"Some have been to the mountain. I have been to my knees by the side of my bed."
"An embarrassing silence is always broken by the least self-confident person in the room."
"Everything worth knowing was first known by someone who had to find it out for himself."
"Always telling the truth is no doubt better than always lying, although equally pathological."
"Someday a computer will give a wrong answer to spare someone's feelings, and man will have invented artificial intelligence."
"In imagining an ancient world of dinosaurs, science has discovered that people will accept the preposterous if you name it Prepostersaurus."
"Ever wonder what life form might be indicated by dinosaur bones if you ruled out dinosaurs?"
"Most people who believe in always telling the truth also believe in using good judgment. You just wonder when they would use it."
"People who insist on instant gratification inevitably come to define gratification as anything that is instant."
"You can teach a robot to always tell the truth. It's harder to teach a robot to tell white lies."
"Man will have replicated his own intelligence not when he teaches computers to reason but when he teaches computers to deny reason."
The most interesting part of Judgment will be when the Lord says, "So much for the harm you did to defy me. Now let us examine the harm you did to glorify me."
"To believe that God has spoken to you personally requires no more credulousness than to believe that He has spoken to anyone else."
"I have never met anyone who has spoken to the Lord except for the purpose of relaying instructions from the Lord to me."
"As an optimist in the year 2010, I can only assume that going to hell in a handbasket is part of a larger plan."
~~ Robert Brault
23 comments:
"To believe that God has spoken to you personally requires no more credulousness than to believe that He has spoken to anyone else."
I like it!
=)
Hello Robert! I was so happy to see a new post on your blog! Happy New Year to you, too, my friend! "Knowing" you these past months has made me a little more enlightened and reflective. I truly appreciate your generosity in sharing your wise thoughts with us, even if they are sometimes a bit curmudgeonly! ;)
Sue, Becky
You are both very tolerant. It took about fifteen minutes for this post to lose me a follower, so I went back and deleted the items I thought most cynical (and clumsily worded.) The two-day blizzard has worked on my spirits, I fear. I encourage anyone looking for an upbeat start to the new year to visit your wonderful sites (a good idea at any time of the year.)
smiles,
rb
this is such pwnage. you're a mastermind.
I adore that last one. Thanks.
You áre a mastermind!
I am challenged to be less intimidated by embarrassing silences, and had to Google both "curmudgeon" and "going to hell in a handbasket". For the record - I don't think you are a curmudgeon at all... I love your humoristic view of things!
Anon,
Maybe pwnage; maybe a jailbreak authorized by the devil. Nah, pwnage.
Arkansas Patti,
That was the President flying over in Handbasket One.
Ilse,
I like the word "humoristic" to describe my thinking, although often light on the "humor", heavy on the "istic."
smiles,
rb
the pwnmaster directly addressed me, enrapturing me.
Dear Cur (May I call you "Cur," Sir?), It really strains my mind to think of something to say that hasn't already been said by someone else or me in praise of your thinking and writing. It begins at times to seem gushy or unduly redundant. And besides that, repetitious. I simply can not for the life of me, understand why some editor/agent/publisher type hasn't gotten wind of your talent and signed you to a lucrative, multi-project deal. My pride was injured when they didn't recognize my talent and come trooping to my door. By their not snapping you up, it makes me begin to think they aren't smart or aren't paying attention. Shoot! I could sell at least one of your books with no effort at all! To make a short story long, you continue to amuse and amaze me. ~donkimrey
Love all of these, Robert!
The first one is perfect for my father.
I'll leave that one by the side of his bed tomorrow ~
May you and Joan find many blessings throughout the new year and always *
~Maria
Ahhh, Robert, reading your blog is like coming home...there's just so much I can identify with!! but you say it so much better than I can!! thank you, my friend, for being such a blessing!! wishing you and Joan a new year filled with blessings and delight!!!
Nina
Anon,
That's me -- born to enrapture. Thanks.
Don/Anon
My tombstone epitaph was going to read, "Never caught a fish" but an extremely gullible large-mouth bass took care of that five years ago, so now I guess it'll read, "Never wrote a book." That alone should get me into heaven.
Maria,
The trick, while kneeling at the side of the bed, is to resist the urge to crawl under it.
Nina,
And thanks to you for the fascinating series on impressionist art that wrapped up the year on your blog. Good stuff for all and a treat for me personally,
New Year's blessings to all,
rb
These wordings are great. Loved all of them.
Wishing you a happy new year!
hi robert, i am about your age and i've been asking myself: what is it all about and what the hell all this misery is for?.
sam.
Elen Susan,
Thanks, and welcome to the blogosphere. Nice stuff on your site.
sam/anon
I don't know what it's all about, but the misery, I assume, is for laughs.
smiles,
rb
Robert, you're always so generous with your praise of others. I thank you profusely for suggesting people visit my blog...and Sue's, because I'm also a fan of hers! I wish you much joy and bliss in 2011!
Grateful to see your effortless flow to break "an embarrassing silence" "to find it out for himself" "everything worth knowing" ... what a beautiful illustration of the Hawthorne effect Robert. Many thanks. Deep good wishes for the new year.
Happy New Year and best wishes to you and your family
Thanks so much for the inspirational and thought provoking quotes you share.
Equally pathological-absolutely! From one bemused aphorist to another, have a marvelous New Year!
Happy New Year Robert,always something that sticks with when you post and that would be: The most interesting part of Judgment will be when the Lord says, "So much for the harm you did to defy me. Now let us examine the harm you did to glorify me.... That is Deep
Becky,
There is so much posted on the net that is deserving of praise. Thirty years ago we thought there was just one Erma Bombeck; turns out there were hundreds, awaiting an outlet. Same for Art Buchwald, Harry Golden and about any columnist you can name.
Raj,
I am brushing up on the Hawthorne Effect. You're ahead of me on that one.
Pierro,
I spent the New Year's weekend baby-sitting my sister-in-law's three dogs. Tried out a few new thoughts on them. They seemed to like.
nothingprofound,
You are quite a discovery, my friend. Simplyprofound would be a better moniker. I encourage all to click on your name and take a look.
Karen,
Thanks much. If something I say strikes you as "deep," it's because I have successfully disguised its shallowness with brevity.
New Year's happiness to all,
rb
Hey there Robert! I like: "As an optimist in the year 2010, I can only assume that going to hell in a handbasket is part of a larger plan." As much as 2010 hurt, I have to believe that God was there in it. Maxie
Maxie,
Yes, we can all be pretty sure that there is a plan larger than our own. Best in 2011!
smiles,
rb
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