Mastodawn

Truly it is a sad thing for a people, as for a man, to fall into Scepticism, into dilettantism, insincerity; not to know Sincerity when they see it. For this world, and for all worlds, what curse is so fatal? The heart lying dead, the eye cannot see.

Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) Scottish essayist and historian
Lecture (1840-05-22), “The Hero as King,” Home House, Portman Square, London

More about this quote: wist.info/carlyle-thomas/82852…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #thomascarlyle #disengagement #truth #dispassion #discernment #insincerity #reality #sincerity #skepticism #truth

Carlyle, Thomas - Lecture (1840-05-22), "The Hero as King," Home House, Portman Square, London | WIST Quotations

WIST Quotations

WIST Quotations Feb 18

A quotation from Marcus Aurelius

A candor affected is a dagger concealed.

[ἐπιτήδευσις δὲ ἁπλότητος σκάλμη ἐστίν.]

Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) Roman emperor (161-180), Stoic philosopher
Meditations [To Himself; Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν], Book 11, ch. 15 (11.15) (AD 161-180) [tr. Staniforth (1964)]

More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/marcus-aureleus/2670…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #marcusaurelius #attack #authenticity #candor #dagger #deception #duplicity #falsehood #honesty #insincerity #knife #lying #pretense #stiletto #straightforwardness #threat

Marcus Aurelius - Meditations [To Himself; Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν], Book 11, ch. 15 (11.15) (AD 161-180) [tr. Staniforth (1964)] | WIST Quotations

A candor affected is a dagger concealed. [ἐπιτήδευσις δὲ ἁπλότητος σκάλμη ἐστίν.] Depending on the source material, the weapon reference is either from a native Thracian (foreign) weapon (σκάλμη) -- thus translators who use "stiletto," etc. -- or a proverbial "crooked stick" (σκαμβή), referring to a Greek proverb "You can't…

WIST Quotations

Show thread

a fading echo Aug 23, 2025

@QasimRashid
Their #insecurity is persistent and enormous.

The #insecurity of their operations is #frequent and enormous.

Their #insincerity extends to all their lives.

WIST Quotations Has Moved!Aug 21, 2025

A quotation from Ben Franklin

The cringing Train of Pow’r, survey;
What Creatures are so low as they!
With what obsequiousness they bend!
To what vile actions condescend!
Their Rise is on their Meanness built,
And Flatt’ry is their smallest Guilt.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1741 ed.)

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/franklin-benjamin/78…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #benfranklin #benjaminfranklin #poorrichardsalmanac #asskisssing #bowing #condescension #courtiers #favor #flattery #flunkies #guilt #hangerson #insincerity #lackeys #obsequiousness #power #praise #servility #subservience #sycophant #kowtowing #followers

RonSupportsYou Apr 20, 2025

Adam Kinzinger: "Dear Christians who think Trump is the savior, here is his inspiring Easter message of forgiveness and resurrection:

Trump: 'Happy Easter to all, including the Radical Left Lunatics who are fighting so hard to bring Murderers, Drug Lords, Dangerous Prisoners, (etc.) back into our Country. Happy Easter to also to the WEAK and INEFFECTIVE Judges (blah, blah, blah ...) I wish you, with great love, sincerity, and affection, a very Happy Easter'!!!"
#Trump #dishonesty #insincerity.

WIST Quotations Has Moved!Jan 29, 2025

A quotation from Marcus Aurelius

Never regard something as doing you good if it makes you betray a trust, or lose your sense of shame, or makes you show hatred, suspicion, ill will, or hypocrisy, or a desire for things best done behind closed doors.

[Μὴ τιμήσῃς ποτὲ ὡς συμφέρον σεαυτοῦ, ὃ ἀναγκάσει σέ ποτε τὴν πίστιν παραβῆναι, τὴν αἰδῶ ἐγκαταλιπεῖν, μισῆσαί τινα, ὑποπτεῦσαι, καταράσασθαι, ὑποκρίνασθαι, ἐπιθυμῆσαί τινος τοίχων καὶ παραπετασμάτων δεομένου.]

Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) Roman emperor (161-180), Stoic philosopher
Meditations [To Himself; Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν], Book 3, ch. 7 (3.7) [tr. Hays (2003)]

Sourcing, notes, alternate translations: wist.info/marcus-aureleus/2675…

#quote #quotes #quotation #advantage #benefit #betrayal #corruption #dishonesty #embarrassment #evaluation #hatred #hypocrisy #immorality #insincerity #integrity #lying #profit #secrecy #selfrespect #suspicion #vice

WIST Quotations moves again!Nov 29, 2024

A quotation from Orwell, George:

«
The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between one’s real and one’s declared aims, one turns as it were instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like a cuttlefish spurting out ink.
»

Full quote, sourcing, notes:
https://wist.info/orwell-george/5188/

#quote #quotes #quotation #clarity #communication #deceit #deception #dishonesty #insincerity #language #obfuscation #obscurity

WIST Quotations moves again!Nov 26, 2024

A quotation from Moliere:

«
ALCESTE: Finding on every hand base flattery,
Injustice, fraud, self-interest, treachery …
Ah, it’s too much; mankind has grown so base,
I mean to break with the whole human race.
»

Full quote, sourcing, notes:
https://wist.info/moliere/73138/

#quote #quotes #quotation #badbehavior #corruption #deceit #evil #flattery #humanity #injustice #insincerity #selfinterest #selfishness #treachery #misanthropy

WIST Quotations moves again!Oct 16, 2024

A quotation from Williams, Tennessee:

«
ESMERALDA: Everyone says he’s sincere, but everyone isn’t sincere. If everyone was sincere who says he’s sincere there wouldn’t be half so many insincere ones in the world and there would be lots, lots, lots more really sincere ones!
»

Full quote, sourcing, notes:
https://wist.info/williams-tennessee/72555/

#quote #quotes #quotation #honesty #humannature #insincerity #integrity #sincerity #truth

Wisdom in Space Aug 4, 2024

The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between one's real and one's declared aims, one turns instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like a cuttlefish spurting out ink.
-- George Orwell (Politics and the English Language)

⬆ #Wisdom #Quotes #GeorgeOrwell #Communication #Deceit #Insincerity #Writing

⬇ #Photography #Panorama #Sunrise #LakeSantaFe #Florida