RSS Parrot

Lecture (1872-01-29), “The Gods,” Fairbury Hall, Fairbury, Illinois

https://wist.info/ingersoll-robert-green/80620/

Published: December 5, 2025 22:03

Nothing can be plainer than that each nation gives to its god its peculiar characteristics, and that every individual gives to his god his personal peculiarities. First given on the 135th birthday of Thomas Paine. Collected in The Gods and Other Lectures…

Story (1995-11), “Ether, OR,” Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction, Vol. 19

https://wist.info/leguin-ursula-k/80617/

Published: December 5, 2025 21:51

It’s like all the time I was working keeping house and raising the kids and making love and earning our keep I thought there was going to come a time or there would be some place where all of it came together. Like it was words I was saying, all my life,…

Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Vol. 1, § 558 (1820)

https://wist.info/colton-charles-caleb/80609/

Published: December 5, 2025 19:44

Habit will reconcile us to every thing but change, and even to change, if it recur not too quickly.

Essay (1881), “Virginibus Puerisque, Part 2”

https://wist.info/stevenson-robert-louis/80607/

Published: December 5, 2025 19:11

You may safely go to school with hope; but ere you marry, should have learned the mingled lesson of the world: that dolls are stuffed with sawdust, and yet are excellent play-things; that hope and love address themselves to a perfection never realised, and…

Epistles [Epistularum, Letters], Book 1, ep. 10 “To Aristius Fuscus,” l. 42ff (1.10.42-43) (20 BC) [tr. Fairclough (Loeb) (1926)]

https://wist.info/horace/80605/

Published: December 5, 2025 19:04

When a man’s fortune will not fit him, ’tis as ofttimes with a shoe — if too big for the foot, it will trip him; if too small, will chafe. [Cui non conveniet sua res, ut calceus olim, si pede maior erit, subvertet, si minor, uret.] (Source (Latin)). Other…

Essay (1942-08), “Looking Back on the Spanish War, ch. 4, Such, Such Were the Joys, essay 8 (1953)

https://wist.info/orwell-george/80603/

Published: December 5, 2025 17:07

I know it is the fashion to say that most of recorded history is lies anyway. I am willing to believe that history is for the most part inaccurate and biased, but what is peculiar to our own age is the abandonment of the idea that history could be…

The Tragicall History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus, Act 1, sc. 1 (sc. 1), l. 76ff (1594; 1604 “A” text)

https://wist.info/marlowe-christopher/80599/

Published: December 4, 2025 19:02

What doctrine call you this, Che sera, sera: What will be, shall be? Divinity, adieu! Giving up on Christian doctrine, since it teaches that all are sinful, and that sinfulness condemns one to death and damnation. (Faustus ignores the ideas of repentance…

Poem (1920-11), “The Singing-Woman from the Wood’s Edge,” Vanity Fair, Vol. 14, No. 3

https://wist.info/millay-edna-st-vincent/80597/

Published: December 4, 2025 18:29

With him for a sire and her for a dam, What should I be but just what I am? Collected in A Few Figs from Thistles (1921). “Singing-Woman” is usually hyphenated in collections, but in Vanity Fair it was rendered “Singin’ Woman” and in the original…

Lecture (1840-05-05), “The Hero as Divinity,” Home House, Portman Square, London

https://wist.info/carlyle-thomas/80591/

Published: December 4, 2025 16:46

It is well said, in every sense, that a man’s religion is the chief fact with regard to him. A man’s, or a nation of men’s. By religion I do not mean here the church-creed which he professes, the articles of faith which he will sign and, in words or…

Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1975-02 “Heliotropes” (1875 ed.)

https://wist.info/billings-josh/80588/

Published: December 4, 2025 16:33

Intelekt without judgement iz what ails about one halff the smart people in this world. [Intellect without judgment is what ails about one half the smart people in this world.]

Philippics [Philippicae; Antonian Orations], No. 11, ch. 15 / sec. 39 (11.15/11.39) (43-02 BC) [ed. Harbottle (1897)]

https://wist.info/cicero-marcus-tullius/80586/

Published: December 4, 2025 16:23

Nothing flourishes for ever; each generation gives place to its successor. [Nihil enim semper floret; aetas succedit aetati.] (Source (Latin)). Other translations: For there is nothing which flourishes for ever. Age succeeds age. [tr. Yonge (1903)] For…

Speech (1945-01-20), Inaugural Address, Washington, D.C.

https://wist.info/roosevelt-franklin-delano/80581/

Published: December 3, 2025 21:59

We have learned that we cannot live alone, at peace; that our own well-being is dependent on the well-being of other Nations, far away. We have learned that we must live as men and not as ostriches, nor as dogs in the manger. (Source (Audio); dialog…

Essays, Book 3, ch. 8 (3.8), “Of the Art of Discussion [De l’art de conferer]” (1587) [tr. Screech (1987)]

https://wist.info/montaigne-michel-de/80578/

Published: December 3, 2025 21:52

Everyone’s shit smells good to himself. [Stercus cuique suum bene olet.] Montaigne is recollecting an adage collected by Desiderius Erasmus in his Adagia (3.4.2, No. 2302). It’s actually rendered there as Suus cuique crepitus bene olet. Erasmus maintains…

Doctor Who (1963), 08×01 “Terror of the Autons,” Part 3 (1971-01-16)

https://wist.info/holmes-robert/80575/

Published: December 3, 2025 19:28

JO GRANT: Doctor, stop being childish. THE DOCTOR: What’s wrong with being childish? I like being childish. (Source (Video); dialog verified) See also Terence Dicks.

Meditations [To Himself; Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν], Book 9, ch. 1 (9.1) (AD 161-180) [tr. Staniforth (1964)]

https://wist.info/marcus-aureleus/80569/

Published: December 3, 2025 18:21

Besides, if a man is afraid of pain, he is afraid of something happening which will be part of the appointed order of things, and this is itself a sin; if he is bent on the pursuit of pleasure, he will not stop at acts of injustice, which again is…

Book (2019), Last Words, ch. 18 [with Tony Hendra]

https://wist.info/carlin-george/80565/

Published: December 3, 2025 17:48

One of the codicils of my will is: “I, George Carlin, being of sound mind, do not wish, upon my demise, to be buried or cremated. I wish to be BLOWN UP.”

Conquest of Happiness, Part 2, ch. 13 “Family” (1930)

https://wist.info/russell-bertrand/80560/

Published: December 3, 2025 17:39

For my own part, speaking personally, I have found the happiness of parenthood greater than any other that I have experienced.

Introductio ad Prudentiam, Vol. 2, # 2462 (1727)

https://wist.info/fuller-thomas-1654/80558/

Published: December 3, 2025 17:07

Thou canst scarcely be truly wise till thou hast been deceived. Thy own Errors will teach thee more Prudence, than the grave Precepts, and even Examples of others.

(Spurious)

https://wist.info/feynman-richard/80553/

Published: December 2, 2025 21:49

You are under no obligation to remain the same person you were a year ago, a month ago, or even a day ago. You are here to create yourself, continuously. Not found in his writings, lectures, or speeches. See Who do you think you are kidding, Mr Feynman –…

Calvin and Hobbes (1995-03-07)

https://wist.info/watterson-bill/80544/

Published: December 2, 2025 20:53

CALVIN: (in front of the class yelling) Today for “Show and Tell,” I refuse to show you what I brought and I refuse to tell you anything about it. CALVIN: (grinning evilly) It’s a mystery that will haunt you all your miserable lives! You’ll never, ever…

“Turkey,” The Devil’s Dictionary (1911)

https://wist.info/bierce-ambrose/80542/

Published: December 2, 2025 20:32

TURKEY, n. A large bird whose flesh when eaten on certain religious anniversaries has the peculiar property of attesting piety and gratitude. Incidentally, it is pretty good eating. Originally published in The Devil’s Dictionary [A-Z] as Vol. 7 of his…

Winnie-the-Pooh, ch. 6 “Eeyore Has a Birthday” (1926)

https://wist.info/milne-a-a/80538/

Published: December 2, 2025 19:45

He hadn’t gone more than half-way when a sort of funny feeling began to creep all over him. It began at the tip of his nose and trickled all through him and out at the soles of his feet. It was just as if somebody inside him were saying, “Now then, Pooh,…

Column (1940-05-17), “My Day”

https://wist.info/roosevelt-eleanor/80536/

Published: December 2, 2025 19:09

Much has been said in this country about not wanting to participate in foreign wars and people who have said it, must now face the fact that foreign wars come very close to our own shores. We will always have not only the religious groups, but many groups…

Speech (1820-12-22), “First Settlement of New England,” Plymouth, Massachusetts

https://wist.info/webster-daniel/80534/

Published: December 2, 2025 17:32

At the moment when God in his mercy has blessed the Christian world with a universal peace, there is reason to fear, that, to the disgrace of the Christian name and character, new efforts are making for the extension of this [slave] trade by subjects and…

Medea [Μήδεια], l. 119ff (431 BC) [tr. Podlecki (1989)]

https://wist.info/euripides/80529/

Published: December 2, 2025 17:23

NURSE: Terrible is the temperament of royalty, Who are rarely controlled, always imperious; It is hard for them to give up their wrath. To get used to living like everybody else Is better. [ΤΡΟΦΌΣ: δεινὰ τυράννων λήματα καί πως ὀλίγ᾽ ἀρχόμενοι, πολλὰ…

Spirit of Laws [The Spirit of the Laws; De l’esprit des lois], Book 11, ch. 6 (1748) [tr. Stewart (2018)]

https://wist.info/montesquieu/80520/

Published: December 1, 2025 22:16

Political freedom in a citizen is the tranquility of mind that comes from the opinion each one has of his security; and for him to have this freedom, the government must be such that one citizen cannot fear another citizen. [La liberté politique, dans un…

The Second Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 4 (1966)

https://wist.info/mclaughlin-mignon/80515/

Published: December 1, 2025 19:24

Tough and funny and a little bit kind: that is as near to perfection as a human being can be.

Endorsement blurb for Charles E. Little, The Dying of the Trees (1997)

https://wist.info/berry-wendell/80510/

Published: December 1, 2025 18:08

Whether we and our politicians know it or not, Nature is party to all our deals and decisions, and she has more votes, a longer memory, and a sterner sense of justice than we do.

“Miss Manners,” syndicated column (1981-03-08)

https://wist.info/martin-judith/80499/

Published: December 1, 2025 17:41

Q: Should you tell your mother something if it is important when she is talking to company? I am 6. A: Yes, you should (after saying “Excuse me”). Here are some of the things that are important to tell your mother, even though she is talking to company:…

Richard II, Act 3, sc. 2, l. 70 (3.2.50) (1595)

https://wist.info/shakespeare-william/80497/

Published: December 1, 2025 17:13

SALISBURY: O, call back yesterday, bid time return …. Telling Richard it would have been great if the king had returned from his Irish wars a day earlier, because yesterday his waiting army of Welshmen went over to Bolingbroke’s side, having heard a rumor…

Völuspá [Prophecy of the Völva; Prophecy of the Seeress], st. 20 (AD 961) [tr. Bellows (1936)]

https://wist.info/edda-poetic/80492/

Published: December 1, 2025 17:03

Thence come the maidens mighty in wisdom, Three from the dwelling down ‘neath the tree; Urth is one named, Verthandi the next, — On the wood they scored, — and Skuld the third. Laws they made there, and life allotted To the sons of men,  and set their…

Essays, Book 2, ch. 20 (2.20), “We Taste Nothing Pure [Nous ne goustons rien de pur]” (1578) [tr. Cotton/Hazlitt (1877)]

https://wist.info/montaigne-michel-de/80488/

Published: November 27, 2025 00:32

Pleasure chews and grinds us; according to the old Greek verse, which says that the gods sell us all the goods they give us; that is to say, that they give us nothing pure and perfect, and that we do not purchase but at the price of some evil. [L’aise nous…

Doctor Who (1963), 11×01 “The Time Warrior,” Part 1 (1973-12-15)

https://wist.info/holmes-robert/80483/

Published: November 26, 2025 18:58

THE DOCTOR: A straight line may be the shortest distance between two points, but it is by no means the most interesting. (Source (Video))

The Salmon of Doubt, “The Salmon of Doubt,” ch. 4 (2002) [ed. Peter Guzzardi]

https://wist.info/adams-douglas/80481/

Published: November 26, 2025 18:33

He was constantly reminded of how startlingly different a place the world was when viewed from a point only three feet to the left.

Meditations [To Himself; Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν], Book 9, ch. 1 (9.1) (AD 161-180) [tr. Hays (2003)]

https://wist.info/marcus-aureleus/80478/

Published: November 26, 2025 17:59

And to pursue pleasure as good, and flee from pain as evil — that too is blasphemous. Someone who does that is bound to find himself constantly reproaching nature — complaining that it doesn’t treat the good and bad as they deserve, but often lets the bad…

Show (1996-03-29), Back in Town, “Abortion,” Beacon Theatre, New York City (HBO)

https://wist.info/carlin-george/80474/

Published: November 26, 2025 17:45

Boy, these conservatives are really something, aren’t they? They’re all in favor of the Unborn. They will do anything for the Unborn. But once you’re born, you’re on your own. Pro-life conservatives are obsessed with the fetus from conception to nine…

Conquest of Happiness, Part 2, ch. 12 “Affection” (1930)

https://wist.info/russell-bertrand/80472/

Published: November 26, 2025 17:01

In the best kind of affection a man hopes for a new happiness rather than for escape from an old unhappiness.

Introductio ad Prudentiam, Vol. 1, # 948 (1725)

https://wist.info/fuller-thomas-1654/80470/

Published: November 26, 2025 16:49

Never trust a malicious Man upon the Account that thou hast done him good Offices: For thou hast but fed a Dragon that will devour thee, if ever thou comest within his reach. Fuller repeated this item as # 2443 in his second volume (1727), slightly…

The Art of Loving, ch. 2 (1956)

https://wist.info/fromm-erich/80468/

Published: November 25, 2025 22:30

Most people are not even aware of their need to conform. They live under the illusion that they follow their own ideas and inclinations, that they are individualists, that they have arrived at their opinions as the result of their own thinking — and that…

Winnie-the-Pooh, ch. 3 “Pooh and Piglet Go Hunting” (1926)

https://wist.info/milne-a-a/80463/

Published: November 25, 2025 22:02

“Wait a moment,” said Winnie-the-Pooh, holding up his paw. He sat down and thought, in the most thoughtful way he could think. Then he fitted his paw into one of the Tracks … and then he scratched his nose twice, and stood up. “Yes,” said Winnie-the-Pooh.…

Medea [Μήδεια], l. 78ff (431 BC) [tr. Podlecki (1989)]

https://wist.info/euripides/80459/

Published: November 25, 2025 17:12

NURSE: We’re ruined, then, if we must add a new Evil to the old one we’ve hardly saved ourselves from. [ΤΡΟΦΌΣ: Ἀπωλόμεσθ᾽ ἄρ᾽, εἰ κακὸν προσοίσομεν νέον παλαιῷ, πρὶν τόδ᾽ ἐξηντληκέναι.] Reacting to the news that King Creon is going to banish Medea and her…

Hebrews 13: 3 [NRSV (2021 ed.)]

https://wist.info/bible-nt/80457/

Published: November 25, 2025 15:50

Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them, those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. [μιμνῄσκεσθε τῶν δεσμίων ὡς συνδεδεμένοι, τῶν κακουχουμένων ὡς καὶ αὐτοὶ ὄντες ἐν σώματι.] (Source…