WIST Quotations

Malcolm X -- Autobiography of Malcolm X, ch. 1 (1964) [with Alex Haley]

Dave — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:38:38 +0000

Hence I have no mercy or compassion in me for a society that will crush people, and then penalize them for not being able to stand up under the weight.

Malcolm X (1925–1965) American revolutionary, religious leader [b. Malcolm Little]
Autobiography of Malcolm X, ch. 1 (1964) [with Alex Haley]
(Source)

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “Proverbs in French” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 17:00:53 +0000

The Gluttons dig their own graves with their teeth.

[Le gourmans, sont leurs fosses avec leurs dents.]

James Howell (c. 1594–1666) Welsh historian, writer, aphorist
Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “Proverbs in French” (1659) [compiler]
(Source)

Herbert, George -- Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 15 (1640 ed.)

Dave — Fri, 17 May 2024 14:31:20 +0000

Light burthens, long borne, growe heavie.

George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 15 (1640 ed.)
(Source)

Connolly, Cyril -- The Unquiet Grave, Part 2 “Te Palinure Petens” (1944)

Dave — Tue, 31 May 2022 21:23:22 +0000

Imprisoned in every fat man a thin one is wildly signalling to be let out.

Cyril Connolly (1903–1974) English intellectual, literary critic and writer.
The Unquiet Grave, Part 2 “Te Palinure Petens” (1944)
(Source)

Connolly, Cyril -- Enemies of Promise, Part 2, ch. 13 “The Poppies” (1938)

Dave — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 19:55:26 +0000

Whom the gods wish to destroy, they first call promising. Young writers if they are to mature require a period of between three and seven years in which to live down their promise. Promise is like the mediaeval hangman who after settling the noose, pushed his victim off the platform and jumped on his back, his weight acting a drop while his jockeying arms prevented the unfortunate from loosening the rope. When he judged him dead he dropped to the ground.

Cyril Connolly (1903–1974) English intellectual, literary critic and writer.
Enemies of Promise, Part 2, ch. 13 “The Poppies” (1938)
(Source)

Gracián, Baltasar -- The Art of Worldly Wisdom [Oráculo Manual y Arte de Prudencia], § 27 (1647) [tr. Fischer (1937)]

Dave — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 17:10:22 +0000

Some judge books by their thickness, as though they had been written to exercise the arms, instead of the mind.

[Estiman algunos los libros por la corpulencia, como si se escriviessen para exercitar antes los braços que los ingenios.]

Baltasar Gracián y Morales (1601–1658) Spanish Jesuit priest, writer, philosopher
The Art of Worldly Wisdom [Oráculo Manual y Arte de Prudencia], § 27 (1647) [tr. Fischer (1937)]
(Source)

(Source (Spanish)). Other translations:

Some value Books for their bulk, as if they were made rather to load the Arms than to exercise the mind.
[Flesher ed. (1685)]

Some reckon books by the thickness, as if they were written to try the brawn more than the brain.
[tr. Jacobs (1892)]

Some praise books for their girth, as if they were written to exercise our arms, not our wits.
[tr. Maurer (1992)]

Apuleius -- Apologia; or, A Discourse on Magic [Apologia; seu, Pro Se de Magia], ch. 21 [tr. Bohn’s (1853)]

Dave — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 15:24:11 +0000

It is with life just as with swimming; that man is the most expert who is the most disengaged from all encumbrances.

[Ad vivendum velut ad natandum is melior qui onere liberior.]

Apuleius (AD c. 124 - c. 170) Numidian Roman writer, philosopher, rhetorician [Lucius Apuleius Madaurensis]
Apologia; or, A Discourse on Magic [Apologia; seu, Pro Se de Magia], ch. 21 [tr. Bohn’s (1853)]
(Source)

Alt. trans.:

"We live, just as we swim, all the better for being but lightly burdened." [tr. Butler (1909)]
"He is better equipped for life, as for swimming, who has the less to carry."

Wodehouse, P. G. -- Very Good, Jeeves (1930)

Dave — Thu, 25 May 2017 16:42:20 +0000

The Right Hon. was a tubby little chap who looked as if he had been poured into his clothes and had forgotten to say “When!”

P. G. Wodehouse (1881–1975) Anglo-American humorist, playwright and lyricist [Pelham Grenville Wodehouse]
Very Good, Jeeves (1930)
(Source)

Wodehouse, P. G. -- Very Good, Jeeves (1930)

Dave — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:35:33 +0000

She fitted into my biggest armchair as if it had been built round her by someone who knew they were wearing armchairs tight about the hips that season.

P. G. Wodehouse (1881–1975) Anglo-American humorist, playwright and lyricist [Pelham Grenville Wodehouse]
Very Good, Jeeves (1930)

Herbert, George -- Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 748 (1640 ed.)

Dave — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:35:07 +0000

Every one thinks his sacke heaviest.

George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 748 (1640 ed.)
(Source)

Martin, Judith -- Miss Manners’ Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior, Part 3 “Basic Civilization,” “Common Courtesy for All Ages” (1983)

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

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Can you tell me a tactful way of letting a friend know that she is getting too fat?

GENTLE READER: Can you tell Miss Manners a tactful reason for wanting to do so?

Judith Martin (b. 1938) American author, journalist, etiquette expert [a.k.a. Miss Manners]
Miss Manners’ Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior, Part 3 “Basic Civilization,” “Common Courtesy for All Ages” (1983)
(Source)