WIST Quotations

Berry, Wendell -- Essay (1988), “Economy and Pleasure,” What Are People For? (1990)

Dave — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 17:10:43 +0000

Rats and roaches live by competition under the laws of supply and demand; it is the privilege of human beings to live under the laws of justice and mercy.

Wendell Berry (b. 1934) American farmer, educator, poet, conservationist
Essay (1988), “Economy and Pleasure,” What Are People For? (1990)
(Source)

Carlyle, Thomas -- Past and Present, Book 3, ch. 9 “Working Aristocracy” (1843)

Dave — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 21:55:55 +0000

In brief, all this Mammon-Gospel, of Supply-and-demand, Competition, Laissez-faire, and Devil take the hindmost, begins to be one of the shabbiest Gospels ever preached on Earth; or altogether the shabbiest.

Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) Scottish essayist and historian
Past and Present, Book 3, ch. 9 “Working Aristocracy” (1843)
(Source)

Billings, Josh -- Everybody’s Friend, Or; Josh Billing’s Encyclopedia and Proverbial Philosophy of Wit and Humor, ch. 150 “Affurisms: Parboils” (1874)

Dave — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 14:39:23 +0000

Everything on this earth iz bought and sold, except air and water, and they would be if a kind Creator had not made the supply too grate for the demand.

[Everything on this earth is bought and sold, except air and water, and they would be if a kind Creator had not made the supply too great for the demand.]

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. 150 “Affurisms: Parboils” (1874)
(Source)

Greene, Peter -- “Florida’s Teacher Gap Is No Mystery,” Huffington Post (21 Nov 2017)

Dave — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 19:00:32 +0000

Of course, somehow, these champions of free market, these lovers of the invisible hand, cannot figure out that if people won’t sell you a good or service under the terms you set, free market competition demands that you offer better terms and conditions. It’s as simple as that. If you can’t buy a Porsche for $1.98, that doesn’t mean there’s an automobile shortage.

Peter Greene (contemp.) American teacher, blogger
“Florida’s Teacher Gap Is No Mystery,” Huffington Post (21 Nov 2017)
(Source)

Sowell, Thomas -- “Student Loans,” Is Reality Optional? (1993)

Dave — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 22:47:29 +0000

The first lesson of economics is scarcity: there is never enough of anything to fully satisfy all those who want it. The first lesson of politics is to disregard the first lesson of economics.

Thomas Sowell (b. 1930) American economist and political commentator
“Student Loans,” Is Reality Optional? (1993)
(Source)

Twain, Mark -- The Autobiography of Mark Twain, Vol. 3, 3 July 1908 (2010)

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

A strange and vanity-devoured, detestable woman! I do not believe I could ever learn to like her except on a raft at sea with no other provisions in sight.

Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
The Autobiography of Mark Twain, Vol. 3, 3 July 1908 (2010)
(Source)