WIST Quotations

Baum, L. Frank -- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, ch. 1 (1900)

Dave — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 21:05:22 +0000

When Aunt Em came there to live she was a young, pretty wife. The sun and wind had changed her, too. They had taken the sparkle from her eyes and left them a sober gray; they had taken the red from her cheeks and lips, and they were gray also. She was thin and gaunt, and never smiled, now.

L. Frank Baum (1856-1919) American author [Lyman Frank Baum]
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, ch. 1 (1900)
(Source)

Byron, George Gordon, Lord -- Don Juan, Canto 1, st. 213 (1818)

Dave — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 14:27:25 +0000

But now at thirty years my hair is gray ––
(I wonder what it will be like at forty?
I thought of a peruke the other day)
My heart is not much greener; and, in short, I
Have squander’d my whole summer while ’twas May,
And feel no more the spirit to retort; I
Have spent my life, both interest and principal,
And deem not, what I deem’d, my soul invincible.

George Gordon, Lord Byron (1788-1824) English poet
Don Juan, Canto 1, st. 213 (1818)
(Source)

Verne, Jules -- Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864)

Dave — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 22:33:26 +0000

We are of opinion that instead of letting books grow moldy behind an iron grating, far from the vulgar gaze, it is better to let them wear out by being read.

Jules Verne (1828-1905) French novelist, poet, playwright
Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864)
(Source)

Franklin, Benjamin -- Poor Richard (1744 ed.)

Dave — Fri, 13 May 2011 12:12:22 +0000

Sloth (like Rust) consumes faster than Labour wears: the used Key is always bright.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1744 ed.)
(Source)

Cumberland, Richard (1632) -- (Attributed)

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

It is better to wear out than to rust out.

Richard Cumberland (1632-1718) English philosopher and cleric (Bishop of Peterborough)
(Attributed)
(Source)

Quoted in G. Horne, "Sermon on the Duty of Contending for the Truth" (1786).