I'm in a good mood today so I thought I'd play a little game with y'all: What am I? Everybody knows how to play so good luck (it should not be that hard because I am far from the master riddler, heck even a preschool riddle could stump me).
I am long and green and not very bold,
The rain and the wind make me feel old,
I fear the snow and the cold,
Even sunny weather puts me on hold
What am I?
That's the best I could do but at least I rhymed! The answer will come later but I am sure someone will figure this out.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Time to Work
Well, it's now almost 10:00 on a Monday morning and I have yet to do anything work related. I guess it's time to start even though I have lots of other stuff I can do to waste the day away. Only problem with that is my desk is bare so I guess it's time to start looking for some work to do. This sucks!
Thursday, January 01, 2009
December 2008 Quotes
One of the greatest assets any man or woman can have on entering life's struggle is poverty.
- Richard Bedford Bennett
money is the worst of all contrabands because it commands everything else
- William Jennings Bryan
In a nation with 200 million people, a certain number of deranged people exist.
- Robert A Liston (Politics: From Precinct to Presidency)
I have not seen…any suggested changes that could replace our existing system without entirely eliminating one of the factors in our civilization that has contributed greatly to the progress of the world---that is, individual initiative, coupled with the desire to acheive and succeed.
- Richard Bedford Bennett
It is man alone who brings light to this world. Nature is dark, brooding and cruel. What compassion there is in the earth flows from the sterling heart of man.
- Whitley Strieber (Majestic)
man is more inclined to justify himself, no matter what, than to confess a guilt, admit a wrong, acknowledge a mistake.
- Robin Brockman (The Message)
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
- John Lennon (Imagine)
One science only will one genius fit;
So vast is art, so narrow human wit:
Not only bounded to peculiar arts,
But oft in those confined to single parts.
- Alexander Pope (An Essay on Criticism, Part I)
Be just, and generous when you have the means. Wealth will not take care of itself if not vigilantly cared for.
- John H R Molson
There is nothing dramatic about a mistake not made.
- Isaac Asimov (Fantastic Voyage II: Destination Brain)
The tears of the world are a constant quantity. For each one who begins to weep somewhere else another stops. The same is true of the laugh.
- Samuel Beckett (Waiting for Godot)
Men never seemed to understand, or care, when a woman wished to be looked at and when not.
- Robert Jordan (New Spring)
It takes great courage to love one's true self.
- Whitley Strieber (Majestic)
sooner or later even the worst luck changes.
- Stephen King (Cujo)
…if you're not prepared to defend yourself, then you'd better not do it.
- Peter C Newman (The Canadian Establishment: Volume One)
Love it hard and it will love you back hard. Try to play it easy and ease off and the first thing you know, there you are, on the outside, looking in, wondering what went wrong.
- Pete Rose
A good society is one in which the greatest possible number of persons enjoy the greatest possible amount of happiness.
- John Stuart Mill (On Liberty)
Man's virtue is…the quality which enables him to 'live well', for living is the soul's function; and to live well is to be happy.
- from The Republic of Plato, translated by Francis MacDonald Cornford
A person has to listen to others. He has to allow himself to be influenced to a certain extent.
- Robert A Liston (Politics: From Precinct to Presidency)
a lasting peace must be 'a peace without victory.
- Woodrow Wilson
The desireableness of a life is to be measured by the amount of interest and not the amount of ease in it.
- George MacDonald
there is a greater chance of success if two roads are open then if either one alone was.
- Isaac Asimov (Prelude to Foundation)
And he dreamed of another world
In another time
And another place
Where no man
Has to wear a sign
Saying where he's from
Saying what's his race
And he wants us to believe
This world that he sees
- The Trans-Siberian Orchestra (The World That He Sees)
Happy Birthday!
- Frosty the Snowman
Weight goes up or down as it ought. I shouldn't concern myself.
- Isaac Asimov (Foundation's Edge)
it is the obvious which is so difficult to see most of the time.
- Isaac Asimov (I, Robot)
What counts is the person, not the name.
- Isaac Asimov (Fantastic Voyage II: Destination Brain)
Women do not become exhausted...they only exhaust others.
- Robert Jordan (Lord of Chaos)
…an intelligent following of custom, or even occasionally an intelligent deviation from custom, is better than a blind and simply mechanical adhesion to it.
- John Stuart Mill (On Liberty)
Endings always come too fast,
They come too fast but they pass too slow
- Art Garfunkle (All I Know)
- Richard Bedford Bennett
money is the worst of all contrabands because it commands everything else
- William Jennings Bryan
In a nation with 200 million people, a certain number of deranged people exist.
- Robert A Liston (Politics: From Precinct to Presidency)
I have not seen…any suggested changes that could replace our existing system without entirely eliminating one of the factors in our civilization that has contributed greatly to the progress of the world---that is, individual initiative, coupled with the desire to acheive and succeed.
- Richard Bedford Bennett
It is man alone who brings light to this world. Nature is dark, brooding and cruel. What compassion there is in the earth flows from the sterling heart of man.
- Whitley Strieber (Majestic)
man is more inclined to justify himself, no matter what, than to confess a guilt, admit a wrong, acknowledge a mistake.
- Robin Brockman (The Message)
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
- John Lennon (Imagine)
One science only will one genius fit;
So vast is art, so narrow human wit:
Not only bounded to peculiar arts,
But oft in those confined to single parts.
- Alexander Pope (An Essay on Criticism, Part I)
Be just, and generous when you have the means. Wealth will not take care of itself if not vigilantly cared for.
- John H R Molson
There is nothing dramatic about a mistake not made.
- Isaac Asimov (Fantastic Voyage II: Destination Brain)
The tears of the world are a constant quantity. For each one who begins to weep somewhere else another stops. The same is true of the laugh.
- Samuel Beckett (Waiting for Godot)
Men never seemed to understand, or care, when a woman wished to be looked at and when not.
- Robert Jordan (New Spring)
It takes great courage to love one's true self.
- Whitley Strieber (Majestic)
sooner or later even the worst luck changes.
- Stephen King (Cujo)
…if you're not prepared to defend yourself, then you'd better not do it.
- Peter C Newman (The Canadian Establishment: Volume One)
Love it hard and it will love you back hard. Try to play it easy and ease off and the first thing you know, there you are, on the outside, looking in, wondering what went wrong.
- Pete Rose
A good society is one in which the greatest possible number of persons enjoy the greatest possible amount of happiness.
- John Stuart Mill (On Liberty)
Man's virtue is…the quality which enables him to 'live well', for living is the soul's function; and to live well is to be happy.
- from The Republic of Plato, translated by Francis MacDonald Cornford
A person has to listen to others. He has to allow himself to be influenced to a certain extent.
- Robert A Liston (Politics: From Precinct to Presidency)
a lasting peace must be 'a peace without victory.
- Woodrow Wilson
The desireableness of a life is to be measured by the amount of interest and not the amount of ease in it.
- George MacDonald
there is a greater chance of success if two roads are open then if either one alone was.
- Isaac Asimov (Prelude to Foundation)
And he dreamed of another world
In another time
And another place
Where no man
Has to wear a sign
Saying where he's from
Saying what's his race
And he wants us to believe
This world that he sees
- The Trans-Siberian Orchestra (The World That He Sees)
Happy Birthday!
- Frosty the Snowman
Weight goes up or down as it ought. I shouldn't concern myself.
- Isaac Asimov (Foundation's Edge)
it is the obvious which is so difficult to see most of the time.
- Isaac Asimov (I, Robot)
What counts is the person, not the name.
- Isaac Asimov (Fantastic Voyage II: Destination Brain)
Women do not become exhausted...they only exhaust others.
- Robert Jordan (Lord of Chaos)
…an intelligent following of custom, or even occasionally an intelligent deviation from custom, is better than a blind and simply mechanical adhesion to it.
- John Stuart Mill (On Liberty)
Endings always come too fast,
They come too fast but they pass too slow
- Art Garfunkle (All I Know)
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Early Christmas Presents
Today I got two early Christmas presents from GO transit. 1. The train was at the station waiting when I got there and ran on time; and 2. the parking lot at the train station was plowed. It is just sad that these two things have become so unexpected. Let's hope they give me a third present and get me home on time.
Despite the great gifts above, I am still waiting for one of my Christmas wishes to come true. Having Pierre McGuire not do the World Junior hockey championship broadcasts. When I hear his broadcasts the phrase 'beating a dead horse' comes to mind as he mentions a useless fact and then reiterates it for another ten minutes. Thankfully televisions come with a mute feature.
Despite the great gifts above, I am still waiting for one of my Christmas wishes to come true. Having Pierre McGuire not do the World Junior hockey championship broadcasts. When I hear his broadcasts the phrase 'beating a dead horse' comes to mind as he mentions a useless fact and then reiterates it for another ten minutes. Thankfully televisions come with a mute feature.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
The Ants Go Marching 2 By 2...
Until they come to a set of doors or stairs that is.
Every day after work, us ants go marching towards Union Station and the train platforms on our way home. We cram through several sets of double doors and even climb some stairs, most with sufficient room for two. Seems like a pretty straight forward exercise doesn't it? Pretty mundane; not worth writing about. I would tend to agree but unfortunately, the double door system is too much for most to comprehend. People avoid the second door like it is death itself and create a needless bottle neck as they force their way through the single door.
When this occurs at the bottom of the stairs I can at least understand because the one door is generally propped open. People are lazy and go for the easiest choice. When this occurs at the top of the stairs, with both doors closed, it just floors me. Take last night for example. I was walking up the stairs with someone on my left as we approached the doors. Both were closed at the time but instead of opening the door on the left, this person chooses the one on the right for some unknown reason. I sure did laugh when this person walked into the door as I reached to open it instead only stopping it's progress. Of course it was unintentional.
My lesson here likely had as much affect on this person as my not slowing down when being cut off walking does to those tripping over my feet.
Every day after work, us ants go marching towards Union Station and the train platforms on our way home. We cram through several sets of double doors and even climb some stairs, most with sufficient room for two. Seems like a pretty straight forward exercise doesn't it? Pretty mundane; not worth writing about. I would tend to agree but unfortunately, the double door system is too much for most to comprehend. People avoid the second door like it is death itself and create a needless bottle neck as they force their way through the single door.
When this occurs at the bottom of the stairs I can at least understand because the one door is generally propped open. People are lazy and go for the easiest choice. When this occurs at the top of the stairs, with both doors closed, it just floors me. Take last night for example. I was walking up the stairs with someone on my left as we approached the doors. Both were closed at the time but instead of opening the door on the left, this person chooses the one on the right for some unknown reason. I sure did laugh when this person walked into the door as I reached to open it instead only stopping it's progress. Of course it was unintentional.
My lesson here likely had as much affect on this person as my not slowing down when being cut off walking does to those tripping over my feet.
Monday, December 01, 2008
November 2008 Quotes
Good looks are cheap in a wealthy country.
- Stephen King (Nona)
It requires a great country and great circumstances to develop great men.
- Charles Hibbert Tupper
The word is always a democracy in times of flux, and the man with the best voice will win.
- Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game)
Making something happen in the environment around them gives human beings a sense of competence. That, in turn, gives them pleasure.
- Bob Cullen (Why Golf?)
It is a poor head…that cannot find plausible reason for doing what the heart wants to do.
- William Jennings Bryan
Now, however, I have delayed so long that henceforward I should be afraid that I was committing a fault if, in continuing to deliberate, I expended time which should be devoted to action.
- Rene Descartes (Meditations on First Philosophy)
I thought that my invincible power
would hold the world captive,
leaving me in a freedom undisturbed.
Thus night and day I worked at the chain
with huge fires and cruel hard strokes.
When at last
the work was done,
I found that it held me in its grip
- Rabindranath Tagore
He had gone right through fear and come out the other side in some place cold. Anger was all that kept him warm.
- Robert Jordan (The Great Hunt)
It was beyond wise to enter battle angry. Anger narrowed the vision and made for foolish choices.
- Robert Jordan (New Spring)
You have a safe guide, an unfailing light, if you remember that faith is better than doubt and love is better than hate.
- Sir Wilfred Laurier
From the meanest creature one departs wiser, richer, more conscious of one's blessings.
- Samuel Beckett (Waiting for Godot)
But society has now fairly got the better of individuality; and the danger which threatens human nature is not the excess, but the deficiency, of personal impulses and preferences.
- John Stuart Mill (On Liberty)
Weird love’s better than no love at all.
- Stephen King (The Green Mile)
No human instinct is more powerful than the sex drive when it is fully aroused, and its awakening images are emotional tattoos that never leave us.
- Stephen King (Bag of Bones)
…power often grew from others deciding that you already had power, and an appearance of wealth could give that.
- Robert Jordan (New Spring)
A man’s work is the sweetest thing he owns.
- William W West (Printer’s Measure, Act III)
In the face of danger 'People don't always think or behave the way you might believe they would. - Robert Jordan (The Eye of the World)
...anyone who enables another to become powerful, brings about his own ruin.
- Niccolo Machiavelli (The Prince)
…it is desirable to be both loved and feared; but it is difficult to achieve both and, if one of them has to be lacking, it is much safer to be feared than loved.
- Niccolo Machiavelli (The Prince)
Love didn’t grow very well in a place where there was only fear…
- Stephen King (The Stand)
I guess all it takes to be happy in anything is knowin’ how to walk with your lot, whatever it is, in life.
- Claude Brown (Manchild in the Promised Land)
...'wish' and 'want' trip the feet, but 'is' makes the path smoother.
- Robert Jordan (The Fires of Heaven)
Without these two balances ('on the one hand' and 'on the other hand'), we cannot think.
- Gilbert Highet (Man's Unconquerable Mind)
To make nine important decisions a day, even if only five of them turn out right, was far better than making no decisions at all.
- Peter C Newman (The Canadian Establishment: Voume One)
…no matter how often the politicians may proclaim that Canada's economic system spreads abundance among the many, in reality, it creates wealth for the few.
- Peter C Newman (The Canadian Establishment: Volume One)
...exertion should always be in proportion to what is required.
- Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice)
...in every stratum of society, from the mansion to the gutter, the genuinely innocent were a distinct minority.
- Dean Koontz (Dragon Tears)
Wherever an advance takes place, ultimately all humanity is helped.
- Isaac Asimov (Nemesis)
Character is the real test of manhood. Live within your income, no matter how small it may be. Permanent wealth is maintained and preserved by vigilance and prudence and not by speculation.
- John H R Molson
- Stephen King (Nona)
It requires a great country and great circumstances to develop great men.
- Charles Hibbert Tupper
The word is always a democracy in times of flux, and the man with the best voice will win.
- Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game)
Making something happen in the environment around them gives human beings a sense of competence. That, in turn, gives them pleasure.
- Bob Cullen (Why Golf?)
It is a poor head…that cannot find plausible reason for doing what the heart wants to do.
- William Jennings Bryan
Now, however, I have delayed so long that henceforward I should be afraid that I was committing a fault if, in continuing to deliberate, I expended time which should be devoted to action.
- Rene Descartes (Meditations on First Philosophy)
I thought that my invincible power
would hold the world captive,
leaving me in a freedom undisturbed.
Thus night and day I worked at the chain
with huge fires and cruel hard strokes.
When at last
the work was done,
I found that it held me in its grip
- Rabindranath Tagore
He had gone right through fear and come out the other side in some place cold. Anger was all that kept him warm.
- Robert Jordan (The Great Hunt)
It was beyond wise to enter battle angry. Anger narrowed the vision and made for foolish choices.
- Robert Jordan (New Spring)
You have a safe guide, an unfailing light, if you remember that faith is better than doubt and love is better than hate.
- Sir Wilfred Laurier
From the meanest creature one departs wiser, richer, more conscious of one's blessings.
- Samuel Beckett (Waiting for Godot)
But society has now fairly got the better of individuality; and the danger which threatens human nature is not the excess, but the deficiency, of personal impulses and preferences.
- John Stuart Mill (On Liberty)
Weird love’s better than no love at all.
- Stephen King (The Green Mile)
No human instinct is more powerful than the sex drive when it is fully aroused, and its awakening images are emotional tattoos that never leave us.
- Stephen King (Bag of Bones)
…power often grew from others deciding that you already had power, and an appearance of wealth could give that.
- Robert Jordan (New Spring)
A man’s work is the sweetest thing he owns.
- William W West (Printer’s Measure, Act III)
In the face of danger 'People don't always think or behave the way you might believe they would. - Robert Jordan (The Eye of the World)
...anyone who enables another to become powerful, brings about his own ruin.
- Niccolo Machiavelli (The Prince)
…it is desirable to be both loved and feared; but it is difficult to achieve both and, if one of them has to be lacking, it is much safer to be feared than loved.
- Niccolo Machiavelli (The Prince)
Love didn’t grow very well in a place where there was only fear…
- Stephen King (The Stand)
I guess all it takes to be happy in anything is knowin’ how to walk with your lot, whatever it is, in life.
- Claude Brown (Manchild in the Promised Land)
...'wish' and 'want' trip the feet, but 'is' makes the path smoother.
- Robert Jordan (The Fires of Heaven)
Without these two balances ('on the one hand' and 'on the other hand'), we cannot think.
- Gilbert Highet (Man's Unconquerable Mind)
To make nine important decisions a day, even if only five of them turn out right, was far better than making no decisions at all.
- Peter C Newman (The Canadian Establishment: Voume One)
…no matter how often the politicians may proclaim that Canada's economic system spreads abundance among the many, in reality, it creates wealth for the few.
- Peter C Newman (The Canadian Establishment: Volume One)
...exertion should always be in proportion to what is required.
- Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice)
...in every stratum of society, from the mansion to the gutter, the genuinely innocent were a distinct minority.
- Dean Koontz (Dragon Tears)
Wherever an advance takes place, ultimately all humanity is helped.
- Isaac Asimov (Nemesis)
Character is the real test of manhood. Live within your income, no matter how small it may be. Permanent wealth is maintained and preserved by vigilance and prudence and not by speculation.
- John H R Molson
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
A Laugh Amongst Co-Workers
This morning a couple co-workers from another section came to my office. Ordinarily this would be nothing to write home about, or at least nothing write about period, but today's situation was different. One of the two people was 'The Mumbler' and she was mumbling away to this second person, I'll call Gary, who in turn responded with non commital uh huh's in all the right places (if there are any right places to acknowledge something when The Mumbler is talking). These uh-huh's sounded void of feeling as if he was just mecahnically responding to make the appearance of listening. All those who have ever had a run in with The Mumbler know this all too well.
When I saw the situation unfold, I burst out laughing. I laughed because every now and then I am in the same sitation with The Mumbler and knew that Gary wasn't really listening to what The Mumbler was mumbling about. Gary did his best to hold his laughter (he knew exactly why I was laughing) but on his exit from my office he cracked and started to laugh. All the while The Mumbler continued to mumble.
When I saw the situation unfold, I burst out laughing. I laughed because every now and then I am in the same sitation with The Mumbler and knew that Gary wasn't really listening to what The Mumbler was mumbling about. Gary did his best to hold his laughter (he knew exactly why I was laughing) but on his exit from my office he cracked and started to laugh. All the while The Mumbler continued to mumble.
Monday, November 24, 2008
A Cold Munday Morning
I realized today why my postings have been really rare: I don't think to write about basic events like this one below.
There I was, lying in bed enjoying a nice dream about something, totally oblivious to the alarm clock blaring a tune beside me. Getting up out of my nice warm bed into the cold world was the furthest thing from my mind. Finally, after several minutes the music invaded my dream and awoke me from my slumber. 5:42 it said. I hit snooze and went back to la-la land. Exactly nine minutes later, not ten minutes, not eight minutes, not even nine minutes and two seconds, nope, exactly nine minutes later my clock radio came to life again and again I hit the trusty snooze button and went back to sleep.
The third time the radio buzzed to life I looked at the clock, 6:00, hit the snooze but did not go back to sleep. Instead of drifting back to sleep I laid in bed trying to figure out if I could go back to sleep for another nine minutes (or whatever remained of the nine minutes) or if I had to get the day going. My bladder ended up deciding that one for me so I turned off the alarm and hit the washroom. While emptying my bladder I realized I could have stayed in bed for one more round.
That lead to tough decision number two, should I jump in the shower or sneak back into the warmth of my bed for another few minutes. The seconds of thought grew into minutes as I remained a statue in the washroom. 'If I go back I would have to reset my alarm...but the bed is nice and warm...the car likely needs some warming up before heading to the station...but the bed is nice and warm...the water in the shower can be real warm too...I can't sleep in the shower.' Finally, I just jumped into the shower and got the day going.
Over four hours after those fateful decisions I still want to go back to that nice warm bed. What happened to the weekend anyhow????
There I was, lying in bed enjoying a nice dream about something, totally oblivious to the alarm clock blaring a tune beside me. Getting up out of my nice warm bed into the cold world was the furthest thing from my mind. Finally, after several minutes the music invaded my dream and awoke me from my slumber. 5:42 it said. I hit snooze and went back to la-la land. Exactly nine minutes later, not ten minutes, not eight minutes, not even nine minutes and two seconds, nope, exactly nine minutes later my clock radio came to life again and again I hit the trusty snooze button and went back to sleep.
The third time the radio buzzed to life I looked at the clock, 6:00, hit the snooze but did not go back to sleep. Instead of drifting back to sleep I laid in bed trying to figure out if I could go back to sleep for another nine minutes (or whatever remained of the nine minutes) or if I had to get the day going. My bladder ended up deciding that one for me so I turned off the alarm and hit the washroom. While emptying my bladder I realized I could have stayed in bed for one more round.
That lead to tough decision number two, should I jump in the shower or sneak back into the warmth of my bed for another few minutes. The seconds of thought grew into minutes as I remained a statue in the washroom. 'If I go back I would have to reset my alarm...but the bed is nice and warm...the car likely needs some warming up before heading to the station...but the bed is nice and warm...the water in the shower can be real warm too...I can't sleep in the shower.' Finally, I just jumped into the shower and got the day going.
Over four hours after those fateful decisions I still want to go back to that nice warm bed. What happened to the weekend anyhow????
Thursday, November 20, 2008
The Difference a Little Snow Makes
About a week ago or so as I was drowning out the chatter in car 2404 on the westbound train to Union, a Christmas song took its turn on my iPod. Since it was a great song by the TSO (that’s the Trans-Siberian Orchestra not the Toronto Symphony Orchestra) I decided to give it a go but after a few short bars the song was skipped. The weather was a balmy 8C that morning and the sun was shining.
Fast forward to this morning. A cold, dark, dreary morning that didn’t start getting light until I was halfway to work, a light that was enhanced by the bright white snow covering the ground. Another great Christmas song from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra played on my iPod and this time it got a full listen even though it was inferior to the song I skipped only a short time ago.
I could say that my change in attitude came from the fact that Christmas is steadily getting closer; or maybe because my sister keeps talking about finishing her Christmas shopping; or maybe even because of the really bad Christmas commercials that have invaded my cathode ray tube (maybe Santa can fix my lack of an LCD). I could use any of those reasons but it would be a lie. The real reason for my attitude change is the white gold that fell through the night and the cold temperatures that helped it get here. I just wish I could be listening to that music drinking a hot chocolate whilst sitting in front of a fire…
Fast forward to this morning. A cold, dark, dreary morning that didn’t start getting light until I was halfway to work, a light that was enhanced by the bright white snow covering the ground. Another great Christmas song from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra played on my iPod and this time it got a full listen even though it was inferior to the song I skipped only a short time ago.
I could say that my change in attitude came from the fact that Christmas is steadily getting closer; or maybe because my sister keeps talking about finishing her Christmas shopping; or maybe even because of the really bad Christmas commercials that have invaded my cathode ray tube (maybe Santa can fix my lack of an LCD). I could use any of those reasons but it would be a lie. The real reason for my attitude change is the white gold that fell through the night and the cold temperatures that helped it get here. I just wish I could be listening to that music drinking a hot chocolate whilst sitting in front of a fire…
Saturday, November 01, 2008
October 2008 Quotes
Yeah, with all of these men linin' up to get neutered
It's hip now to be feminized
But I don't highlight my hair, I've still got a pair
Yeah honey, I'm still a guy
- Brad Paisley (I'm Still A Guy)
The more women there are about, the softer a wise man steps.
- Robert Jordan (The Fires of Heaven)
Power went with standing high, but so did blame for the failures of those beneath you.
- Robert Jordan (The Fires of Heaven)
Sometimes…we must do things we would rather not.
- Robert Jordan (Crossroads of Twilight)
…he was way past foolishness and dwelling in the land of idiocy.
- Stephen King (Wizard and Glass)
The will of the people…practically means the will of the most numerous or the most active part of the people
- John Stuart Mill (On Liberty)
In politics it is almost a triviality to say that public opinion now rules the world. The only power deserving the name is that of masses, and of governments while they make themselves the organ of the tendencies and instincts of masses…And what is still a greater novelty, the mass do not now take their opinions from dignitaries in Church or State, from ostensible leaders, or from books. Their thinking is done for them by men much like themselves, addressing them or speaking in their name, on the spur of the moment, through the newspapers.
- John Stuart Mill (On Liberty)
Virtually every politician gains support by compromise. He alters his views to win the support of as many different people and groups as he can.
- Robert A. Liston (Politics: From Precinct to Presidency)
…the ultimate power of government must of necessity reside in the people.
- James Wilson
…the two [political] parties were like two bottles. Each bore a label denoting the kind of liqour it contained, but each was empty.
- Richard Hofstadter (The American Political Tradition)
The business of government is to organize the common interest against the sepcial interests.
- Woodrow Wilson
No Canadian, it has been said, is more inconsistent than he who follows one party consistently.
-J. Murray Beck (Pendulum of Power: Canada's Federal Elections)
The Canadian Forum…doubted if "a party whose heart is outside of Canada [could] ever become very interested in Canadian reconstruction…"
- J. Murray Beck (Pendulum of Power: Canada's Federal Elections)
Man is never less entitled to be called Homo Sapiens than when he is engaged in performing his first duty of citizenship
- John W. Dafoe
Apes were invented because politicians were needed.
- Isaac Asimov (Fantastic Voyage II: Destination Brain)
…people find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right.
- J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)
The trouble with him is he's so used to knowing, he sometimes forgets that others occasionally don't know.
- Isaac Asimov (Prelude to Foundation)
The times choose when children must grow up…
-Robert Jordan (Crossroads of Twilight)
Eloquence, when at its highest pitch, leaves little room for reason or reflection…
- David Hume (An Inquiry Concerning Human Understanding)
So great has been the fear of the power of the writer through history that books have been burned in the belief that the putting to flame of the printed word also destroyed the spirit which lived in the word.
- Kay Boyle (On Writing By Writers)
Some observers…are convinced that the pursuit of money and temporary pleasure is killing all other powers of the spirit and corrupting society.
- Gilbert Highet (Man's Unconquerable Mind)
That was the trouble with talking. Sometimes, you said more than you wanted.
- Robert Jordan (Crossroads of Twilight)
And is there any pleasure you can name that is greater and keener than sexual pleasure?
No; nor any that is more like frenzy.
- Francis MacDonald Cornford (The Republic of Plato)
Thus I cannot conclude anything from this except that my nature is not entirely and universally cognizant of all things. And at this there is no reason to be surprised, since man, being of a finite nature, is also restricted to a knowledge of a limited perfection.
- Rene Descartes (Meditations on First Philosophy)
I've seen many people with status, but I'm still looking for a happy one.
- Isaac Asimov (Prelude to Foundation)
…men well paid often failed to stay bought.
- Bruce Hutchison (Mr. Prime Minister 1867-1964)
A pretty woman, still quite young, does somehow distract a man's mind from his troubles more effectively than most things would.
- Isaac Asimov (Fantastic Voyage II: Destination Brain)
Not bubbling fountains to the thirsty swain,
Not balmy sleep to laborers faint with pain,
Not showers to larks, nor sunshine to the bee,
Are half so charming as thy sight to me.
- Alexander Pope (Autumn)
So dies her love, and so my hopes decay.
- Alexander Pope (Autumn)
It's hip now to be feminized
But I don't highlight my hair, I've still got a pair
Yeah honey, I'm still a guy
- Brad Paisley (I'm Still A Guy)
The more women there are about, the softer a wise man steps.
- Robert Jordan (The Fires of Heaven)
Power went with standing high, but so did blame for the failures of those beneath you.
- Robert Jordan (The Fires of Heaven)
Sometimes…we must do things we would rather not.
- Robert Jordan (Crossroads of Twilight)
…he was way past foolishness and dwelling in the land of idiocy.
- Stephen King (Wizard and Glass)
The will of the people…practically means the will of the most numerous or the most active part of the people
- John Stuart Mill (On Liberty)
In politics it is almost a triviality to say that public opinion now rules the world. The only power deserving the name is that of masses, and of governments while they make themselves the organ of the tendencies and instincts of masses…And what is still a greater novelty, the mass do not now take their opinions from dignitaries in Church or State, from ostensible leaders, or from books. Their thinking is done for them by men much like themselves, addressing them or speaking in their name, on the spur of the moment, through the newspapers.
- John Stuart Mill (On Liberty)
Virtually every politician gains support by compromise. He alters his views to win the support of as many different people and groups as he can.
- Robert A. Liston (Politics: From Precinct to Presidency)
…the ultimate power of government must of necessity reside in the people.
- James Wilson
…the two [political] parties were like two bottles. Each bore a label denoting the kind of liqour it contained, but each was empty.
- Richard Hofstadter (The American Political Tradition)
The business of government is to organize the common interest against the sepcial interests.
- Woodrow Wilson
No Canadian, it has been said, is more inconsistent than he who follows one party consistently.
-J. Murray Beck (Pendulum of Power: Canada's Federal Elections)
The Canadian Forum…doubted if "a party whose heart is outside of Canada [could] ever become very interested in Canadian reconstruction…"
- J. Murray Beck (Pendulum of Power: Canada's Federal Elections)
Man is never less entitled to be called Homo Sapiens than when he is engaged in performing his first duty of citizenship
- John W. Dafoe
Apes were invented because politicians were needed.
- Isaac Asimov (Fantastic Voyage II: Destination Brain)
…people find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right.
- J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)
The trouble with him is he's so used to knowing, he sometimes forgets that others occasionally don't know.
- Isaac Asimov (Prelude to Foundation)
The times choose when children must grow up…
-Robert Jordan (Crossroads of Twilight)
Eloquence, when at its highest pitch, leaves little room for reason or reflection…
- David Hume (An Inquiry Concerning Human Understanding)
So great has been the fear of the power of the writer through history that books have been burned in the belief that the putting to flame of the printed word also destroyed the spirit which lived in the word.
- Kay Boyle (On Writing By Writers)
Some observers…are convinced that the pursuit of money and temporary pleasure is killing all other powers of the spirit and corrupting society.
- Gilbert Highet (Man's Unconquerable Mind)
That was the trouble with talking. Sometimes, you said more than you wanted.
- Robert Jordan (Crossroads of Twilight)
And is there any pleasure you can name that is greater and keener than sexual pleasure?
No; nor any that is more like frenzy.
- Francis MacDonald Cornford (The Republic of Plato)
Thus I cannot conclude anything from this except that my nature is not entirely and universally cognizant of all things. And at this there is no reason to be surprised, since man, being of a finite nature, is also restricted to a knowledge of a limited perfection.
- Rene Descartes (Meditations on First Philosophy)
I've seen many people with status, but I'm still looking for a happy one.
- Isaac Asimov (Prelude to Foundation)
…men well paid often failed to stay bought.
- Bruce Hutchison (Mr. Prime Minister 1867-1964)
A pretty woman, still quite young, does somehow distract a man's mind from his troubles more effectively than most things would.
- Isaac Asimov (Fantastic Voyage II: Destination Brain)
Not bubbling fountains to the thirsty swain,
Not balmy sleep to laborers faint with pain,
Not showers to larks, nor sunshine to the bee,
Are half so charming as thy sight to me.
- Alexander Pope (Autumn)
So dies her love, and so my hopes decay.
- Alexander Pope (Autumn)
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