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Quotations about Pandemics,
Quarantines, and COVID-19
Epidemics have often been more influential than statesmen and soldiers in shaping the course of political history, and diseases may also color the moods of civilizations. ~Rene Dubos and Jean Dubos, "Consumption and the Romantic Age," The White Plague: Tuberculosis, Man and Society, 1952
One of the joys of a real emergency is throwing yourself into it. Another is that
All the suns labor to kindle your flame and a microbe puts it out. ~Antonio Porchia
Some people are so sensitive that they feel snubbed if an epidemic overlooks 'em. ~Kin Hubbard
As an INFJ, this social distancing is everything I've been waiting for since the day I was born. ~Keith Wynn, tweet, 2020 March 14th
Ynstead of 'social distauncinge' wherfor not 'Emily Dickinsoning'? ~Chaucer Doth Tweet, @LeVostreGC, 2020 March 11th
How is it that health is less contagious than disease...? Or are there epidemics of health? ~Friedrich Nietzsche, Human All-Too-Human, translated by Paul V. Cohn
When I was a child and would see scary things on the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." ~Fred Rogers (1928–2003), as quoted in You Are Special: Neighborly Words of Wisdom from Mister Rogers, 1994
Americans stocked up on oil lamps, portable generators and survival books that had been gathering dust in warehouses since the Y2K scare... It was a time for cocooning, not venturing out... Nationwide, extravagant parties were out, and staying home to watch videos was in. People bailed out of diets, seeking comfort in chocolate. Normal meant paying attention to simple things, like being alive. It meant remembering what is important: friends, family, charity, love. ~David Foster, "After
As a consequence of mankind's gross habits, lamentable sicknesses and mysterious contagions have come, and every few years new ones appear as a result of our neglect to understand Nature's commands... It is indeed a warning... ~Alwyn M. Thurber, The Hidden Faith: An Occult Story of the Period, 1895
Wars, fires, plagues, break up immovable routine... There is a tendency in things to right themselves... The sharpest evils are bent into that periodicity which makes the errors of planets, and the fevers and distempers of men, self-limiting. Nature is upheld by antagonism. Passions, resistance, danger, are educators. We acquire the strength we have overcome. Without war, no soldier; without enemies, no hero... All the glory of character is in affronting the horrors of depravity, to draw thence new nobilities of power... ~Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Considerations By the Way," The Conduct of Life, 1860
Dr. Rieux resolved to compile this chronicle, so that he should not be one of those who hold their peace but should bear witness in favor of those plague-stricken people; so that some memorial of the injustice and outrage done them might endure; and to state quite simply what we learn in time of pestilence: that there are more things to admire in men than to despise. ~Albert Camus, The Plague, 1947, translated from the French by Stuart Gilbert, 1948
1918 October 11 — How changed are all these things was illustrated last week when the general epidemic of Spanish influenza and the outbreak of a number of cases among the students necessitated prompt and rigorous steps to prevent an epidemic. At a meeting of the University Emergency Council held last week, matters connected with preventing the spread of influenza were discussed. The proposals met with the unanimous approval of the Council and of the medical officers. It is necessary to cancel meetings, concerts, lectures, and other gatherings. Sunday Chapel, the only traditional ceremony now possible in a crowded week, should be out of doors. It is felt that the prompt adoption of these regulations will prevent the spread of influenza at the University. The Cloister Club was speedily converted into an army and navy emergency hospital for students.
1918 November 1 — The kaleidoscope of events since the University opened this fall gives a bewildering picture to the chance visitor, unprepared for the changes. Yet these changes are only the natural results of an unprecedented broader situation of the war and the prevalence of influenza. Yale, as an educational institution, temporarily has ceased to exist. The fraternity houses are closed. There is a temporary absence of organized intercollegiate athletics. The Cloister house is an influenza hospital, and St. Elmo and Vernon Halls are convalescent hospitals. Nor has the situation been without its changes to the allied Campus institutions. The book shop has been affected by a condition under which a uniformed student
1918 November 8 — How menacing are the dangers that may spread among troops in camp or in the field, if not effectually checked, has been too well illustrated in the epidemic of influenza and pneumonia which has presented such serious problems within the past few weeks. As more well-trained men master the science of preventing the spread of disease we may look confidently for more effective strength in our fighting forces.
~The Yale Alumni Weekly, Vol. XXVIII, 1918, New Haven, Connecticut, The Yale Publishing Association, Inc., Edwin Oviatt, editor [A little altered. Cover stories: "A Military Yale," "Yale as War Training Center," "Prompt Steps Taken to Check Spread of Spanish Influenza Among Students," "The Yale Army Laboratory School: Army Learning How to Combat Diseases and Epidemics," "University Financial Report in a Time of Extraordinary Needs and Opportunities." School Year: October 1, 1918 to June 26, 1919.
Ah! there is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort. ~Jane Austen, 1815
There is a certain malady of the mind induced by too much of one thing. Just as the body fed too long upon meat becomes a prey to that horrid disease called scurvy, so the mind fed too long upon monotony succumbs to the insidious mental ailment which the West calls "cabin fever." True, it parades under different names, according to circumstances and caste. You may be afflicted in a palace and call it ennui, and it may drive you to commit peccadillos and indiscretions of various sorts...
Be sure that it will make you abnormally sensitive to little things; irritable where once you were amiable; glum where once you went whistling about your work and your play... It will betray your little, hidden weaknesses, cut and polish your undiscovered virtues, reveal you in all your glory or your vileness to your companions in exile — if so be you have any.
Cabin fever has driven men crazy. It has warped and distorted character out of all semblance to its former self. It has sweetened love and killed love... ~Bertha Muzzy Bower, "The Fever Manifests Itself," Cabin Fever, 1918
But, soft! what day is this? ~William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, c.1594
Quarantine is going straight to my hips. ~Keith Wynn, tweet, 2020 March 20th
To the nurses, doctors, epidemiologists, social workers, orderlies, researchers, and all the others around the world rushing in to combat the coronavirus at risk to their own health, thank you. You are heroes and we are all indebted to your service and sacrifice.
You know who are also heroes? Those working the checkout counters and stocking shelves at supermarkets and pharmacies. Their work, at some risk to their own health, is vital to the health and safety of our country. ~Dan Rather, @DanRather, tweets, 2020 February 28th and March 14th
In light of current events, I hereby would like to nominate grocery store workers across the world for this year's Nobel Peace Prize. ~Keith Wynn, tweet, 2020 March 15th
The Poor went about their Employment, with a Sort of brutal Courage... ~H. F. (Daniel Defoe, 1660–1731), Memoirs of the Plague, 1722 [Great Plague of London, 1665
...the plague had spread dejection through the city, which was thus rendered more obnoxious to its fury... ~William Gifford, "An Essay on the Roman Satirists," 1802
Clouds, all unknown to us, were gathering in our horizon. There was no marked indication of the coming of any season of particular sickness. But before long, it made its appearance in our district. At the outbreak of the epidemic, how well I remember that busy anxious time! Busy and anxious at first, gradually becoming more and more so, until at last, amidst the heavy pressure of many cares and fatigues and fears, the power of connected thought seemed almost lost. Hasty calls had become appallingly frequent, and at all hours of the day and night hurried bell rings announced that another stricken one required aid. We could plainly see how the disease was making its rapid way from the hovel of the poor to the abode of the comparatively affluent, until at last it reached the houses of the rich, and into all these habitations made so sadly equal by the stroke that levels to dust the vain distinctions of earth. These labours, torturous images, standing beside sick-beds to frail and young victims combatting death seemed all too heavy for any human frame or mind to bear. But smiles and words of sympathy and acts of generosity made our way smooth and happy; and now, in this hour of fear and trial, shone out yet more purely and cheeringly rays of peace, and we could bless God and take fresh courage. ~"My Brother's Friend," in The Young Englishwoman, 1867 [a little altered
Isaac Newton was a college student at Trinity College, Cambridge when the Great Plague of London hit. Away at his family estate and without professors to guide him, Newton apparently thrived. The year-plus he spent sheltering from the plague was later referred to as his annus mirabilis, the “year of wonders,” and allowed him to develop his theories on calculus, optics and the law of gravitation. ~Gillian Brockell, The Washington Post's history blog Retropolis, WashingtonPost.com, 2020 March 14th
I think the reason Shakespeare managed to write King Lear while a plague was going on is primarily because he didn't have Twitter. ~Matt Haig, @matthaig1, tweet, 2020 March 15th
...we do fear the end of the world as we know it... We are as children dreading the perils of the unknown... And the problems that puzzled the philosophers of the older civilizations are puzzling the philosophers of our own time. ~Newspaper World, c.1945
Contagion has this illness widely spread:
And, I feel sure, will farther spread it yet...
~Juvenal, translator unknown, quoted in Heinrich Oppenheimer, Medical and Allied Topics in Latin Poetry, 1928
Contagion has caused this plague-spot, and will extend it to many more, just as a whole flock perishes, in the fields from the scab of one sheep, or pigs from mange, and the grape contracts the taint from the grape it comes in contact with. ~Juvenal
It was about the beginning of September 1664, that I, among the Rest of my Neighbours, heard in ordinary Discourse, that the Plague was return'd again in Holland. It was brought, some said from Italy, others from the Levant, or Turkey, Crete, Cyprus; it matter'd not from whence it came, but all agreed, it was come into Holland again. It seems that the Government had a true Account of it, and several Counsels were held about Ways to prevent its coming over to London; but all was kept very private. Hence it was, that this Rumour died off again, and People began to forget it till December, when two Frenchmen died of the Plague at the upper end of Drury Lane...
The People show'd a great Concern at the Increase of the Bills of Mortality and Burials in successive Weeks, and all over the Town people were dying of the same Distemper, in the same manner. Terrible Apprehensions were among the People, yet they had still some Hopes: That which encourag'd them was that it was chiefly among the People at that End of the Town, and that it might go no farther. We continued in these Hopes for a few Days, but they found that the Plague was really spread every way, and that many died of it every Day: So that now all our Extenuations abated, and it was no more to be concealed, nay it quickly appeared that the Infection had spread itself beyond all Hopes of Abatement...
The Weather set in hot, and from the first Week in June, the Infection spread in a dreadful Manner, and the Bills began to swell. All that could conceal their Distempers, did it to prevent their Neighbours shunning and refusing to converse with them; and also to prevent Authority shutting up their Houses, which though it was not yet practiced, yet was threatened, and People were extremely terrify'd at the Thoughts of it.
The richer People were all hurrying away in Coaches. This was a very terrible and melancholy Thing to see, and as it was a Sight which I cou'd not but look on from Morning to Night; for indeed there was nothing else of Moment to be seen, it filled me with very serious Thoughts of the Misery that was coming upon the City, and the unhappy Condition of those that would be left in it. ~H. F. (Daniel Defoe, 1660–1731), Memoirs of the Plague, 1722 [a little altered
...and where there is death in a thousand forms, we die of fear itself... ~Richard de Bury, Philobiblon, 1344
It's got a real medieval ghastliness, like the plague, only this time it will ruin everything, don't you see?... Everybody is going to fall apart... their lungs will crumble... But now we have only the early symptoms, the disease isn't really underway yet... Don't you see, it's just the beginning of the end... It's certainly the beginning of the end of the world as we know it now... It may be a carnival of horror at first... it will spread, slowly and insidiously... ~Jack Kerouac, The Town & the City, 1950 [Actual context: "the great molecular comedown... an atomic disease... death finally reclaiming life... the scurvy of the soul... Everybody is going to fall apart, disintegrate, all character-structures based on tradition and uprightness and so-called morality will slowly rot away, people will get the hives right on their hearts, great crabs will cling to their brains... You know about molecules, they're made up according to a number of atoms arranged just so around a proton or something. Well, the
There is no subject, and no feeling, in their nature incidental, of which the mind will not tire after a time. Even danger itself will cease to be dreaded, after it has been to a certain extent thought of and talked about. ~C. Nestell Bovee (1820–1904), "Epidemics"
That time showed us to what heights of splendid unselfishness men and women could rise. And those who start to build a normal life now, and forget that fact, are fools. ~The Dean of Manchester (The Very Rev. J. G. M'Cormick, D.D.), "Cabbage Planting," 1922
So many unforeseen changes have come along. It seems almost impossible to get back in the old routine. ~Amy Powell Livingston, journal, 1918
Schools are failing, kids don't know jack,
COVID never left, and also it's back...
~Saturday Night Live, "Blocking It Out for Christmas — Cold Open," 2022 December 10th
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published 2020 Mar 16
revised 2020, 2022, 2024
last saved 2024 Sep 7
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