WIST Quotations

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WIST (“Wish I’d Said That!”) is my collection of quotations (wist.info) which I find meaningful, moving, amusing (intended or not), or well-phrased.

Despite the name, this is not just a collection of quotations whose sentiments I agree with (though that’s true for the majority of stuff I collect). In some cases there are ideas that I disagree with, firmly; in those cases, though, I’ve included the quote because I admire the way it’s phrased, or because it’s a classic statement of a particular sentiment, or else I thought it was so absurd that it made me smile just to read it. In short, "Quoting is not (necessarily) endorsing."

One thing I make an effort to do is research and properly cite each quotation I publish. Further sourcing information (and notes and translations) can be found on the WIST website.

This site will serve as a rich-text social media republishing of new and updated quotations from wist.info (since nobody actually goes to blogs any more). I welcome conversation about the quotes I post.

I was previously cross-posting at wist@my-space.social, WISTquote@zirk.us, and wist@diasp.org. More info on the background of my collection here: wist.info/about-wist/

Additional intro material: friendica.world/display/84b6ef…

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https://wist.info ✔

WIST Quotations

Monday, November 9, 2026, 10:57 PM

WIST Quotations
Monday, November 9, 2026, 10:57 PM

A quotation from Henry Commager

The greatest danger that threatens us is neither heterodox thought nor orthodox thought, but the absence of thought.

Henry Steele Commager (1902–1998) American historian, writer, activist
Essay (1951), “The Pragmatic Necessity of Freedom"

More about this quote: wist.info/commager-henry-steel…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #henrycommager #acceptance #conformity #dissent #heterodoxy #mindlessness #orthodoxy #thoughtlessness #threat #freedomofthought

Commager, Henry Steele - Essay (1951), "The Pragmatic Necessity of Freedom | WIST Quotations

The greatest danger that threatens us is neither heterodox thought nor orthodox thought, but the absence of thought. An earlier version of this essay was given as a Cooper Lecture, Swarthmore College (1951).

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WIST Quotations

WIST Quotations Monday, November 9, 2026, 10:57 PM •

Commager, Henry Steele - Essay (1951), "The Pragmatic Necessity of Freedom | WIST Quotations

WIST Quotations
Monday, November 9, 2026, 10:57 PM