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Quotations Weblog
Archives for 1997
December 28th, 1997 by Laura Moncur in Quotations
I should be writing a section on the New Year in the Western world, but I just
can’t get myself to do it. January first doesn’t mark the year’s beginning in
all parts of this world and I can’t talk about new beginnings when I’m aware that
it doesn’t mean that to everyone. Of course, I talk about Halloween and Christmas
as if everyone knew what these holidays meant. I talk about the flu in the cold
of winter when it’s summer in Argentina. How do I look past myself and my little
world to see the big picture? How do I put aside my large biases on this small
planet?
Maybe I shouldn’t. What does a writer do, but to describe the world around her
as best as she can? If I worry about the New Year in Hong Kong when I’m trying
to write about the New Year in the United States, am I able to fully tell the
story of the resolutions and promises of a Utahan? If Jane Austen had taken a
page or two to describe the life of the servants of Emma, would the story have
been as vivid? I’m not proposing that egocentricism is correct. Other cultures
are just as important as the one in which I am immersed, but I am fully unable to
comment on them. I can only report life around me, and my yearly resolution is
to do just that.
Introduction and quote compilation by Laura S. Moncur, Staff Writer.
- “Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the
public and have no self.”
- Cyril Connolly
“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one
persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends
on the unreasonable man.”
George Bernard Shaw
“The more I study religions the more I am convinced that man never
worshipped anything but himself.”
Sir Richard F. Burton
“Delusions of grandeur make me feel a lot better about myself.”
Jane Wagner
“I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the
ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence.”
Frederick Douglass
“Doubt yourself and you doubt everything you see. Judge yourself and you
see judges everywhere. But if you listen to the sound of your own voice, you can
rise above doubt and judgment. And you can see forever.”
Nancy Kerrigan
Truth is truth, no matter who says it.
“If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am not for others, what
am I? And if not now, when?”
Rabbi Hillel, 12th Century
For more information about Self Improvement, try these links:
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Self Improvement Online – This site provides a weekly collection of inspirational
quotes and a list of links to inspirational quote pages. There is also information on
any sort of therapy available (bogus and not so bogus), from Aromatherapy to Yoga.
The following books and tapes are available through Amazon.com:
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Forever, Erma : Best-Loved Writing from America’s Favorite Humorist
Paperback by Erma Bombeck – Writings from a woman who was never scared to talk
about the intricacies of American life.
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Life 101 Hardcover by Peter McWilliams – Reading one of his books is tantamount
to reading them all, but this is the one I recommend. A wonderfully positive
book with lots of quotations to make you feel good about what he’s saying.
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December 21st, 1997 by Laura Moncur in Quotations
A frenzy starts every year at this time in the United States. I like to think
that other countries don’t have this problem, but considering that Christmas
has been around since the year 336, well before the United States was a glimmer
in Spain’s eye, I’m sure other countries endure the madness also. I think there are
two things that irritate me the most about this season: traffic and the holiday’s
duration.
Trying to go anywhere is compounded with difficulty during the Holiday Season
because so many people are out getting Christmas presents, but that irritation
is minor compared to the sight of Christmas ornaments and paraphernalia at
Halloween time. As I’ve said in the
past, Halloween is my favorite holiday. To see it consumed by the Christmas
season bothers me to no end. I think that’s why I love the movie The Nightmare
Before Christmas by Tim Burton. In that movie, Christmas gets eaten by
Halloween, as it should.
The following are some humorous quotes about one of my least favorite holidays.
Introduction and quote compilation by Laura S. Moncur, Staff Writer.
- “In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians
called it ‘Christmas’ and went to church; the Jews called it ‘Hanukka’ and went
to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other
on the street would say ‘Merry Christmas!’ or ‘Happy Hanukka!’ or (to the atheists)
‘Look out for the wall!’”
- Dave Barry, Christmas Shopping: A Survivor’s Guide
“May our nation continue to be the beakon of hope to the world.”
The Quayles’ 1989 Christmas card.
Not a beacon of literacy, however.
“The parent who gets down on the floor to play with a child on Christmas
Day is usually doing a most remarkable thing — something seldom repeated during
the rest of the year. These are, after all, busy parents committed to their work
or their success in the larger society, and they do not have much left-over time
in which to play with their children.”
Brian Sutton-Smith
“I bought my brother some gift-wrap for Christmas. I took it to the Gift
Wrap department and told them to wrap it, but in a different print so he would
know when to stop unwrapping.”
Steven Wright
“How many observe Christ’s birthday! How few, his precepts! O! ’tis
easier to keep holidays than commandments.”
Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1732-57
“People can’t concentrate properly on blowing other people to pieces
properly if their minds are poisoned by thoughts suitable to the twenty-fifth
of December.”
Ogden Nash, ‘Merry Christmas, Nearly Everybody!’, I’m a Stranger Here Myself, 1938
“If all the year were playing holidays, to sport would be as tedious
as to work.”
William Shakespeare, The First Part of Henry IV, 1597-98
The best reason The Holiday Season should start December first instead
of October first, in my opinion.
For more information about Christmas, try these links:
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Christmas Unwrapped – The History Channel’s exhibit on Christmas.
- The following books and tapes are available through Amazon.com:
-
The Nightmare Before Christmas VHS Tape – This masterpiece of animation
from the mind of Tim Burton tells the tale of Jack, the Pumpkin King and resident
of Halloween Town. In an effort to show his fellow citizens the wonders of Christmas,
he steals Christmas and kidnaps Santa. The perfect revenge for a holiday that
has already consumed Thanksgiving and is well on the way to eating another,
beloved holiday. Great price from Amazon.com for $13.49!
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4000 Years of Christmas : A Gift from the Ages Hardcover by Earl W. Count, Alice
Lawson Count, Dan Wakefield (Introduction) – A historical look at this holiday
and its pagan origins.
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The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Hardcover by Barbara Robinson – This is considered
a children’s book, and in fact, that’s when I read it, but it is such a
wonderful story, that I feel compelled to recommend it. The Herdmans are a
family of miscreants who had never heard about the Christmas story, yet take
over the Christmas pageant. Despite the worries of the church-going folk, it
turns out to be just as the title implies. Placing myself in the role of the
Herdman family (we didn’t celebrate Christmas when I was a child), I cried
when I read this book.
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New Wave Christmas Audio Music CD by Various Artists – Great Christmas
music for the few of us that enjoyed the music of the eighties. It includes:
Mary Xmess by Sun 60, Shouldn’t Have Given Him a Gun for Christmas by Wall
of Voodoo and, my favorite, One Christmas Catalogue [Too Many] by Captain
Sensible. I went to every record store in the city searching for this thing
last year, but you can get it from Amazon.com for $8.39.
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I Hate Bloody Christmas! – A well-written treatise on the decadence and
uselessness of the holiday. It is difficult to read because of the oddly colored
background, but aside from that, a perfect Bah Humbug proving that Great Britain
has the same problems as the United States.
-
Christmas in NYC – A bare-faced look at the commercialism and decadence of a
holiday gone mad.
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December 15th, 1997 by Laura Moncur in Biography
I’m not a frilly girl. I don’t like dresses or pretty things. I fantasize
about setting fires more than men. I enjoy learning about hoaxes and
scams much more than learning about manners and correct speech. I find no
interest in romance, because I’m too busy accruing interest in finance. I enjoy my
life as a woman who can do whatever she wants in this world. Why, then, do I
like Jane Austen’s novels?
I believe that the appeal of her work to me is the incredible wittiness of her
women. I try to be funny, but fail most of the time. I find the notion of wonderfully
witty women in a society where politeness is crucial so pleasing that I have read
many of her novels more than once. I’m hoping to catch her characters making fools of
others to their faces, with humor and hidden rancor, in ways I didn’t notice
before. Here are a few of the best quotes from Jane Austen in celebration of her
birthday.
Introduction and quote compilation by Laura S. Moncur, Staff Writer.
- “I think I may boast myself to be, with all possible vanity, the most
unlearned and uninformed female who ever dared to be an authoress.”
- letter to James Stanier Clarke, 11 Dec 1815
“Why not seize the pleasure at once, how often is happiness destroyed by
preparation, foolish preparations.”
“I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me that trouble of
liking them a great deal.”
letter to her sister, Cassandra, 24 Dec 1798
“One cannot be always laughing at a man without now and then stumbling on
something witty.”
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession
of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
Pride and Prejudice, 1813
“It was a delightful visit – perfect, in being much too short.”
Emma, 1815
“Real solemn history, I cannot be interested in…The quarrels of popes
and kings, with wars or pestilences, in every page; the men all so good for
nothing, and hardly any women at all.”
Northanger Abbey, Chapter 14
“‘I am afraid,’ replied Elinor, ‘that the pleasantness of an employment
does not always evince it propriety.’”
Sense and Sensibility, Chapter 13
“You have delighted us long enough.”
Pride and Prejudice, 1813
The nicest way to say, “Shut up,” I’ve ever read.
“Business, you know, may bring money, but friendship hardly ever does.”
Emma, 1815
“[Miss Austen] had a talent for describing the involvements and feelings
and characters of ordinary life which is to me the most wonderful I ever met with.
The Big Bow-Wow strain I can do myself like any now going; but the exquisite
touch, which renders ordinary commonplace things and characters interesting,
from the truth of the description and the sentiment, is denied to me.”
Walter Scott, Journal entry, 14 March 1826
“Just the omission of Jane Austen’s books alone would make a fairly good
library out of a library that hadn’t a book in it.”
Mark Twain (1835-1910)
I guess not everyone loves her the way I do.
For more information about Jane Austen, try these links:
-
Jane Austen Film & Television Adaptations – A site with lovely pictures from
the film versions of Jane Austen’s work. There are many images to download and
a list of other links.
- The following books and tapes are available through Amazon.com:
-
Best of Jane Austen boxed paperback set that includes: Emma, Persuasion,
Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. A good starting set.
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The Illustrated Letters of Jane Austen Paperback by Jane Austen, Penelope
Hughes-Hallett (Editor). Beautiful pictures accompany Jane Austen’s letters.
She was rather candid in her letters to her sister Cassandra, which are the
best.
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Jane Austen’s Little Advice Book Hardcover by Jane Austen, Cathryn Michon,
Pamela Norris, David Johnson. Quotations from Jane Austen regarding Men, Women,
Money, Marriage, and Social Life. If you liked her quotes, you’ll love this
book with additional witty commentary from the authors listed above.
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Pride and Prejudice VHS Video Edition, Published by A & E HOME VIDEO. I
must admit that this rendition of Pride and Prejudice is what started it all
for me. Seeing Jennifer Ehle play the feisty Elizabeth Bennett made me love
Jane Austen. Colin Firth plays a dark and brooding Mr. Darcy with curly locks
and glaring glances. I bought this set at full price and it was well worth it.
Amazon.com is offering it for $10 buck cheaper at $89.99.
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Jane Austen Home Page – a collection of links and the actual works of Jane
Austen available for download.
-
Jane Austen Information Page – A huge collection of texts of Jane Austen’s
works, commentary, silly jokes and pictures of the authoress. This site is
enormous, but doesn’t take itself too seriously.
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December 7th, 1997 by Laura Moncur in Quotations
It is winter here in the Northern Hemisphere and with the colder temperatures, we
humans tend to pass around germs. I, too, have succumbed to the virus. Suddenly,
I am obsessed with my mucous levels and the decibels of my coughing. The house has
given way to clutter and neglect and I have scavenged our bare cupboards for Ramen
noodles and soup because we are too weak to shop for anything more than the immediate
meal and more decongestant. Additionally, I have lost my voice, which is a curse to
my ego. It has become obvious that I’m not getting noticed anymore. Little did I
know that the measure of my power was based on the loudness of my voice.
Below are the few quotes I was willing to dig up about sickness in my weakened state.
May you survive this winter without dealing with these woes.
Introduction and quote compilation by Laura S. Moncur, Staff Writer.
- “There’s a flu bug getting passed around, and it’s spreading like fire
through the town. There’s a virus holding up inside us. Everyone that I know
is coming down.”
- Squirrel Nut Zippers, ‘La Grippe’, The Inevitable, 1995
“It is only when the rich are sick that they fully feel the impotence of wealth.”
Caleb C. Colton
“Refuse to be ill. Never tell people you are ill; never own it to yourself.
Illness is one of those things which a man should resist on principle.”
Edward George Bulwer-Lytton
“I reckon being ill as one of the great pleasures of life, provided one is
not too ill and is not obliged to work till one is better.”
Samuel Butler, The Way of the Flesh, 1903
“Sickness comes on horseback and departs on foot.”
Dutch Proverb
“We forget ourselves and our destinies in health, and the chief use of
temporary sickness is to remind us of these concerns.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Journals, 1821
“Show him death, and he’ll be content with fever.”
Persian Proverb
“A cough is something that you yourself can’t help, but everybody else
does on purpose just to torment you.”
Ogden Nash, You Can’t Get There From Here, 1957
For more information about Wintertime Illnesses, try these links:
- Flu Season Advice
from the IE Health Home Page – From Vitamin C to Chicken Soup, they give you advice
on how to feel better.
- The following book is available through Amazon.com:
- Patient Information Sheet: Influenza (Flu)
Clinical advice for the flu from Parker A. Small, Jr., M.D. and Bradley S. Bender, M.D., University of Florida.
Sound advice from real doctors; listen up!
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November 30th, 1997 by Laura Moncur in Biography
Few people living in The United States have not been exposed to Mark Twain. Born
Samuel Langhorne Clemens on November 30th, 1835, Mark Twain was one of the more
influential writers of America. Known as a wit, his writing career began at age 12.
He started writing for “The Hannibal Journal” at that time. He penned such books
as “Tom Sawyer,” “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” and “The Prince and
the Pauper.”
The following are just a small sampling of the great things that Mark Twain either
said or wrote. I’ve also included some links to more quotes than you can shake a
stick at. Enjoy!
Introduction and quote compilation by Laura S. Moncur, Staff Writer.
- “The report of my death was an exaggeration.”
- Note to London corresondent of the New York Journal, June 1, 1897
“Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.”
“Truth is the most valuable thing we have. Let us economize it.”
Pudd’nhead Wilson, 1894
“Noise proves nothing. Often a hen who has merely laid an egg cackles as
if she had laid an asteroid.”
Pudd’nhead Wilson, 1894
“Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.”
Pudd’nhead Wilson, 1894
“I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take
him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him.”
“Nothing so needs reforming as other people’s habits.”
Pudd’nhead Wilson, 1894
“The man who doesn’t read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t
read them.”
“I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn’t
know.”
Letter to William Dean Howells, December, 1877
“Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to
prayer.”
“Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.”
Card sent to the Young People’s Society, Greenpoint Presbyterian Church,
Brooklyn, February 16, 1901
For more information about Mark Twain, try these links:
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