"American business long ago gave up on demanding that prospective employees
be honest and hardworking. It has even stopped hoping for employees who are
educated enough that they can tell the difference between the men's room and
the women's room without having little pictures on the doors." — Dave Barry
What sort of indicator is it, when, hearing the name 'Virginia', your eight year old brother (who is American) starts humming: "Rule Virginia, Virginia rules the waves"? I would dearly love to know.
A couple years ago, I picked up a book called The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. I started it in the middle of the night, and couldn’t stop until I had finished. It was a strange book, part mystery, part thriller, part romance, part historical novel. But it had such an interesting theme that I liked it, and read it again.
Basically, the story is that of a man who was born disfigured in the face. His mother scorned him and made him wear a mask, and she was only the first. He was a genius, with an amazing singing voice, and his talents included composition, architecture, and sleight of hand. But because of his extreme ugliness, he was shunned, and lived out his life in loneliness and resentment underneath the Paris Opera House. While living there, he spent his time frightening the dwellers of the Opera House, who called him the Phantom of the Opera, and training the voice of his inamorata, a chorus girl named Christine. His teaching led her to fame, but when she acknowledged her love for another, he took her captive. She took pity on him in his loneliness, gave him unselfish love, not despising him for his ugliness, and he was so touched that he let her go.
As well as I liked the book, even better is Andrew Lloyd Webber’s adaptation to opera/musical. The original stage production has just surpassed Cats in the position of longest running musical, and it’s not hard to see why. The story is poignant, and the music is gorgeous.
In the character of the Phantom, we have a portrait of a man whose life held such promise, which was denied him by a world that only focused on physical appearance. It is ironic that the world called him a monster, but it was their rejection that led him to become one in truth. In Christine, we have an innocent young girl, who teaches this broken man what love really is.
The musical has got simply gorgeous music, and the recent movie adaptation has some excellent singers. The Phantom is supposed to have the most beautiful male voice, and Christine is supposed to have equal, but untrained, vocal beauty, so it is a challenge to cast.
The original Phantom, Michael Crawford, had a higher voice than I imagined from the book, sounded tinny to my ears, but did have the range. But the new Phantom, Gerard Butler, is a bass, has equal range, and has the most beautiful male voice I have heard. His voice is sometimes dark and tortured, but with a “strange sweet sound” that makes your “spirit start to soar”. Some arias of his sound beautiful but dangerous (Past the Point of No Return, Phantom of the Opera), some just beautiful (Music of the Night), and others lonely and lost (All I Ask of You Reprise, No One Would Listen, Wandering Child). I can’t think of a person who could sound more like the Phantom I imagined. [No One Would Listen is an aria they cut out of the film, but kept on the DVD, and I really wish they hadn’t, because it’s one of my favorites]
His costar, Emmy Rossum as Christine, has an innocent, clear voice, much different than the original Sarah Brightman, who has a very golden, rich voice, but Emmy’s is more fitting to the character.
The Phantom’s character, while sympathetic, is not moral (which comes from his being shunned and therefore untaught), so the movie has some objectionable parts, though overall the moral structure is strong. Especially strong is the message that we should not judge on physical appearance, and that selfless love is the highest a person can attain. I fell in love with the music (it is the only opera I like), and was touched by the story, and because of that, I would recommend it.
This game is simple. It has one rule: Name the song(s) that are ruthlessly stuck in your head at the moment (scientific name: earworms) And be honest. Ruthlessly honest.
Mine are:
Pots and Pans, by the Bacon Brothers, from the album Dog Train
One by One, by Enya, from the album A Day Without Rain
Wunderkind, from the album The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
And I tag:
Purring Piggy (of course)
Pipsqueak, Jennyanydots, Equuschick, and The Head Girl from The Common Room
The Shieldmaiden and Fa So La La from The Beehive
Tim from Bona Vita Rusticanda Est
It's the strangest thing in the world to be upstairs listening to a piano-saturated Jane Austen soundtrack (is there a reason why all of them are mainly piano?), and then hearing, as an accent, "Rally, men of Rohan! Rally to me!" *cue Nazgul screech* Ahem. That's not right.
I have a weakness for shy, reserved, and tragic characters, which is the only saving grace for Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. A more painfully depressing book is almost assuredly in existence, but I have (thankfully) never read it.
(As a side note, another author spent some time listening to all the depressing songs he could put his hands on, and then wrote a book called I Hate Myself and I Want to Die: The 52 Most Depressing Songs You’ve Ever Heard, criticizing the utter gloom of these songs. Now if that isn’t humorous, I don’t know what is. But back to Wuthering Heights, keeping depression in mind...)
It is the story of Heathcliff, a gypsy orphan whose inhuman love and hatred ruin the lives of two families on the English moors. Heathcliff is no hero: he is wild, cruel, malicious, and vengeful. And the object of his obsession is equally anti-hero. Catherine Earnshaw is proud, wild, ambitious, selfish, and irrational. With such a pair as main characters, can you doubt the direction of story?
Because of mistreatment by Catherine’s elder brother, Hindley, and his hatred of the man Catherine marries out of social ambition, Edgar Linton, Heathcliff practices his revenge on them and their kin in a way that makes the reader cringe. He leads Hindley into gambling and alcoholism, causing his death, and mistreats his son Hareton, only because he is Hindley’s son. He marries Edgar Linton’s sister to spite him, and is both verbally and physically abusive to her, causing her to run away to raise her son apart from his father’s influence. He eventually causes the death of Catherine and Edgar, and so one would think the story would be over: all those he hates are dead.
But no, this man is no human, but some sort of dark demon. He continues taking revenge on the children of his enemies, forcing Catherine’s daughter to marry his son, and keeping Hareton ignorant and enslaved.
This is not a happy story, though well written and gripping. But the only reason not to hate it comes from my own partiality, which I mentioned earlier. There are only two good characters: Edgar and Hareton, and they almost make up for the rest. Edgar is kind, loyal and gentlemanly, but he is a little bit of a coward (though to be just, standing up to Heathcliff takes more strength than you would think). Hareton is shy, loving, eager to learn, and eventually is the only one to stand up to Heathcliff. Both live unfortunate lives, and only Hareton ends up happy. These two are such wonderful characters, that I almost forgave Emily Bronte for creating Heathcliff and Catherine as well.
In the Mobil Masterpiece Theatre version of this book, I was happy to learn that Edgar was played by Crispin Bonham Carter, who did an excellent job as Mr. Bingley in Pride and Prejudice (1995). Also, that Hareton, who was my favorite character, was played by Matthew Macfadyen, whose caliber I had realized recently when he expertly played Mr. Darcy in another Pride and Prejudice (2005). According to one interviewer, MM did not have to act to play Darcy, it came naturally, so I had no doubts about his ability to play the even-more shy Hareton.
But other than those two actors, the movie was over-condensed, and focused too much on Heathcliff for it to be enjoyable. Even worse was the Lawrence Olivier version, which only did half the book, condensed it, and changed the story so that Heathcliff was a hero. Eww.
It’s hard to rate this book, because although it is gloomy and sad and painful, it is a good book, and I would read it again. So...
I’d give it a 5 out of 10
Here is a short bit from one of the stories I am writing, which has no title at present. It is Pride and Prejudice from Darcy's point of view, and this scene is the one where he first meets Elizabeth.
That night, he barely slept, and arose feeling stiff and weary. The day was dull, and he hardly saw anyone until the evening. He had brought a book from Bingley’s minuscule library, and was preparing for a quiet evening of reading, and writing to Georgiana perhaps, when Charles and Miss Bingley came into the room, dressed for a ball. Bingley was looking quite up to the notch, neater than usual, and Miss Bingley was wearing her most elegant gown.
“Good gracious, Mr. Darcy, you are not going in that, are you?” said Miss Bingley, eyes wide and little mouth open in shock.
“Darcy, I thought you prided yourself on dress.”
“Going? I am not going anywhere, but will wish you well and stay comfortably here,” said Fitzwilliam, somewhat bewildered.
Bingley looked offended and disappointed, though.
“You said you would.”
“I said nothing of the kind.”
“It was implied!”
“Bingley, why will you insist on misunderstanding me?”
“Darcy, you think this will all be easy for me, that I will make a good impression with no difficulties, but it won’t and I won’t. I’m as nervous as ever Georgiana could be.”
Fitzwilliam nourished an inward smile at this confession, but his resoluteness was failing him.
“Darcy, I want someone there on whom I know I can depend to support me, and I can depend on you. I thought you would be coming.”
Can I deny him that?
“I shall not dance,” he said finally, and walked up to his room, missing completely Bingley’s gratified and sincere smile and thanks, but feeling slightly guilty that he had ever thought of disappointing him.
However, he grumbled as he changed himself quickly into suitable clothes to be seen in, and mentally prepared himself. Hertfordshire residents, he would meet after all. He couldn’t avoid it, could he, not even if he had every reason to?
But in his heart, he knew Bingley was right, and that was irksome. He confessed to a sort of pride in knowing that he was more knowledgeable than Charles. No, not pride. It was honest fact. But here, Charles Bingley had (probably unknowingly) made his excuse groundless, nearly rubbed it in his face, and insisted that he go to the Assembly. Well, but he should not get the pleasure of seeing Fitzwilliam Darcy enjoying himself unless there was a worthy cause for such emotion. Ha, no, he would be Bingley’s support, but was determined to be displeased rather than have Bingley triumph again.
“Darcy! We shall be late!”
Fitzwilliam quickly grabbed his cloak, and, with a parting burial of his hopes of a domestic evening, took a deep breath, stood up straight, and set his mind on being whatever Bingley needed him to be.
“Ah, there you are, Mr. Darcy. We have been waiting some time.”
If Miss Bingley had known the irritation this caused her Darcy, she would have held her tongue.
“I am glad you will come,” said Bingley, granting Darcy the smile that the latter had overlooked before. Fitzwilliam gave him a faint smile back as he climbed into the carriage. He resolved never to think of abandoning his friend again. It was his duty to be of use here, and at least it was not a totally unpleasant one for his nature.
There were no words as they rode to the small Assembly. Small, he assumed it would be, in such an area. Bingley always said that Darcy was pessimistic, and Fitzwilliam couldn’t help noticing every time that tendency appeared in himself, however he felt that it was not wrong to be so.
Yes, the Assembly was most certainly small. And few chaises to be seen, he noted. They walked in, Bingley smiling, Miss Bingley with an indifferent look, and he with as blank a look as he could portray.
He didn’t really notice who introduced Bingley and, by proxy, himself, or to whom they were introduced. He was seeing how little use he could be to Bingley, except as an ornament, a rich man to make others envy. How he hated that idea. That Bingley would drag him—no, Bingley was insecure. It was to Bingley’s credit that he showed no improper pride, but confidence? The man didn’t know the meaning of the word, Fitzwilliam was sure, at least not in comparison to himself. Fitzwilliam planted himself in a corner, and fell into recollections that had nothing to do with the country-dances and conversation that were all around him. His reveries were often about Bingley, and he noticed with interest Bingley’s partners, which were many.
His first was exceptionally lovely, Fitzwilliam granted, but his second had hardly a good feature. Which prompted Fitzwilliam to pay attention to the other young women, but he soon noticed that Bingley had instinctively found the loveliest one, and indeed the only lovely one. There were some who were pretty, but nothing like Miss—he believed it was Miss Bennet. No, Hertfordshire had no cause for such boasts as he had heard Bingley relate the other day.
Bingley’s every movement was his study, being the only thing that was nearly interesting, but he could not help hearing conversations all about him that gave him little pleasure. Some matrons were discussing matrimony for their daughters, in terms that left him with no other feeling than disgust. “Setting their cap” for a man, was what the mothers readily approved of when they saw it in their daughters, also “gaining” them. Such an affront to gentility! And the men were talking of drink, or cards, or horses, and with if at least fewer vulgarities, with no less ignorance. There were some young ladies ogling the few young men that were there, and giggling frantically whenever one looked their way. Typical country assembly was his most gracious determination.
Then he saw Bingley leave his partner, who, he noted, was Miss Bennet again, and walk over towards him. He was prepared to congratulate his friend on his success, for he had heard many people speak of “Mr. Bingley” with admiration. But Bingley’s expression should have warned him, and all preparations went to the wind with the first words out of Bingley’s mouth.
“Come, Darcy, I must have you dance. I can’t bear to see you standing about in such a stupid manner.”
Bingley was insufferable. Had he not noticed the hints? No, Bingley was innocent and fond of dancing. Now he needed firmness. Masking his weariness with this oft-breached subject as best he could, he answered:
“I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner, an impossibility here. At such an Assembly as this”—with a wave of the hand towards the giggling girls—“it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with.”
There, Bingley! Misunderstand that, if you can!
Bingley made some comment on the great amount of pretty girls, and how fastidious Darcy would be if he could not resist their charms. Here, perhaps, Fitzwilliam could turn the conversation, and return to his original intention.
“You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room,” he complimented very smoothly.
Fitzwilliam was relieved and was grateful for Bingley’s nature, as Bingley dissolved into ardent admiration of Miss Bennet. All was mended. But no, Bingley was in too good a humor to be considerate of his friend’s inclinations.
“But there is another Miss Bennet sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Let me ask my partner to introduce you!”
Fitzwilliam turned around, feeling completely cold towards Bingley’s intentions at that moment, and beheld the young lady. Bingley thought her very pretty, but Fitzwilliam saw no resemblance between that young lady and the elder Miss Bennet. If it had been any other man, Fitzwilliam would not have tolerated such insolence. To ask a man, whom he knew to dislike dancing, to ask a young lady in the middle of a dance! And when the man had not danced another dance that evening with any but Miss Bingley and her sister, it was uncommonly particular attention, which he was surprised Bingley missed. It was like shouting out a proposal to such a company as this. He would squelch Bingley, once and for all.
“She is tolerable, I suppose,” he answered, wishing that that which he admired in Bingley in all other points were not so problematic here. “But not handsome enough to tempt me. And I am in no humor to give consequence to ladies who are slighted by other men.”
Go away, Bingley, please. I will not raise any hopes here, of all places.
“Go back to your partner, and enjoy her smiles. You are wasting your time with me.”
Bingley, it appeared, did finally understand, for he sighed and returned smiling to his partner.
Out of the corner of his eye, Fitzwilliam saw the young lady recommended by Bingley look almost amused, and suddenly wondered if she had heard their conversation. He did recall, now, that she had caught his eye the moment before. Well, as if that was of any consequence. She probably did not hear him. And if she did, what better set-down for her grasping and vulgar parents? Now feeling in a very foul humor, he tried to think on something pleasant: Pemberley, and Georgiana.
But he couldn’t help but notice Bingley’s glance at him when he led the lady whom Fitzwilliam had refused (he later learned she was Miss Elizabeth Bennet: one of the renowned beauties of Hertfordshire) being led to the floor by Bingley himself. Did Bingley disapprove of him? It was not something to help his mood, however justified he felt.
It was very late before they were back at Netherfield.
I do believe it is a class C felony to read a sequel before the actual book. Hear that, Adaon? You must put down Pride and Prescience until you read Pride and Prejudice. Hmph. Some people's brothers!
(Not that I'm not happy to have proof of conversion to Austenism, but still... ;)
The snarky folk of Austenblog are usually on the opposite side of all things Austen than I am, but I read them because they really do care about her, and they have interesting links on anything Jane Austen on the web (they occasionally are a little rough in their language; I prefer The Republic of Pemberley for its cleanness). But I also stoop to snarkiness (and abashedly enjoy it) sometimes, and laughed aloud at this post. What I would give for a Cluebat of my own!
One of the strangest science fiction books written, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy breaks all conventions. There are no wars between planets, no constant techno-talk, no blasters and only a couple spaceships, and additions such as whales and mice. It is also intensely humorous.
The plotline is complicated, and hard to explain. Arthur Dent, a man on Earth is told by his friend, Ford Prefect, that not only is Ford an alien working on the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (an encyclopedia more popular than the Encyclopedia Galactica), but that Earth about to be destroyed by Vogons, and that they must hitch a ride to escape. Earth is destroyed, and they are rescued by the President of the Universe and an old girlfriend of Arthur's, who are looking for the Question about Life, the Universe, and Everything (they have already found out that the answer is 42). The quest is on.
We watched the movie last night, which did an excellent job of adapting the book, probably because the author wrote the screenplay. It was weird and funny, and well acted. I especially liked Alan Rickman as the manically depressed robot Marvin. "I have a million ideas. They all point to certain death." Is there a depressing role he cannot play? Can he play a happy role? Is the answer 42? There was also a small part for Anna Chancellor, who I only knew because of her performance of the sour Caroline Bingley in Pride and Prejudice (1995). (She actually looked pretty in this, though.)
So long and thanks for all the fish!
I am currently taking part in a program called Youth and Government, which
is a nationwide program whose goal is to teach teenagers about the
government. We write bills, propone them, debate them, and pass or fail
them, using parliamentary procedure. And in May, the Washington legislature
will adjourn, and for three days, teenagers in this program will run the
state government (we even elect officials). Scary? Well, thankfully this
program's goal is to be as authentic as possible, and definitely not be
flippant. In fact, the seriousness is such, that any bills that are passed
in both the (Youth) House and the (Youth) Senate during those three days,
will be presented to the real legislature when they return, and there has
actually been a bill by a teenager that passed out of committee and was
debated by the real government.
On Saturday, our district had a Training Legislation. Our delegation
(carpooled in our family's nifty fifteen-passenger van), met with others for
the first time, and had a practice legislation. After a few workshops on
debating skills and parliamentary procedure, we debated some bills using the
skills we had just learned. After being in a delegation with only 20 people,
the 130 of T-leg was an interesting experience. There was some good debate,
and a couple interesting bills.
One was to allow judges to give warrants to search the crime records of a
person from when they were 15-17 (right now, those records are forgotten as
soon as you turn 18). I agree with the bill's proponent, but unfortunately,
the example she used gave the wrong idea, and the bill failed. One of the
arguments against was that 15-17 year olds do not necessarily know what is
right and wrong, and therefore shouldn't be held accountable for the things
they do before turning 18. I found it strongly ironic that all the people in
that room, who had been so passionately debating the rights and wrongs of
bills, were 15-17 years of age. Would it hurt them to use logic? What do
they teach them in these schools!
While at the Training Legislation for Youth and Government (more on this later), I was talking to the person next to me. She was nice and friendly, and we had been talking a while, when she asked: "What school are you from?"
I answered, "I'm homeschooled." Much to my shock, she visibly shrank back from me, with wide eyes. "Oh. Really?" She appeared actually scared, as if homeschooling was some strange disease. I was normal enough for her before (it's all an act, of course...), but once that was dropped, she closed up. I still don't know why.
(Good book. Very funny. I like this quote best.)
"Curiously enough, the only thing that went through the mind of the bowl of
petunias as it fell was 'Oh no, not again.' Many people have speculated that
if we knew exactly why the bowl of petunias had thought that we would know a
lot more about the nature of the Universe than we do now." Douglas Adams,
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"
Strange Looking Words
woopknacker — noun, meaning "an arrogant loudmouthed person"
zugswang — noun, meaning "a bad chess move"
chthonic — adj., meaning "living in or under the earth"
pukka — adj., meaning "authentic, genuine"
logorrhea — noun, meaning "excessive talkativeness"
autochthonous — adj., meaning "forming or existing where found"
hoi palloi — noun, meaning "the masses"
eleemosynary — "relating to charity"
grok — verb, meaning "to understand"
kvetch — verb, meaning "to complain habitually"
vim — noun, meaning "energy, vigor"
quondam — adj., meaning "of a former time"
pulchritude — noun, meaning "beauty"
ukase — noun, meaning "an edict"
tocsin — noun, meaning "a warning"
mulct — verb, meaning "to defraud"
mephitic — adj., meaning "offensive to the smell"
eremite — noun, meaning "a hermit"
thalassic — adj., meaning "growing or found in the sea"
tchotchke — noun, meaning "a trinket"
limn — verb, meaning "to draw or paint"
The Scarlet Pimpernel, with Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour, and Ian Mckellen, is one of those rare movies that equals the book. Ha! you may say, That is impossible! But I most humbly beg to differ. ;-)
Whether you have read the book by Baroness Emmuska Orczy or not, does not matter. No, actually, it does. You must always read the book first. It is an engaging and suspenseful read, and though it has a couple swear words, I would recommend it wholeheartedly. The plot revolves around Lady Marguerite Blakeney and the mysterious and elusive Scarlet Pimpernel, the figurehead of the league of Englishmen who rescue innocent aristocrats from the bloody and ruthless French Revolution and its Madame le Guillotine. No one knows who this strange man is, only his symbol of a small red flower, and Marguerite's old friend, Citizen Paul Chauvelin, would love to get his hands on him. The plot thickens when Chauvelin blackmails Marguerite into betraying the Scarlet Pimpernel...and the frightful discovery she shortly makes.
The movie is just as great as the book, having the advantage of excellent actors. Jane Seymour, I admit, is not the perfect Marguerite, but I can't imagine a better Scarlet Pimpernel than Anthony Andrews, and Ian Mckellen (Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings movies) makes a fine Chauvelin. There is a bit of bad language. The only other caveat I offer is that the mystery of the Scarlet Pimpernel is betrayed in the first scene!!! True, it does not lessen the storyline, but it gives the movie a much different feel than the book. So it's better to read the book first. Anthony Andrews is an amazing actor! Not only are his disguises convincing, his Scarlet Pimpernel is strong, intelligent, and gentlemanly: the classic hero, and nothing like the effeminate ones we get in most of today's films.
I have seen this movie many times, and while it is not exactly like the book, it perfectly captures the spirit.
Today, I announced at breakfast that it was JRR Tolkien's and Mel Gibson's birthday. Much to my and Purring Piggy's gratification, the Clan could remember the former more easily than the latter. And that is a blessing that comes from homeschooling. :-)
(And yes, I deliberately alphabetized these)
“A joke is a very serious thing.” Winston Churchill
“A politician needs the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn't happen.” Winston Churchill
“A prisoner of war is a man who tries to kill you and fails, and then asks you not to kill him.” Winston Churchill
“All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.” Winston Churchill
“Although personally I am quite content with the existing explosives, I feel we must not stand in the path of improvement.” Winston Churchill
“Although prepared for martyrdom, I preferred that it be postponed.” Winston Churchill
“An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.” Winston Churchill
“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” Winston Churchill
“By swallowing evil words unsaid, no one has ever harmed his stomach.” Winston Churchill
“Clement Attlee is a modest man who has a good deal to be modest about.” Winston Churchill
“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” Winston Churchill
“Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.” Winston Churchill
“Dictators ride to and fro upon tigers which they dare not dismount. And the tigers are getting hungry.” Winston Churchill
“Do not let spacious plans for a new world divert your energies from saving what is left of the old.” Winston Churchill
“From now on, ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I will not put.” Winston Churchill
“History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.” Winston Churchill
“However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.” Winston Churchill
“I always avoid prophesying beforehand, because it is a much better policy to prophesy after the event has already taken place.” Winston Churchill
“I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else.” Winston Churchill
“I am easily satisfied with the very best.” Winston Churchill
“I am prepared to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter.” Winston Churchill
“I cannot pretend to be impartial about the colours. I rejoice with the brilliant ones, and am genuinely sorry for the poor browns.” Winston Churchill
“I got into my bones the essential structure of the ordinary British sentence-which is a noble thing.” Winston Churchill
“I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.” Winston Churchill
“I'm just preparing my impromptu remarks.” Winston Churchill
“If the Almighty were to rebuild the world and asked me for advice, I would have English Channels round every country. And the atmosphere would be such that anything which attempted to fly would be set on fire.” Winston Churchill
“If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time-a tremendous whack.” Winston Churchill
“In those days he was wiser than he is now; he used to frequently take my advice.” Winston Churchill
“In war, you can only be killed once, but in politics, many times.” Winston Churchill
“It is a good thing for an uneducated man to read books of quotations.” Winston Churchill
“Man will occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of the time he will pick himself up and continue on.” Winston Churchill
“Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except all those others that have been tried from time to time.” Winston Churchill
“"No comment" is a splendid expression. I am using it again and again.” Winston Churchill
“No idea is so outlandish that it should not be considered with a searching but at the same time a steady eye.” Winston Churchill
“Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at without result.” Winston Churchill
“Out of intense complexities intense simplicities emerge.” Winston Churchill
“Perhaps it is better to be irresponsible and right, than to be responsible and wrong.” Winston Churchill
“Solitary trees, if they grow at all, grow strong.” Winston Churchill
“Some people regard private enterprise as a predatory tiger to be shot. Others look on it as a cow they can milk. Not enough people see it as a healthy horse, pulling a sturdy wagon.” Winston Churchill
“The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.” Winston Churchill
“The British nation is unique in this respect. They are the only people who like to be told how bad things are, who like to be told the worst.” Winston Churchill
“The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.” Winston Churchill
“The great defense against the air menace is to attack the enemy's aircraft as near as possible to their point of departure.” Winston Churchill
“The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.” Winston Churchill
“The length of this document defends it well against the risk of its being read.” Winston Churchill
“The power of an air force is terrific when there is nothing to oppose it.” Winston Churchill
“The problems of victory are more agreeable than those of defeat, but they are no less difficult.” Winston Churchill
“There are a terrible lot of lies going about the world, and the worst of it is that half of them are true.” Winston Churchill
“There are two things that are more difficult than making an after-dinner speech: climbing a wall which is leaning toward you and kissing a girl who is leaning away from you.” Winston Churchill
“There is no finer investment for any community than putting milk into babies.” Winston Churchill
“They are decided only to be undecided, resolved to be irresolute, adamant for drift, solid for fluidity, all-powerful to be impotent.” Winston Churchill
“Too often the strong, silent man is silent only because he does not know what to say, and is reputed strong only because he has remained silent.” Winston Churchill
“We are all worms. But I believe that I am a glow-worm.” Winston Churchill
“When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened.” Winston Churchill
“When the eagles are silent the parrots begin to jabber.” Winston Churchill
“When the war of the giants is over the wars of the pygmies will begin.” Winston Churchill
“You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else.” Winston Churchill
“You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.” Winston Churchill
At dinner last Friday, we were doing a weekly quiz, and the cheesebread was
coming out of the oven. Aragorn loves quizzes, and is very competitive. That
night, however, his main disadvantage (being a male teenager) became his
downfall. He completely missed one question, being engrossed by something
else. When he was called back from his thoughts, he apologized by saying:
"Sorry, I was paying attention to the cheesebread."
