WIST Quotations

Stevenson, Robert Louis -- Novel (1886), Kidnapped, ch. 16 “The Lad with the Silver Button: Across Morven”

Dave — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 21:02:25 +0000

There are two things that men should never weary of, goodness and humility; we get none too much of them in this rough world among cold, proud people.

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Novel (1886), Kidnapped, ch. 16 “The Lad with the Silver Button: Across Morven”

This chapter was originally published in Young Folks Paper, Vol. 28, No. 811 (1886-06-12).

Shakespeare, William -- Hamlet, Act 3, sc. 1, ll. 108 (3.1.109-110) (c. 1600)

Dave — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 16:36:36 +0000

OPHELIA:Their perfume lost,
Take these again, for to the noble mind
Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
Hamlet, Act 3, sc. 1, ll. 108 (3.1.109-110) (c. 1600)

Returning to Hamlet gifts he gave her in the past.

Viorst, Judith -- Yes, Married (1972)

Dave — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 18:07:44 +0000

Not listening is probably the commonest unkindness of married life, and one that creates — more devastatingly than an eternity of forgotten birthdays and misguided Christmas gifts — an atmosphere of not loving and not caring.

Judith Viorst (b. 1931) American writer, journalist, psychoanalysis researcher
Yes, Married (1972)

Fuller, Thomas (1654) -- Gnomologia: Adages and Proverbs (compiler), # 5402 (1732)

Dave — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 13:15:47 +0000

Unkindness has no Remedy at Law.

Thomas Fuller (1654–1734) English physician, preacher, aphorist, writer
Gnomologia: Adages and Proverbs (compiler), # 5402 (1732)

Miller, Joaquin -- “Is it Worthwhile?” st. 1 (1866)

Dave — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:58:47 +0000

Is it worthwhile that we jostle a brother,
Bearing his load on the rough road of life?
Is it worthwhile that we jeer at each other,
In blackness of heart? — that we war to the knife?
God pity us all in our pitiful strife.

Joaquin Miller (1837–1913) American poet [pen name of Cincinnatus Heine (or Hiner) Miller]
“Is it Worthwhile?” st. 1 (1866)