WIST Quotations

Stevenson, Adlai -- Speech (1952-08-28), “Faith in Liberalism,” State Committee of the Liberal Party, New York City

Dave — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 18:05:48 +0000

You can tell the size of a man by the size of the thing that makes him mad.

Adlai Stevenson (1900-1965) American diplomat, statesman
Speech (1952-08-28), “Faith in Liberalism,” State Committee of the Liberal Party, New York City
(Source)

Kipling, Rudyard -- “The Sons of the Suburbs” (1916)

Dave — Mon, 30 May 2022 21:56:24 +0000

There are things in the breast of mankind which are best
In darkness and secrecy hid;
For you never can tell, when you’ve opened a hell,
How soon you can put back the lid.

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) English writer
“The Sons of the Suburbs” (1916)
(Source)

On bloodthirstiness in war by previously peaceful people.

Originally written for the Christmas 1916 issue of Blighty, a magazine for servicemen. It was rejected, eventually to be published in the Sunday Pictorial (19 Jan 1936). It was never included by Kipling in any of his collections.

Dante Alighieri -- The Divine Comedy [Divina Commedia], Book 3 “Paradiso,” Canto 1, l. 34 (1.34) (1320) [tr. Musa (1984)]

Dave — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 17:19:14 +0000

From one small spark can come a mighty blaze.

[Poca favilla gran fiamma seconda.]

Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) Italian poet
The Divine Comedy [Divina Commedia], Book 3 “Paradiso,” Canto 1, l. 34 (1.34) (1320) [tr. Musa (1984)]
(Source)

Dante, in a metaphorical prayer to Apollo, hoping his meager efforts describing Paradise will inspire better ones from future poets. The phrase has become proverbial in Italy.

(Source (Italian)). Alternate translations:

From a small spark
Great flame hath risen.
[tr. Cary (1814)]

The spark comes first, and then a mighty flame.
[tr. Bannerman (1850)]

A little spark is followed by great flame.
[tr. Longfellow (1867)]

A mighty flame follows a little spark.
[tr. Butler (1885)]

Great flame may follow from a spark but brief.
[tr. Minchin (1885)]

Great flame follows a little spark.
[tr. Norton (1892)]

A mighty flame followeth a tiny spark.
[tr. Wicksteed (1899)]

A great flame follows a little spark.
[tr. Sinclair (1939)]

A small spark kindles a great flame beyond.
[tr. Binyon (1943)]

From one small spark springs up a mighty flare.
[tr. Sayers/Reynolds (1962)]

Great flames are kindled where the small sparks fly.
[tr. Ciardi (1970)]

A great flame follows a little spark.
[tr. Singleton (1975)]

A little spark brings a great flame after it.
[tr. Sisson (1981)]

Great fire can follow a small spark.
[tr. Mandelbaum (1984)]

A tiny spark can result in a great flame.
[tr. Durling (2011)]

A great flame follows a tiny spark
[tr. Kline (2002)]

A minute spark precedes a towering flame.
[tr. Kirkpatrick (2007)]

Great fire leaps from the smallest spark.
[tr. Hollander/Hollander (2007)]

Tiny sparks can produce a noble flame.
[tr. Raffel (2010)]

A little spark, later a great flame.
[tr. Bang (2021)]