A quotation from **Ambrose Bierce** > BOOK-LEARNING, _n._ The dunce’s derisive term for all knowledge that transcends his own impenitent ignorance. **Ambrose Bierce** (1842-1914?) American writer and journalist “Book-learning,” “Devil’s Dictionary” column, San Francisco _Wasp_ (1881-05-14) * […]

A quotation from **Hannah Arendt** > To sound off with a cheerful “give me liberty or give me death” sort of argument in the face of the unprecedented and inconceivable potential of destruction in nuclear warfare is not even hollow; it is downright ridiculous. Indeed it seems so obvious that it […]

A quotation from **A. A. Milne** > Owl was telling Kanga an Interesting Anecdote full of long words like Encyclopædia and Rhododendron to which Kanga wasn’t listening. **A. A. Milne** (1882-1956) English poet and playwright [Alan Alexander Milne] _Winnie-the-Pooh_ , ch. 8 “Christopher Robin […]

A quotation from **Alfred North Whitehead** > We think in generalities, but we live in detail. **Alfred North Whitehead** (1861-1947) English mathematician and philosopher Essay (1926-08), “The Education of an Englishman,” _Atlantic Monthly_ * * * More about this quote […]

A quotation from **Eleanor Roosevelt** > I do not know Mr. Willkie, but the headline in one of the metropolitan papers yesterday said: “Willkie Aims At Unity, Defense and Recovery.” I’m discouraged. In Heaven’s name, will anyone aim at anything else? > Sometimes I wonder if we shall ever grow […]

A quotation from **Euripides** > CREON: A woman of hot temper — and a man the same — > Is a less dangerous enemy than one quiet and clever. > > [ΚΡΈΩΝ: Γυνὴ γὰρ ὀξύθυμος, ὡς δ᾽ αὔτως ἀνήρ, > ῥᾴων φυλάσσειν ἢ σιωπηλὸς σοφή.] **Euripides** (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist _Medea [Μήδεια],_ […]

A quotation from **The Bible** > Give a welcome to anyone whose faith is not strong, but do not get into arguments about doubtful points. One person may have faith enough to eat any kind of food; another, less strong, will eat only vegetables. Those who feel free to eat freely are not to […]

A quotation from **Nietzsche** > A politician divides mankind into two classes: tools and enemies. That means he knows only one class: enemies. **Friedrich Nietzsche** (1844-1900) German philosopher and poet (Attributed) * * * More about this quote: wist.info/nietzsche-friedrich/… #quote […]

A quotation from **Mme de Sévigné** > Fortune is always on the side of the largest battalions. > > _[La fortune est toujours pour les gros bataillons]_ **Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, Marquise de Sévigné** (1626-1696) French aristocrat, woman of letters [Madame de Sévigné, Mme de Sévigné] Letter […]

A quotation from **John Adams** > Old minds are like old horses; you must exercise them if you wish to keep them in working order. **John Adams** (1735-1826) American lawyer, Founding Father, statesman, US President (1797-1801) (Attributed) * * * More […] [Original post on friendica.world]

A quotation from **Henry Commager** > We do not protect freedom in order to indulge error. We protect freedom in order to discover truth. We do not maintain freedom in order to permit eccentricity to flourish; we maintain freedom in order that society may profit from criticism, even eccentric […]

A quotation from **Montesquieu** > We have said that the laws were the particular and precise institutions of a legislator, and manners and customs the institutions of a nation in general. Hence it follows that when these manners and customs are to be changed, it ought not to be done by laws […]

A quotation from **Mignon McLaughlin** > Of course no one is so sensitive as you, but try to remember they _think_ they are. **Mignon McLaughlin** (1913-1983) American journalist and author _The Second Neurotic’s Notebook_ , ch. 4 (1966) * * * More about this quote […]

A quotation from **Victor Hugo** > But it is just those books which a man possesses, but does not read, which constitute the most suspicious evidence against him. The Spanish Inquisition have deliberated on that point, and have come to a conclusion that places the matter beyond further doubt. > […]

A quotation from **Wendell Berry** > We make war, we are told, for the love of peace. We subvert our Bill of Rights and impose our will abroad for the sake of freedom and the rule of law. We honor greed and waste with the name of economy. We allow ever greater wealth and power to accumulate in […]

A quotation from **Joseph Addison** > I have often thought if the minds of men were laid open, we should see but little difference between that of the wise man and that of the fool. There are infinite reveries, numberless extravagances, and a perpetual train of vanities which pass through both […]

A quotation from **Judith Martin** > Dishonesty is not the only alternative to honesty. There is also the highly underrated virtue of shutting up. **Judith Martin** (b. 1938) American author, journalist, etiquette expert [a.k.a. Miss Manners] “Miss Manners,” syndicated column (2014-12-19) * * […]

A quotation from **Shakespeare** > CHARMIAN: Good madam, keep yourself within yourself. > The man is innocent. > > CLEOPATRA: Some innocents ’scape not the thunderbolt. **William Shakespeare** (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet _Antony and Cleopatra_ , Act 2, sc. 5, l. 94ff (2.5.94-96) […]

A quotation from **C. S. Lewis** > At bottom, every ideal of style dictates not only how we should say things but what sort of things we may say. **C. S. Lewis** (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis] _The Screwtape Letters_ , Preface (1961 ed.) * * […]

A quotation from **Hyman Rickover** > To do a job effectively, one must set priorities. Too many people let their “in” basket set the priorities. On any given day, unimportant but interesting trivia pass through an office; one must not permit these to monopolize his time. The human tendency is […]

A quotation from **Anna Quindlen** > If being a parent consists often of passing along chunks of ourselves to unwitting — often unwilling — recipients, then books are, for me, one of the simplest and most sure-fire ways of doing that. I would be most content if my children grew up to be the […]

A quotation from **Satchel Paige** > Never let your head hang down. Never give up and sit down and grieve. Find another way. And don’t pray when it rains if you don’t pray when the sun shines. **Satchel Paige** (1906-1982) American baseball player [Leroy Robert Paige] Quoted in “Hal Boyle Says […]

A quotation from **John F. Kennedy** > Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one’s beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others. **John F. Kennedy** (1917-1963) American politician, author, journalist, US President (1961–63) Letter (1960-10-26) to the National […]

A quotation from **William Faulkner** > I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail. He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance. The poet’s, the writer’s […]

A quotation from **Ben Franklin** > Fear to do ill, and you need fear nought else. **Benjamin Franklin** (1706-1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist _Poor Richard_ (1740 ed.) * * * More about this quote: wist.info/franklin-benjamin/78… #quote #quotes #quotation #qotd#quotation[…]

So ... time for an #introduction piece here at my new Friendica site. My name's Dave, and I'm a recently-retired tech manager. I've been collecting quotations for about 55 years, since college -- first in a commonplace book, eventually in a somewhat repurposed WordPress blog (wist.info), which […]

A quotation from **Yevgeny Yevtushenko** > I write poetry, prose, and everything I do, I do on the principle of Russian borscht. You can throw everything into it — beets, carrots, cabbage, onions, everything you want. What’s important is the result, the taste of the borscht. **Yevgeny […]