WIST Quotations

Belloc, Hilaire -- Poem (1923), “Epigram 45: On a Puritan,” Sonnets and Verse (1923 ed.)

Dave — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 20:53:38 +0000

He served his God so faithfully and well,
That now he sees him face to face, in hell.

Hilaire Belloc (1870–1953) Franco-British writer, historian [Joseph Hilaire Pierre René Belloc]
Poem (1923), “Epigram 45: On a Puritan,” Sonnets and Verse (1923 ed.)
(Source)

Hoffer, Eric -- Passionate State of Mind, Aphorism 60 (1955)

Dave — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 18:34:36 +0000

Vehemence is the expression of a blind effort to support and uphold something that can never stand on its own — something rootless, incoherent, and incomplete. Whether it is our own meaningless self we are upholding or some doctrine devoid of evidence, we can do it only in a frenzy of faith.

Eric Hoffer (1902–1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
Passionate State of Mind, Aphorism 60 (1955)
(Source)

Addison, Joseph -- Essay (1711-10-02), The Spectator, No. 185

Dave — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 14:54:28 +0000

I love to see a Man zealous in a good Matter, and especially when his Zeal shews it self for advancing Morality, and promoting the Happiness of Mankind: But when I find the Instruments he works with are Racks and Gibbets, Gallies and Dungeons; when he imprisons Mens Persons, confiscates their Estates, ruins their Families, and burns the Body to save the Soul, I cannot stick to pronounce of such a one, that (whatever he may think of his Faith and Religion) his Faith is vain, and his Religion unprofitable.

Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English essayist, poet, statesman
Essay (1711-10-02), The Spectator, No. 185
(Source)

Addison, Joseph -- Essay (1711-10-02), The Spectator, No. 185

Dave — Wed, 11 May 2022 13:57:20 +0000

There is nothing in which Men more deceive themselves than in what the World calls Zeal. There are so many Passions which hide themselves under it, and so many Mischiefs arising from it, that some have gone so far as to say it would have been for the Benefit of Mankind if it had never been reckoned in the Catalogue of Virtues. It is certain, where it is once Laudable and Prudential, it is an hundred times Criminal and Erroneous; nor can it be otherwise, if we consider that it operates with equal Violence in all Religions, however opposite they may be to one another, and in all the Subdivisions of each Religion in particular.

Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English essayist, poet, statesman
Essay (1711-10-02), The Spectator, No. 185
(Source)

Mencken, H. L. -- “What I Believe,” sec. 2, Forum and Century (Sep 1930)

Dave — Mon, 15 May 2017 15:05:22 +0000

The principle is surely not new in the world: everyone ought to know by this time that a mountebank, thinking only of tomorrow’s cakes, is far safer with power in his hands than a prophet and martyr, his eyes fixed frantically upon the rewards beyond the grave.

H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American writer and journalist [Henry Lewis Mencken]
“What I Believe,” sec. 2, Forum and Century (Sep 1930)
(Source)

Taft, William -- Speech, Methodist Conference, Ocean Grove, NJ (15 Aug 1911)

Dave — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 23:54:24 +0000

Enthusiasm of the cause may sometimes warp judgment.

William Howard Taft (1857–1930) US President (1909–13) and Chief Justice (1921–1930)
Speech, Methodist Conference, Ocean Grove, NJ (15 Aug 1911)

Stacy, Walter P -- State v. Beal, 199 N.C. 278 (1930)

Dave — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 12:06:11 +0000

It would be almost unbelievable, if history did not record the tragic fact that men have gone to war and cut each other’s throat because they could not agree as to what was to become of them after their throats were cut. Many sins have been committed in the name of religion. Alas! the spirit of proscription is never kind. It is the unhappy quality of religious disputes that they are always bitter. For some reason, too deep to fathom, men contend more furiously over the road to heaven, which they cannot see, than over their visible walks on earth.

Walter P. Stacy (1884–1951) American jurist
State v. Beal, 199 N.C. 278 (1930)
(Source)

Hoffer, Eric -- Passionate State of Mind, Aphorism 68 (1955)

Dave — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:02:38 +0000

A doctrine insulates the devout not only against the realities around them but also against their own selves. The fanatical believer is not conscious of his envy, malice, pettiness and dishonesty. There is a wall of words between his consciousness and his real self.

Eric Hoffer (1902–1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
Passionate State of Mind, Aphorism 68 (1955)
(Source)

Dunne, Finley Peter -- “Casual Observations,” Mr. Dooley’s Opinions (1901)

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

A fanatic is a man who does what he thinks th’ Lord wud do if He knew th’ facts iv the case.

[A fanatic is a man who does what he thinks the Lord would do if He knew the facts of the case.]

Finley Peter Dunne (1867–1936) American humorist and journalist
“Casual Observations,” Mr. Dooley’s Opinions (1901)