberts (b. c. 1969) American software developer
Usenet, alt.atheism, sig line (early 1995)
(Source)

See Roberts' "Brief History of the Quote" for more on its origins.

As he is not a prominent public figure, the quote is frequently attributed to others, usually of the same name. Possibly most famously, Sam Harris misattributed it to Australian historian Stephen Henry Roberts in his article "10 Myths -- and 10 Truths -- about Atheism," Los Angeles Times (2006-12-24) (since corrected by Harris).

The quotation is often given with an extra word: "I contend that we are both atheists ...." Roberts himself uses the shorter version.

Montaigne, Michel de -- Essays, Book 1, ch. 23 (1.23), “Of Custom and Not Easily Changing an Accepted Law [De la Coustume et de Ne Changer Aisément une Loy Receüe]” (1572) [tr. Lowenthal (1935)]

Dave — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:26:20 +0000

Miracles arise from our ignorance of nature, not from nature itself.

[Les miracles sont, selon l’ignorance en quoy nous sommes de la nature, non selon l’estre de la nature.]

Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) French essayist
Essays, Book 1, ch. 23 (1.23), “Of Custom and Not Easily Changing an Accepted Law [De la Coustume et de Ne Changer Aisément une Loy Receüe]” (1572) [tr. Lowenthal (1935)]
(Source)

The original essay is from 1572; this passage was added in the "C" period, prior to Montaigne's death and the final 1595 edition. The Lowenthal translation is from an edited autobiography, drawing from the Essays and other sources.

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

Miracles are according to the ignorance wherein we are by nature, and not according to nature's essence.
[tr. Florio (1603), ch. 22]

Miracles appear such, according to our ignorance of nature, and not according to the real essence of nature.
[tr. Cotton (1686), ch. 22]

Miracles appear to be so, according to our ignorance of nature, and not according to the essence of nature.
[tr. Cotton/Hazlitt (1877), ch. 22]

Miracles exist from our ignorance of nature, not in nature herself.
[tr. Ives (1925)]

Miracles arise from our ignorance of nature, not from the essence of nature.
[tr. Frame (1943)]

Miraculous wonders depend on our ignorance of Nature, not on the essence of Nature.
[tr. Screech (1987)]

Shakespeare, William -- Henry IV, Part 1, Act 3, sc. 1, l. 55ff (3.1.55-57) (1597)

Dave — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:24:28 +0000

GLENDOWER: I can call spirits from the vasty deep.

HOTSPUR: Why, so can I, or so can any man;
But will they come when you do call for them?

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet
Henry IV, Part 1, Act 3, sc. 1, l. 55ff (3.1.55-57) (1597)
(Source)

Conrad, Joseph -- Under Western Eyes, Part 2, ch. 4 (1911)

Dave — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 21:56:22 +0000

The belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary; men alone are quite capable of every wickedness.

Joseph Conrad (1857-1924) Polish-English novelist [b. Teodor Josef Konrad Korzeniowski]
Under Western Eyes, Part 2, ch. 4 (1911)
(Source)

Gaiman, Neil -- Neverwhere, ch. 9 (2006 ed.)

Dave — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:56:22 +0000

Richard did not believe in angels. He never had believed in angels. He was damned if he was going to start now. Still, it was much easier not to believe in something when it was not actually looking directly at you, and saying your name.

Neil Gaiman (b. 1960) British author, screenwriter, fabulist
Neverwhere, ch. 9 (2006 ed.)
(Source)

In the original 1996 edition, the first two sentences are elided: "Richard did not believe in angels, he never had."