"Yes, we're obliged to give most of our daily attention to trivial concerns, but it is our attention that keeps them trivial."
"The trick to accomplishing anything is to avoid the obstacles that are not in your way."
"What you notice about people who have lots of friends is that they don't require a membership."
"I have fancied myself a rebel, but at every critical moment of my life, I have been exactly the child my parents raised."
"How magical it is when the person who knows the words meets the person who knows the tune."
"No matter what you do in life, a part of you still sits at a curbside, still hearing the drumbeat of a distant parade, still waiting for it to turn the corner."
"All is illusion, although as long as there's an illusion that the kids need to be fed, all might as well be reality."
"History is man's best guess as to what the past would look like if everything had happened in chronological order."
"Meanwhile, Americans have finally realized that you don't need to print money to save Wall Street when you can reduce the pensions of police, firefighters and teachers."
"As proof that I'm serious about my diet, I'm cutting out banquets in my honor."
"Thinking that a change of administration is the answer is like thinking that the road would be safer if there were a new troll under the bridge."
"Since the beginning of time the clever have preyed on the ignorant, yet ignorance still abounds. That's how clever they are."
"Every politician who ever walked a mile in my shoes made off with my shoes."
"There is scarcely one of the Ten Commandments that if acted upon in concert would not be a plot to overthrow the government."
~~ Robert Brault
22 comments:
Here are my votes.
The Most Controversial:
"There is scarcely one of the Ten Commandments that if acted upon in concert would not be a plot to overthrow the government."
"Thinking that a change of administration is the answer is like thinking that the road would
be safer if there were a new troll under the bridge."
The government doesn't like it when you think, Robert. I'd watch out.
The Funniest:
"History is man's best guess as to what the past would look like if everything had happened in chronological order."
"As proof that I'm serious about my diet, I'm cutting out banquets in my honor."
Me too!
The Most Sadly True:
"Meanwhile, Americans have finally realized that you don't need to print money to save Wall Street when you can reduce the pensions of police, firefighters and teachers."
The Most Paradoxical:
"I have fancied myself a rebel, but at every critical moment of my life, I have been exactly the child my parents raised."
Funny how that works, huh? My hubby always calls himself a rebel, but I tell him that he is the ultimate in conformists because he waits until the mainstream decides something, then rebels against it.
The Most Bernie Taupin and Elton John:
"How magical it is when the person who knows the words meets the person who knows the tune."
And finally, Randi's pick for The Best Encapsulation of Nike's Motto "Just Do It" :
"The trick to accomplishing anything is to avoid the obstacles that are not in your way."
Ah. What a great way to start a Saturday morning.
Randi,
Now THAT'S a COMMENT! I must tell others of you wishing to comment that I will not hold you to such a standard.
Thanks so much, Randi. Again you have wonderfully supplied context to my random thoughts. Your observation about hubby is hilarious, although I must admit that he's not alone in the practice.
Your "Most Sadly True" is my "Most Controversial." Let me say clearly that while public pensions in the USA need to be reduced, I would not take a penny from a firefighter's or teacher's or police officer's pension before every Wall St. banker (and Fed governor) is either in jail or put to work waiting on table. First restore honest money, then address equitably and across-the-board the excesses that have grown out decades of government counterfeiting.
smiles (yes, smiles)
rb
Hi Robert! Another outstanding assortment of truth, wisdom, and yes, a little controversy. And as usual, I cannot choose just one that I favor the most. Thank you for being the guy your parents raised!
Robert, there are very, very few people before whom I stand in awe You rank among them. I have not ever read anyone who consistently compresses such wisdom, irony, wit, soft-spoken sarcasm so eloquently in so few words. Sir, you are a very gifted writer/thinker. If some editor agent, or publisher doesn't publish and distribute your work, they will look very lacking insight and deprive their vanishing reading public or wisdom form a fountain of such. You're in a class by yourself. don
Loved the one that goes "how magical it is.."
Lovely words..
Thx for sharing..
Becky,
On behalf of my parents, you're very welcome.
Don,
Thanks, buddy. I deleted your second (corrective) comment before I realized that I couldn't edit your first comment. Readers can fathom it well enough, I think. I'm delighted, btw, that you no longer have to comment anonymously. At last we get to click on your name, and I enthusiastically invite readers to do so.
Parag,
Appreciate your comment. Thanks.
smiles all,
rb
Hi Robert
Pension allocation, reduction or delay is every bit as controversial here. We scream at the injustice and greed that sits at the top table...and seemingly every other table in the land.
BTW this is Ken Devine commenting from sunny Sunderland.
hmmmmm..."How magical it is when the person who knows the words meets the person who knows the tune."
exactly what I needed to hear Robert!!
"Meanwhile, Americans have finally realized that you don't need to print money to save Wall Street when you can reduce the pensions of police, firefighters and teachers."
=(
Juli (Ken),
Everywhere we see the New Fascism, the middle class becoming debt-slaves to the bankers who control government -- even as the middle class takes to the streets protesting socialism. See my remark above -- "That's how clever they are." Somewhere the devil is laughing.
Karen,
Thank you. Glad there was something helpful in this grumpy-old-man selection.
Sue,
My Google search leaves me unsure whether "=("
means "not amused" or simply "sad." Best left alone, I guess.
smiles all,
rb
Love the thought about the person knowing the words meeting the person who knows the tune -- perfect description of a lovely marriage! Love it!
Right from "our daily attention to trivial concerns" ... "to avoid the obstacles that are not in your way." you notice "lots of friends .... that ... don't require a membership." .... "still waiting for it to turn the corner." though "All is illusion, ... all might as well be reality." with deep admiration for your generosity Robert. Grateful
Wonderful wonderful thoughts. Jotting several down. Thanks.
Jan,
Yes, although you can make a reasonable go of it by putting different words to the same tune or a different tune to the same words.
Raj,
Thanks for appreciating so many of the things I write. You are the generous one.
vocalise,
Ditto what I said to Raj. Thanks for kind words.
smiles,
rb
"How magical it is when the person who knows the words meets the person who knows the tune... although you can make a reasonable go of it by putting different words to the same tune or a different tune to the same words."
I like the whole idea!
KS
Australia
Anon/KS,
Thanks -- although I kinda wonder if there's really an idea there. (smile)
rb
My God, your power level is over nine thousand, says Vegeta's scouter. Basically, you're like Brolly, his power is maximum.
Anon,
Not surprised. since I AM Broly, hiding out here in the internet until such time as some planet needs attacking. Paragus says Hello.
smiles,
rb
"Thinking that a change of administration is the answer is like thinking that the road would be safer if there were a new troll under the bridge." hahah ...confidence a point higher.... so you reach home safely...
rgrds
salu.
salu,
Exactly what I meant.
smiles,
rb
Really enjoyed this post! Thanks for continuing to share your thoughts and not retiring from it.
Anon,
Thanks for liking.
smiles,
rb
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