WIST Quotations

Pratchett, Terry -- Discworld No. 4, Mort (1987)

Dave — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 00:49:27 +0000

“I’ve never seen Death actually at work.”
“Not many have,” said Albert. “Not twice, at any rate.”

Terry Pratchett (1948-2015) English author
Discworld No. 4, Mort (1987)
(Source)

Mort and Albert.

McLaughlin, Mignon -- The Second Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 9 (1966)

Dave — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 18:38:29 +0000

There are a handful of people whom money won’t spoil, and we all count ourselves among them.

Mignon McLaughlin (1913-1983) American journalist and author
The Second Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 9 (1966)
(Source)

McLaughlin, Mignon -- The Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 10 (1963)

Dave — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 21:48:11 +0000

The past is rich in lessons from which we would greatly profit except that the present is always so full of Special Circumstances.

Mignon McLaughlin (1913-1983) American journalist and author
The Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 10 (1963)
(Source)

Katsenelenbogen, Eyran -- One Time (book) (2021)

Dave — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 14:56:50 +0000

They say you only live once, but come to think of it — you only die once as well.

Eyran Katsenelenbogen (b. 1965) Israeli-American jazz pianist [אירן קאצנלנבוגן]
One Time (book) (2021)
(Source)

Carlyle, Thomas -- Essay (1843-07), “Dr. Francia,” Foreign Quarterly Review, No. 62, Art. 12

Dave — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 22:17:27 +0000

After all, brevity is the soul of wit! There is endless merit in a man’s knowing when to have done. The stupidest man, if he will be brief in proportion, may fairly claim some hearing from us: he too, the stupidest man, has seen something, heard something, which is his own, distinctly peculiar, never seen or heard by any man in this world before; let him tell us that, and if it were possible, nothing more than that, — he , brief in proportion shall be welcome!

Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) Scottish essayist and historian
Essay (1843-07), “Dr. Francia,” Foreign Quarterly Review, No. 62, Art. 12
(Source)

Reviewing Rengger and Longchamp, Essai Historique sur la Révolution de Paraguay , et le Gouvernement Dictatorial du Docteur Francia (1827), et al.

Reprinted in Carlyle, Critical and Miscellaneous Essays (1845).

See Shakespeare.

Martin, Judith -- Miss Manners Rescues Civilization, ch. 9 “Jettisoning Professional Behavior” (1996)

Dave — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 14:48:08 +0000

Knowing that others have gone through similar tragedies may be a help, but it should be remembered that every tragedy is not only commonplace but also unique.

Judith Martin (b. 1938) American author, journalist, etiquette expert [a.k.a. Miss Manners]
Miss Manners Rescues Civilization, ch. 9 “Jettisoning Professional Behavior” (1996)
(Source)

Yevtushenko, Yevgeny -- “People [Lyudi]” (1961), l. 1ff [tr. Milner-Gulland/Levi (1967)]

Dave — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 19:21:27 +0000

No people are uninteresting.
Their fate is like the chronicle of planets.

Nothing in them is not particular,
and planet is dissimilar from planet.

Yevgeny Yevtushenko (1933-2017) Russian poet, writer, film director, academic [Евге́ний Евтуше́нко, Evgenij Evtušenko]
“People [Lyudi]” (1961), l. 1ff [tr. Milner-Gulland/Levi (1967)]
(Source)

Baudelaire, Charles -- “The Universal Exhibition of 1855 [Exposition Universelle de 1855],” sec. 1 (1855) [tr. Charvet (1972)]

Dave — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 20:42:46 +0000

Beauty always has an element of strangeness. I do not mean a deliberate cold form of strangeness, for in that case it would be a monstrous thing that had jumped the rails of life. But I do mean that it always contains a certain degree of strangeness, of simple, unintended, unconscious strangeness, and that this form of strangeness is what gives it the right to be called beauty.

[Le Beau est toujours bizarre. Je ne veux pas dire qu’il soit volontairement, froidement bizarre, car dans ce cas il serait un monstre sorti des rails de la vie. Je dis qu’il contient toujours un peu de bizarrerie, de bizarrerie naive, non voulue, inconsciente, et que c’est cette bizarrerie qui le fait être particulièrement le Beau.]

Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867) French poet, essayist, art critic
“The Universal Exhibition of 1855 [Exposition Universelle de 1855],” sec. 1 (1855) [tr. Charvet (1972)]
(Source)

Frequently paraphrased as "Strangeness is a necessary ingredient in beauty." See also Bacon.

Collected in Curiosités Esthétiques, ch. 4 (1868). (Source (French)). Alternate translations:

The Beautiful is always strange. I do not mean that it is coldly, deliberately strange, for in that case it would be a monstrosity that had jumped the rails of life. I mean that it always contains a touch of strangeness, of simple, unpremeditated and unconscious strangeness, and that it is in this touch of strangeness that gives it its particular quality as Beauty.
[tr. Mayne (1965)]

Beauty is always bizarre. I do not mean to say that it is deliberately, coldly bizarre, for in that case it would be a monster that has escaped from the confines of existence. I mean that it always contains a certain amount of strangeness, naïve strangeness, unforced and even unconscious, and that it is this strangeness that stamps it as Beautiful.
[tr. Gregory (1961)]

Richardson, James -- “Vectors: 56 Aphorisms and Ten-second Essays,” Michigan Quarterly Review, # 50 (Spring 1999)

Dave — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 14:19:56 +0000

Despair says It’s all the same. Happiness knows there are even a thousand Despairs.

James Richardson (b. 1950) American poet
“Vectors: 56 Aphorisms and Ten-second Essays,” Michigan Quarterly Review, # 50 (Spring 1999)
(Source)

Tocqueville, Alexis de -- The Old Regime and the Revolution [L’Ancien régime et la Révolution], Book 2, ch. 6 (1856) [tr. Gilbert (1955)]

Dave — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 19:12:45 +0000

History, indeed, is like a picture gallery in which there are few originals and many copies.

[On voit que l’histoire est une galerie de tableaux où il y a peu d’originaux et beaucoup de copies.]

Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859) French writer, diplomat, politician
The Old Regime and the Revolution [L’Ancien régime et la Révolution], Book 2, ch. 6 (1856) [tr. Gilbert (1955)]
(Source)

Alternate translations:

History, it is easily perceived, is a picture-gallery containing a host of copies and very few originals.
[tr. Bonner (1856)]

One sees that history is an art gallery where there are few originals and many copies.
[tr. Kahan]

History is a gallery of pictures in which there are many copies and few originals.

Nietzsche, Friedrich -- “Schopenhauer as Educator,” ch. 1 (1874) [tr. Collins]

Dave — Tue, 27 Nov 2018 01:39:30 +0000

At bottom every man knows well enough that he is a unique human being, only once on this earth; and by no extraordinary chance will such a marvelously picturesque piece of diversity in unity as he is ever be put together a second time.

Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) German philosopher and poet
“Schopenhauer as Educator,” ch. 1 (1874) [tr. Collins]
(Source)

Crockett, Andrew -- Speech, Pomona College, Claremont, Calif. (Apr 2009)

Dave — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 18:01:45 +0000

Everybody thought, “this time is different.” In my view, those are the most frightening words in the English language. If you look at the crises that have infected the world, the term, “this time, it’s different” has almost always been the hubris that comes before nemesis.

Andrew Crockett (1943-2012) British banker, economist, author, public servant
Speech, Pomona College, Claremont, Calif. (Apr 2009)
(Source)

Referring to the period leading up to the 2008 financial crisis.

Serling, Rod -- (Attributed)

Dave — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 17:31:19 +0000

Being like everybody is like being nobody.

Rod Serling (1924-1975) American screenwriter, playwright, television producer, narrator
(Attributed)
(Source)

Frequently attributed, but never cited. In the Twilight Zone episode, "Number 12 Looks Just Like You" (ep 05x17), the protagonist comments, "But is that good, being like everybody? I mean, isn't that the same as being nobody?" That episode is credited to Charles Beaumont and John Tomerlin.

Thoreau, Henry David -- Walden; or, Life in the Woods, ch. 18 “Conclusion” (1854)

Dave — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 05:14:17 +0000

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American philosopher and writer
Walden; or, Life in the Woods, ch. 18 “Conclusion” (1854)
(Source)

Einstein, Albert -- (Spurious)

Dave — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 22:32:24 +0000

Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.

Albert Einstein (1879-1955) German-American physicist
(Spurious)

For more discussion about this quote: Quote Origin: Everybody is a Genius. But If You Judge a Fish by Its Ability to Climb a Tree, It Will Live Its Whole Life Believing that It is Stupid – Quote Investigator®.

Casals, Pablo -- In Joys and Sorrows: Reflections‎ by Pablo Casals as told to Albert E. Kahn (1970)

Dave — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 00:31:49 +0000

Each second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe, a moment that will never be again. And what do we teach our children in school? We teach them that two and two make four and that Paris is the capital of France. When will we also teach them what they are? We should say to them: Do you know what you are? You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you. And look at your body — what a wonder it is! Your legs, your arms, your clever fingers, the ways you move. You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel. And when you grow up, can you then harm another who is, like you, a marvel? You must work — we must all work — to make the world worthy of its children.

Pablo Casals (1876-1973) Spanish cellist, conductor, composer
In Joys and Sorrows: Reflections‎ by Pablo Casals as told to Albert E. Kahn (1970)

Emerson, Ralph Waldo -- “Trust Yourself,” Sermon 90 (1830)

Dave — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 15:08:46 +0000

The more finished the character, the more striking is its individuality.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American essayist, lecturer, poet
“Trust Yourself,” Sermon 90 (1830)
(Source)

Sermon on Matthew 16:26.

Wallace, Irving -- Square Pegs: Some Americans Who Dared to Be Different, ch. 1 (1958)

Dave — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 13:26:30 +0000

To be one’s self, and unafraid whether right or wrong, is more admirable than the easy cowardice of surrender to conformity.

Irving Wallace (1916-1990) American author and screenwriter
Square Pegs: Some Americans Who Dared to Be Different, ch. 1 (1958)
(Source)

Johnson, Samuel -- The Rambler, #135 (2 Jul 1751)

Dave — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 16:09:17 +0000

Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those whom we cannot resemble.

Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) English writer, lexicographer, critic
The Rambler, #135 (2 Jul 1751)
(Source)

Hoffer, Eric -- Passionate State of Mind, Aphorism 37 (1955)

Dave — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:20:51 +0000

Whenever we proclaim the uniqueness of a religion, a truth, a leader, a nation, a race, a part or a holy cause, we are also proclaiming our own uniqueness.

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
Passionate State of Mind, Aphorism 37 (1955)
(Source)

Jefferson, Thomas -- Letter (1819-06-25) to Ezra Stiles Ely

Dave — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:28:11 +0000

We probably differ on that which relates to the dogmas of theology, the foundation of all sectarianism, and on which no two sects dream alike; for if they did they would then be of the same. you say you are a Calvinist. I am not. I am of a sect by myself, as far as I know.

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) American political philosopher, polymath, statesman, US President (1801-09)
Letter (1819-06-25) to Ezra Stiles Ely
(Source)

Terence -- The Eunuch [Eunuchus], l. 41, Prologue (161 BC) [tr. Bolton (2019)]

Dave — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 16:32:14 +0000

In fact, nothing is ever said that has not been said before.

[Nullum est iam dictum quod non dictum sit prius.]

Terence (186?-159 BC) African-Roman dramatist [Publius Terentius Afer]
The Eunuch [Eunuchus], l. 41, Prologue (161 BC) [tr. Bolton (2019)]
(Source)

Alternate translations:

"In short, there's Nothing say'd , but what before / May have been say'd." [tr. Cooke (1755)]
"In fine, nothing can be said now, that may not have been said before." [tr. Patrick (1767)]
"Nothing's said now, but has been said before." [tr. Coleman (1768)]
"In fine, nothing is said now that has not been said before." [tr. Riley (1853)]
"Ah, there is nothing new beneath the sun, / Whatever is, or may be, has been done." [tr. Rose (1870)]
"In fact nothing is said that has not been said before." [tr. Sargeaunt (1918)]
"The bottom line: you can't say anything that's never been said before." [tr. Christenson (2012)]
There's nothing ever said, unsaid before. [tr. Bolton (2019), shortened Prologue]

Straczynski, J. Michael "Joe" -- Usenet, rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5, “JMS on Compuserve: Gesthemane Questions” (1995-12-04)

Dave — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:29:44 +0000

As an atheist, I believe that all life is unspeakably precious, because it’s only here for a brief moment, a flare against the dark, and then it’s gone forever. No afterlives, no second chances, no backsies. So there can be nothing crueler than the abuse, destruction or wanton taking of a life. It is a crime no less than burning the Mona Lisa, for there is always just one of each.

So I cannot forgive. Which makes the notion of writing a character who CAN forgive momentarily attractive … because it allows me to explore in great detail something of which I am utterly incapable.

J. Michael (Joe) Straczynski (b. 1954) American screenwriter, producer, author [a/k/a "JMS"]
Usenet, rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5, “JMS on Compuserve: Gesthemane Questions” (1995-12-04)
(Source)