WIST Quotations

Fish, Stanley -- “Conspiracy Theories 101,” New York Times (23 Jul 2006)

Dave — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 23:24:12 +0000

There is, in fact, no academic requirement to include more than one view of an academic issue, although it is usually pedagogically useful to do so. The true requirement is that no matter how many (or few) views are presented to the students, they should be offered as objects of analysis rather than as candidates for allegiance.

Stanley Fish (b. 1938) American literary theorist, legal scholar, author
“Conspiracy Theories 101,” New York Times (23 Jul 2006)
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Emerson, Ralph Waldo -- Essay (1860), “Worship,” The Conduct of Life, ch. 6

Dave — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 23:02:22 +0000

People seem not to see that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character. We can only see what we are, and if we misbehave we suspect others.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American essayist, lecturer, poet
Essay (1860), “Worship,” The Conduct of Life, ch. 6
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Based on a course of lectures, "The Conduct of Life," delivered in Pittsburg (1851-03).

Black, Hugo -- Interview by Edmond Cahn, New York University Law School (1962)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

My view is, without deviation, without exception, without any ifs, buts or whereases, that freedom of speech means that you shall not do something to people either for the views they have or the views they express or the words they speak or write.

Hugo Black (1886-1971) American politician and jurist, US Supreme Court Justice (1937-71)
Interview by Edmond Cahn, New York University Law School (1962)

Published in "Mr. Justice Black and First Amendment Absolutes: A Public Interview," New York University Law Review 37 (1962): 549, and referenced in "Minority Opinion," Time (1962-06-22).

Black reiterated his absolutist point in his third Carpentier Lecture at Columbia University (1968-03-21), collected in A Constitutional Faith (1968):

My view is, without deviation, without exception, without any ifs, buts or whereases, that freedom of speech means that government shall not do anything to people, or, in the words of the Magna Carta, move against people, either for the views they have or the views they express or the words they speak or write.

Doctor Who (1963) -- 14×04 “The Face of Evil,” Part 4 (1977-01-22) [w. Chris Boucher]

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

THE DOCTOR: The very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. They don’t alter their views to the facts, they alter the facts to fit their views, which can be uncomfortable, if you happen to be one of the facts that needs altering.

Doctor Who (1963-1989) British science fiction television series, original run (BBC)
14×04 “The Face of Evil,” Part 4 (1977-01-22) [w. Chris Boucher]
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(Source (Video) )