Mastodawn

BALLOT, n. A simple device by which a majority proves to a minority the folly of resistance. Many worthy persons of imperfect thinking apparatus believe that majorities govern through some inherent right; and minorities submit, not because they must, but because they ought.

Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914?) American writer and journalist
“Ballot,” “Devil’s Dictionary” column, San Francisco Wasp (1881-04-23)

More about this quote: wist.info/bierce-ambrose/82483…

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Bierce, Ambrose - "Ballot," "Devil's Dictionary" column, San Francisco Wasp (1881-04-23) | WIST Quotations

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WIST Quotations Feb 26

A quotation from Arthur Conan Doyle

“What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence,” returned my companion, bitterly. “The question is, what can you make people believe that you have done?”

Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) British writer and physician
Story (1886-04), “A Study in Scarlet,” Part 2, ch. 7 [Holmes], Beeton’s Christmas Annual, Vol. 28 (1887-11-21)

More about this quote: wist.info/doyle-arthur-conan/8…

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Doyle, Arthur Conan - Story (1886-04), "A Study in Scarlet," Part 2, ch. 7 [Holmes], Beeton's Christmas Annual, Vol. 28 (1887-11-21) | WIST Quotations

"What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence," returned my companion, bitterly. "The question is, what can you make people believe that you have done?" After the police had taken credit for the capture of the murderer. Published in novel form 1888-07.

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WIST Quotations Jan 14

A quotation from Heinlein

Vox Populi, Vox Dei translates as “My God! How did we get in this mess!”

Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988) American writer
Glory Road, ch. 17 (1963)

More about this quote: wist.info/heinlein-robert-a/81…

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Heinlein, Robert A. - Glory Road, ch. 17 (1963) | WIST Quotations

Vox Populi, Vox Dei translates as "My God! How did we get in this mess!" Referring to a comment by Rufo about the limitations of democracy as a form of government. See Alcuin (AD 798).

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WIST Quotations Dec 27

A quotation from La Rochefoucauld

It is generally pride rather than lack of intelligence which prompts men to dispute so obstinately generally accepted opinions; they find all the front seats taken on the popular side, and do not wish to sit behind.

[C’est plus souvent par orgueil que par défaut de lumières qu’on s’oppose avec tant d’opiniâtreté aux opinions les plus suivies: on trouve les premières places prises dans le bon parti, et on ne veut point des dernières.]

François VI, duc de La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680) French epigrammatist, memoirist, noble
Réflexions ou sentences et maximes morales [Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims], ¶234 (1665-1678) [tr. Stevens (1939)]

More info about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/la-rochefoucauld-fra…

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La Rochefoucauld, Francois - Réflexions ou sentences et maximes morales [Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims], ¶234 (1665-1678) [tr. Stevens (1939)] | WIST Quotations

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Kevin Karhan

Dec 19

#BeliebteMeinung: #Accountwalling sollte verboten werden!

Quick Quotes Sep 8, 2025

“When people come to a conclusion that is contrary to popular opinion, there’s a calm resolution to them, for they are experiencing a short burst of pride. They have just captured an intellectual territory, and they will hold that territory.”
― Mike Klepper

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WIST Quotations Has Moved!Aug 21, 2025

A quotation from Alcuin

The voice of the people is the voice of God.

[Vox populi, vox Dei.]

Alcuin of York (c. 735-804) Anglo-Latin scholar, clergyman, poet, teacher [Flaccus Albinus Alcuinus, Ealhwine, Alhwin, or Alchoin]
Letter (AD 798) to Charlemagne

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/alcuin/78553/

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Letter (AD 798) to Charlemagne - Alcuin | WIST Quotations

The voice of the people is the voice of God. [Vox populi, vox Dei.] Collected as Epistle 166, "Capitula quę tali convenit in tempore memorari," sec. 9 in various collections. (The epistle number varies.) Alcuin did not actually invent the phrase -- though his use of it is one of…

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WIST Quotations Has Moved!Jun 19, 2025

A quotation from Cicero

Well then, is there anyone — besides those who were glad that he had turned into a king — who did not want this deed to happen, or failed to approve of it afterwards? So all are guilty. All loyal citizens, so far as was in their power, killed Caesar. Not everyone had a plan, not everyone had the courage, not everyone had the opportunity — but everyone had the will.

[Ecquis est igitur exceptis eis qui illum regnare gaudebant qui illud aut fieri noluerit aut factum improbarit? Omnes ergo in culpa. Etenim omnes boni, quantum in ipsis fuit, Caesarem occiderunt: aliis consilium, aliis animus, aliis occasio defuit; voluntas nemini.]

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) Roman orator, statesman, philosopher
Philippics [Philippicae; Antonian Orations], No. 2, ch. 12 / sec. 29 (2.12/2.29) (44-10-24 BC) [tr. Berry (2006)]

Sourcing, notes, other translations: wist.info/cicero-marcus-tulliu…

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WIST Quotations Has Moved!May 13, 2025

A quotation from Euripides

HECUBA:   Then no man on earth is truly free,
   All are slaves of money or necessity.
   Public opinion or fear of prosecution
   forces each one, against his conscience,
   to conform.

ἙΚΆΒΗ:                                        [φεῦ.
   οὐκ ἔστι θνητῶν ὅστις ἔστ’ ἐλεύθερος·
   ἢ χρημάτων γὰρ δοῦλός ἐστιν ἢ τύχης
   ἢ πλῆθος αὐτὸν πόλεος ἢ νόμων γραφαὶ
   εἴργουσι χρῆσθαι μὴ κατὰ γνώμην τρόποις.]

Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Hecuba [Hekabe; Ἑκάβη], l. 864ff (c. 424 BC) [tr. Arrowsmith (1958)]

Sourcing, notes, other translations: wist.info/euripides/6979/

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WIST Quotations Has Moved!Mar 10, 2025

A quotation from Addison

A Man is glad to gain Numbers on his Side, as they serve to strengthen him in his private Opinions. Every Proselyte is like a new Argument for the Establishment of his Faith. It makes him believe that his Principles carry Conviction with them, and are the more likely to be true, when he finds they are conformable to the Reason of others, as well as to his own. And that this Temper of Mind deludes a Man very often into an Opinion of his Zeal, may appear from the common Behaviour of the Atheist, who maintains and spreads his Opinions with as much Heat as those who believe they do it only out of Passion for God’s Glory.

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

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/addison-joseph/53467…

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