WIST Quotations

Shaw, George Bernard -- The Intelligent Woman’s Guide to Socialism and Capitalism, ch. 2 (1928)

Dave — Fri, 22 May 2026 15:07:08 +0000

When you see a rich man’s wife (or anyone else’s wife) shaking her head over the thriftlessness of the poor because they do not all save, pity the lady’s ignorance; but do not irritate the poor by repeating her nonsense to them.

George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish playwright and critic
The Intelligent Woman’s Guide to Socialism and Capitalism, ch. 2 (1928)
(Source)

See also Melville (1884).

Wilde, Oscar -- Essay (1891-02), “The Soul of Man Under Socialism,” Fortnightly Review, Vol. 49 (ns)

Dave — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 22:10:11 +0000

Sometimes the poor are praised for being thrifty. But to recommend thrift to the poor is both grotesque and insulting. It is like advising a man who is starving to eat less.

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish poet, wit, dramatist
Essay (1891-02), “The Soul of Man Under Socialism,” Fortnightly Review, Vol. 49 (ns)
(Source)

Keynes, John Maynard -- Treatise on Money, Book 6, ch. 30 (1930)

Dave — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 21:39:29 +0000

If Enterprise is afoot, Wealth accumulates whatever may be happening to Thrift; and if Enterprise is asleep, Wealth decays, whatever Thrift may be doing.

John Maynard Keynes (1883–1946) English economist
Treatise on Money, Book 6, ch. 30 (1930)
(Source)

Fuller, Thomas (1654) -- Introductio ad Prudentiam, Vol. 1, # 61 (1725)

Dave — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 16:12:01 +0000

Chuse such Pleasures, as recreate much, and cost little.

Thomas Fuller (1654–1734) English physician, preacher, aphorist, writer
Introductio ad Prudentiam, Vol. 1, # 61 (1725)
(Source)

Stevenson, Robert Louis -- Essay (1888-12), “A Christmas Sermon,” sec. 1, Scribner’s Magazine, Vol. 4

Dave — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 19:32:10 +0000

To be honest, to be kind — to earn a little and to spend a little less, to make upon the whole a family happier for his presence, to renounce when that shall be necessary and not be embittered, to keep a few friends, but these without capitulation — above all, on the same grim condition, to keep friends with himself — here is a task for all that a man has of fortitude and delicacy. He has an ambitious soul who would ask more; he has a hopeful spirit who should look in such an enterprise to be successful.

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Essay (1888-12), “A Christmas Sermon,” sec. 1, Scribner’s Magazine, Vol. 4
(Source)

Originally written in the winter of 1887-88. Collected in Across the Plains, ch. 12 (1892).

Franklin, Benjamin -- Poor Richard (1737 ed.)

Dave — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 22:14:26 +0000

A Penny sav’d is Twopence clear,
A Pin a day is a Groat a Year.
Save and have.
Every little makes a mickle.

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1737 ed.)
(Source)

Franklin, Benjamin -- Poor Richard (1734 ed.)

Dave — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 17:18:41 +0000

He that is rich need not live sparingly, and he that can live sparingly need not be rich.

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1734 ed.)
(Source)

Child, Julia -- Julia Child’s Kitchen, Introduction (1975)

Dave — Thu, 11 May 2023 17:50:01 +0000

Learn how to cook! That’s my invariable answer when I am asked to give forth with money-saving recipes, economy tips, budget gourmet dinner menus for six people under ten dollars, and the like. Learn how to cook! That’s the way to save money. You don’t save it buying hamburger helpers, and prepared foods; you save it buying fresh foods in season or in large supply, when they are cheapest and usually best, and you prepare them from scratch at home. Why pay for someone else’s work, when if you know how to do it, you can save all that money for yourself? Knowing how to do it also means doing it fast, and preparing parts of a dish or a meal whenever you have a spare moment in the kitchen. That way, cooking well doesn’t take a great deal of time, and when you cook well, you’ll be eating far better meals than you could buy from the freezer, or at a restaurant.

Julia Child (1912–2004) American chef and writer
Julia Child’s Kitchen, Introduction (1975)
(Source)

Greeley, Horace -- (Attributed)

Dave — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 04:19:21 +0000

Abstaining is favorable both to the head and the pocket.

Horace Greeley (1881–1872) American newspaper editor, reformer, politician
(Attributed)
(Source)

Quoted in Maturin Murray Ballou, Edge-Tools of Speech (1886).

Boetcker, William J. H. -- “The Industrial Decalogue” (1916)

Dave — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 22:25:50 +0000

You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.
You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot establish security on borrowed money.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away men’s initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.

William J. H. Boetcker (1873–1962) German-American religious leader, author, public speaker [William John Henry Boetcker]
“The Industrial Decalogue” (1916)

Often referred to as "The Ten Cannots," and also often misattributed to Abraham Lincoln.

Coolidge, Calvin -- Foundations of the Republic (1926)

Dave — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 05:04:25 +0000

Industry, thrift and self-control are not sought because they create wealth, but because they create character.

Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) American lawyer, politician, US President (1925–29)
Foundations of the Republic (1926)

Keynes, John Maynard -- The Treatise on Money (1930)

Dave — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 14:53:47 +0000

The engine which drives Enterprise is not Thrift, but Profit.

John Maynard Keynes (1883–1946) English economist
The Treatise on Money (1930)