WIST Quotations

Billings, Josh -- Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1878-09 (1878 ed.)

Dave — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 17:32:08 +0000

Whenever yu cum akrost a man, who praizes yu immoderately, and kusses every boddy else in proportion, yu kan make up yure mind, that yure turn for kussing will cum soon.

[Whenever you come across a man, who praises you immoderately, and cusses everybody else in proportion, you can make up your mind, that your turn for cussing will come soon.]

Josh Billings (1818–1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1878-09 (1878 ed.)

Franklin, Benjamin -- Poor Richard (1741 ed.)

Dave — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 15:40:57 +0000

The cringing Train of Pow’r, survey;
What Creatures are so low as they!
With what obsequiousness they bend!
To what vile actions condescend!
Their Rise is on their Meanness built,
And Flatt’ry is their smallest Guilt.

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1741 ed.)

Steele, Richard -- Essay (1713-04-08), The Guardian, No. 24

Dave — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 13:22:29 +0000

Whenever you commend, add your reasons for doing so; it is this which distinguishes the approbation of a man of sense from the flattery of sycophants and admiration of fools.

Richard Steele (1672–1729) Anglo-Irish writer, journalist, playwright, politician
Essay (1713-04-08), The Guardian, No. 24

Colton, Charles Caleb -- Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Vol. 2, § 25 (1822)

Dave — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 12:32:31 +0000

Power multiplies flatterers, and flatterers multiply our delusions by hiding us from ourselves.

Charles Caleb "C. C." Colton (1780–1832) English cleric, writer, aphorist
Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Vol. 2, § 25 (1822)