Burke, Edmund -- “Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents” (1770)

Dave — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 21:36:23 +0000

It is an advantage to all narrow wisdom and narrow morals that their maxims have a plausible air; and, on a cursory view, appear equal to first principles. They are light and portable. They are as current as copper coin; and about as valuable. They serve equally the first capacities and the lowest; and they are, at least, as useful to the worst men as to the best. Of this stamp is the cant of not man, but measures; a sort of charm by which many people get loose from every honourable engagement.

Edmund Burke (1729-1797) Anglo-Irish statesman, orator, philosopher
“Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents” (1770)

Sophocles -- Ajax, l. 964 [tr. Moore (1959)]

Dave — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:49:53 +0000

TECMESSA: Ignorant men
Don’t know what good they hold in their hands until
They’ve flung it away.

Sophocles (496-406 BC) Greek tragic playwright
Ajax, l. 964 [tr. Moore (1959)]

Alt trans.:

“Men of perverse opinion do not know / The excellence of what is in their hands, / Till some one dash it from them.” [George Young (1888)]
"Men of ill judgement oft ignore the good / That lies within their hands, till they have lost it."
"For those who are base in judgement do not know the good they hold in their hands until they cast it off."

WIST Quotations

Burke, Edmund -- “Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents” (1770)

Sophocles -- Ajax, l. 964 [tr. Moore (1959)]