WIST Quotations

~Other -- Anonymous (“Jack Steadfast”), “To the Wealth Producers of Birmingham and of the Midland Counties,” Birmingham Journal (13 May 1837)

Dave — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 17:55:25 +0000

The avalanche of the Alps, which carries destruction in its gathering force, and whelms whole districts in its frozen shroud, acquired its tremendous force by UNION — the vast mass of cold destruction was accumulated flake by flake. Compare this figure yourselves — ye are the snow-flakes; gather then instruction from nature, single flakes form the avalanche, single grains of sand form mountains, single drops form the mighty ocean, and supply its resistless power!

(Other Authors and Sources)
Anonymous (“Jack Steadfast”), “To the Wealth Producers of Birmingham and of the Midland Counties,” Birmingham Journal (13 May 1837)
(Source)

Campbell, Joseph -- The Power of Myth, ch. 1 “Myth and the Modern World” (1988)

Dave — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 00:14:11 +0000

Marriage is not a simple love affair, it’s an ordeal, and the ordeal is the sacrifice of ego to a relationship in which two have become one.

Joseph Campbell (1904-1987) American writer, professor of literature
The Power of Myth, ch. 1 “Myth and the Modern World” (1988)

Tawney, R. H. -- The Acquisitive Century, ch. 2 “Rights and Functions” (1920)

Dave — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 01:39:01 +0000

The conception of men as united to each other, and of all mankind as united to God, by mutual obligations arising from their relation to a common end, which vaguely conceived and imperfectly realized, had been the keystone holding together the social fabric, ceased to be impressed upon men’s minds, when Church and State withdrew from the centre of social life to its circumference. What remained … was private rights and private interests, the materials of a society rather than a society itself.

R. H. Tawney (1880-1962) English writer, economist, historian, social critic [Richard Henry Tawney]
The Acquisitive Century, ch. 2 “Rights and Functions” (1920)

Eisenhower, Dwight David -- Speech, American Federation of Labor, New York City (17 Sep 1952)

Dave — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 16:35:07 +0000

Today in America unions have a secure place in our industrial life. Only a handful of unreconstructed reactionaries harbor the ugly thought of breaking unions. Only a fool would try to deprive working men and women of the right to join the union of their choice.

Dwight David Eisenhower (1890-1969) American general, US President (1953-61)
Speech, American Federation of Labor, New York City (17 Sep 1952)

Dickinson, John -- “A Song for American Freedom” (“The Liberty Song”), Boston Gazette (18 Jul 1768)

Dave — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 12:44:50 +0000

Then join Hand in Hand, brave Americans all,
By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall.

John Dickinson (1732-1808) American solicitor, politician, writer
“A Song for American Freedom” (“The Liberty Song”), Boston Gazette (18 Jul 1768)

See Aesop.

Lincoln, Abraham -- Letter (1862-07-26) to Revardy Johnson

Dave — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:58:30 +0000

I must save this government if possible. What I cannot do, of course I will not do; but it may as well be understood, once for all, that I shall not surrender this game leaving any available card unplayed.

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)
Letter (1862-07-26) to Revardy Johnson
(Source)

Lincoln, Abraham -- Message (1861-07-04) to Congress, Special Message, Washington, D. C.

Dave — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:10:37 +0000

Must a government, of necessity, be too strong for the liberties of its own people, or too weak to maintain its own existence?

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)
Message (1861-07-04) to Congress, Special Message, Washington, D. C.
(Source)

Lincoln's Special Message to Congress was to discuss the Civil War that had broken out, its origins, and how it represented this fundamental question about representative government.

Lincoln repeated this phrasing at the beginning of his speech (1864-11-10) responding to serenaders celebrating his re-election. Franklin Roosevelt quoted Lincoln during a pre-WW2 Jackson Day radio address (1941-03-29).

Kipling, Rudyard -- “The Law of the Jungle,” The Second Jungle Book (1899)

Dave — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 10:09:37 +0000

For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) English writer
“The Law of the Jungle,” The Second Jungle Book (1899)