Thursday, August 5, 2010

Summer Thought Sale: Pre-August 15th Clearance

"There are truths of which I have an inkling, but of most I have only a penciling."


"You live only one life, so you probably want to make it your signature life."


"To feel undeserving of love is to have met love's only requirement."


At 72, I am grateful for all memories, so much of my life having escaped my attention altogether.


"Who does not wish to be beautiful, and clever, and rich, and to have back, in old age, the time spent trying to be any of them."


"What might a woman wish to be, who, opening her door to a child with a little suitcase, does not wish to be grandmother?"


"I sought happiness the world over, only to settle down over the river and through the woods, where it sought me."


"If you keep rephrasing the question, it gradually becomes the answer."


"There are days when I'm alone with my thoughts, which is to say, not alone enough."


"There are people you can read like a book -- and certain public figures you can read like a book jacket."


"It is environmentally motivating to think of Earth not as a planet but as a tiny air pocket."


"A child who never throws a tantrum reaches adulthood with a backlog of unthrown tantrums."


"Life is not fair, nor has it ever been, but the morning seems determined to dawn until it is."


"There was never a poor memory for things best forgotten."


"Some believe that God created the universe for the expansion of the human race, requiring only that the human race bring its own air."


"There are tons of man-made debris orbiting the earth, in case you thought that man's ability to pollute the atmosphere required an atmosphere."


~~ Robert Brault

30 comments:

BECKY said...

Oh, Robert! How excited I was to see on my blog roll that you posted something new! And wow...you sure didn't disappoint me! I am so envious of the thoughts and words you have rolling around in that terrific mind of yours! Thanks for sharing them with us...and keep 'em coming!

Sue said...

These are primo, every one of them! And that is not just a penciling, either.

=)

Gramma Ann said...

I love reading Quotes and Things, I especially enjoyed reading your quotes today, and I especially liked this one:

"Who does not wish to be beautiful, and clever, and rich, and to have back, in old age, the time spent trying to be any of them." That is so true!

Ken Devine said...

Hi Robert, nice to see you coming up for air.
I've recently been robbed of deep sleep by single, persistent thoughts that rattle around my head. I find myself eventually waking in the early hours and staring wide eyed into blackness trying to make sense of it all. No wonder then, that this quote stood out..."There are days (nights) when I'm alone with my thoughts, which is to say, not alone enough."

karen said...

Ah yes... Ken's favorite was also mine. Good stuff!

Jan said...

You made this grandma smile today. And I"m sure you know which quote I loved most. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I sort of suspected (and hoped) that you'd break silence sooner rather than later. I feel as if you're "hooked" on sharing your thoughts via blog as some of us are hooked on your fresh, provocative way of sharing your thoughts. I hope you enjoy giving as much as we enjoy receiving. ~donkimre

Anonymous said...

I think a guy's in trouble when he can't even spell his name correctly!
~don kimrey

Maria said...

Hi Robert!
... Sometimes the best treasures are found on the shelves marked "clearance."
Thank you for the early bird 'sale' on precious gems!

Your second quote, about living our "signature life," is perfect for opening week at school!
Oh dear... can't think that far ahead yet :D

Counting it a blessing tonight that cooler weather is on our way here in the northeast!
I hope you and Joan are having a wonderful summer...
~ Maria

Robert Brault said...

Thanks, all, for your gracious comments. Rushing about just now but will respond to each of you later today.

smiles,
rb

Raj said...

"If you keep rephrasing the question, it gradually becomes the answer." Each one is a gem Robert - as is also evident by out-pour of warmth from so many quarters. Grateful

Marlene said...

Robert so nice to see your post, I find I miss the quotes as there is always one that stands out and applies to me. I love opening the door to my grandchild holding her bag.
Hope you are having a glorious Summer.

Barbara Backus said...

I'm so glad to see your quotes...especially loved the grandma one!

Randi said...

Robert, I love the way you think. You have a way with words that causes us to say,"Yes!" when we read your quotes, because we realize that we are reading a universal truth, only we didn't know it was universal until you said it like you did.

A few of my favorites:

"There are truths of which I have an inkling, but of most I have only a penciling." I laughed when I read this, in recognition. I read it to my husband, who also laughed. Most of us go through life with pencilings, confident that instead we have inklings.

"You live only one life, so you probably want to make it your signature life." Lately I've been seeing the word 'signature' used a lot---"his signature cake," or "her signature dish," or "his signature novel." I was actually wondering what it really means. And then here comes Robert, talking about making it a signature life! Eat! Pray! Love! Yes!

"At 72, I am grateful for all memories, so much of my life having escaped my attention altogether." I was talking to my hubby the other day, lamenting the fact that I've lived fifty years, but don't have fifty years worth of memories. Like if I try to remember what I did all day during the summer when I was ten years old, I can only come up with "I probably went to the library, read some books,and played." But most if it seems just an overall feeling rather than a specific memory. The older I get, the more I want to remember every small detail.

I'm glad you popped in early...

Robert Brault said...

Becky,
Thanks so much for your enthusiastic support. And thanks for the mention on your site. What a fun place to visit, especially (but not only) for the aspiring writers among us.

Sue,
Your latest, "Orange Ya Glad I Didn't Say...Orange?" is a delight to eye and ear. How I love a rhyme that lands unfailingly on the beat. You remain the consummate pro.


Gramma Ann,
Welcome, new friend. Have begun sampling your blogs with delight and appreciation.

Ken,
Strikes me that your labors on the Brittany chateau would have you sleeping like a baby. BTW, love "Roses from the Garden Arch" on your art site. Apropos of your work generally, do glance at Sue's "Orange..." post. You are lovers of orange both, it appears.

Karen,
So great to have you pop in again. Looked in on you today just to make sure you are "Still Crazy After All These Years..." Apparently so.

Jan,
Yes, I do always toss one in for Grandma
(although it's grandfather's house that's "over the river and through the woods," as I recall.

Don/Anon
I did manage to stay away four weeks but had to come back -- was found wandering the streets wondering who I was.

Maria,
Greetings. Joan and I will be motoring to Saratoga tomorrow and afterwards to East Galway for the best pizza in the Northeast. Will throw you a wave on the way past.

Raj,
Thanks. I'm pleased that one so aware of the Manifestation that invests itself in all things finds worth in my self-conscious attempts to be its spokesperson.

Marlene,
Great to hear from "Marlene's Musings." May I say that "Balloon" is indeed a delightful entry to the ACEO Challenge.

Barbara,
Thank you -- especially appreciated coming from the author of "Footnotes," among the most literate blogs I have the pleasure to visit.

smiles all,
rb

Maria said...

Waving back at ya!
You will have PERFECT weather too!

Robert Brault said...

Randi,
I marvel always at the associations you find in my words. But that's the allure of "Foreign Quang" -- you find associations in all things and relate them to life situations familiar to us all. We have opposite knacks, it seems: mine to distill; yours to illustrate by example. As I've said many times, you are the magazine writer par excellence.

Maria,
My antenna will be out for waves of "Calm Energy" as I pass.

smiles,
rb

salu said...

"There are truths of which I have an inkling, but of most I have only a penciling."

.... when u say' of most i have only a penciling, the fun and fact explodes...

There are people you can read like a book -- and certain public figures you can read like a book jacket.".......... not only certain figures but most......

thanks for all the quotes.

Robert Brault said...

salu,
Thanks as always for your friendly visit.

smiles,
rb

Karla Woodley said...

Robert, I am delighted to inform you that if your idea about tantrums is true, my son will NEVER have one as an adult :)

Karla
(Tired mom of 3)

Robert Brault said...

Karla.
Thanks, we will all keep our fingers crossed on that one.

smiles,
rb

Freda's Legacy said...

Robert,
I want to quote your thoughts on my walls of my classroom! Thanks for sharing your welcoming thoughts and musings.

Mary

Robert Brault said...

Mary,
Thanks, although I wonder what I wrote that might be comprehensible to the younger generation.

smiles,
rb

Ariana said...

I thank you for taking time to view "Mood Indigo" I tagged all my posts as "Robert Brault"that contain your quotes and pictures,I want you to know that the one quotes that made a physical difference in myself was "Looking back you realize that a very special person passed briefly through your life and that person was you. It is not too late to become that person again."As with all the quotes you will see I used a picture,that picture with your quote and some soul searching has brought brought me to where I am today(30 pounds lighter)...Tag your name on my ZooLoo to see all 13 of your quotes.And thanks again for your kindness and simply profound insight.

Robert Brault said...

Ariana,
I've taken your "Robert Brault" tour with great pleasure and appreciation. I urge others to take a look, not for my sayings, but for the discovery of your own intriguing artistry. Thank you.

Ariana said...

New rb quote(relax...it was all just for fun :O)
Ariana

Maria said...

Your amazing way with words is one of the things I have wished to have all of my life.
Maria

Robert Brault said...

Maria,
Thanks, but a "way with words is" is not a prerequisite for anything important in life. We all have our knacks.

smiles,
rb

Anonymous said...

I think you are wonderful! thank you so much for your insight and your wit! I literally saw my life on pause as I read through your quotes about the road less traveled. And they gave me a much needed kick in the arse! I am an actress who has been an audience member of her own life for about a year now, time to take the the spot light again. Thank you! <3

Robert Brault said...

Anon,
What an engaging metaphor -- to be in the audience of your own life. I'll have to pretend I thought of that. Thanks for kind words.

smiles,
rb

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