Comments on A Robert Brault Reader: Thoughts: Some Heavy, Some Light

Anon, Thanks for your thoughtful comment -- and th...

2011-08-25T04:57:09.607-07:00

Anon,
Thanks for your thoughtful comment -- and thanks for drawing me back to this post. There are several things here I want to dust off and post again.

smiles,
rb

My fav quote in every quote Ive ever read (not jus...

2011-08-24T10:25:29.991-07:00

My fav quote in every quote Ive ever read (not just yours) is "You do not wake up one morning a bad person. It happens by a thousand tiny surrenders of self-respect to self-interest."

Reason: too many people think everything is major decisions and those are critical. Who you are, is really all the smaller decisions youve made.

Evie. Thanks. You're creating another intere...

2009-09-21T05:03:31.742-07:00

Evie.

Thanks. You're creating another interesting place yourself.

smiles,
rb

This is such an interesting place to visit!

2009-09-20T21:34:07.712-07:00

This is such an interesting place to visit!

Much Better, Thank you so much for your interest ...

2009-09-17T12:56:09.136-07:00

Much Better,

Thank you so much for your interest in my writings. Your words remind me that 99.9% of the visitors to this site are positive thinkers, drawn here by such quotes as "Enjoy the little things... ." I sometimes forget.

smiles,
rb

I'd have to say this.. I love and enjoy dearly...

2009-09-17T04:39:57.431-07:00

I'd have to say this.. I love and enjoy dearly reading you thoughts.

I'm giving my answer on the multiple choice thought.
d) that you, too, are a hidden masterpiece.

I guess..I'm a positive thinker.

MuchBetter

sherri, Love your site (with or without my quote)...

2009-09-15T04:44:17.254-07:00

sherri,

Love your site (with or without my quote). Exquisite photograph! You are welcomed here with open arms.

smiles,
rb

I've just stumbled upon your site and thorough...

2009-09-14T19:33:36.014-07:00

I've just stumbled upon your site and thoroughly enjoyed what I've seen. The Beethoven/Monet quote is priceless. (I use quotes with my photos and posted it tonight with a link to your site.)

Hi Robert! FABULOUS! I .... YOUR IDEA !!! (ans...

2009-09-14T17:28:49.928-07:00

Hi Robert! FABULOUS!
I .... YOUR IDEA !!!
(answer: LOVE) ;o)

and I will have to report back to you!
~Maria

Terri, You are welcome, always, to use any of my ...

2009-09-14T16:42:51.704-07:00

Terri,

You are welcome, always, to use any of my items in any way you wish. The Quote Garden is my avenue to the world. I'm very pleased that your mom enjoys my items. Both you and she should consider yourselves licensed distributors of everything I post (although I guess I'd better start writing more upbeat things.)

smiles to you,
rb

Anonymous, Name's familiar. You been here bef...

2009-09-14T16:31:43.944-07:00

Anonymous,
Name's familiar. You been here before? Seriously, thanks for your interest and taking the time to comment.

Maria,
Formless? I guess that would be b), above. I doubt it. If you're making a poster for schoolkids, you might consider making a contest of it. Who can supply the missing words/phrases in the following: "You do not wake up one morning a bad person. It happens by a thousand tiny surrenders of _______ to ________." You could have the kids make up a list:

Examples:

"who you are"/"what others want you to be"
"what you know is right"/"what you know is wrong"
"integrity"/"popularity"
etc.

smiles,
rbmiles,
rb

Three things: 1) I'm so glad to see you'r...

2009-09-14T16:24:20.990-07:00

Three things:

1) I'm so glad to see you're posting again. You always write from your heart, your brain, and your funny bone - and it's a wonderful combination.

2) When I read the 'How can anyone bring a child into this world' I cried. The tears had dried then when I read Liz's comment on that one, darnit I cried again. Thank you for your beautiful thoughts and you are right, she should publish her own blog of short-thoughts.

3) I noticed the "You are most welcome to quote or copy any item that strikes your fancy" line is no longer there. Is this a read-only blog now or are we still clear for using your quotes?

Okay, so there are 4) things. My mom sends a weekly mailing (on paper, by old-fashioned post) to several people - grandparents, family friends, cousins, etc - some of which don't have internet access. She includes short inspirational stories, funny stories, cute pictures, happy quotes, etc. I introduced her to your blog a few months ago and I've noticed she now sometimes includes a few of your writings here and there in her mailings, with proper credit and source info, of course. So just wanted you to know you're bringing smiles to people both online and offline!

Hi Robert and this wonderful group of visitors! I&...

2009-09-14T14:08:08.839-07:00

Hi Robert and this wonderful group of visitors!
I'm enjoying a little quiet after coming home from school... getting my second cup of afternoon tea ;o)
As always I'm left with much to think about!
I also find a quote or two for my students! This time it will be:
"You do not wake up one morning a bad person. It happens by a thousand tiny surrenders of self-respect to self-interest."
I hope you don't mind if I make posters out of some of your quotes~ They are a teacher's treasure!
I also enjoy your quotes 'on the lighter side' of life, Robert!
As for your multiple choice question... hmmmm, I'd have to say these days, I'm pondering the notion of formless :)
All the best, Maria

i stumbled upon your blog via a google search for ...

2009-09-14T13:38:14.183-07:00

i stumbled upon your blog via a google search for quotes on kindness... now it is a permanently open tab..

Jan, Actually, in my first cut, I did include the...

2009-09-14T13:28:47.261-07:00

Jan,

Actually, in my first cut, I did include the elderly ("longer-lived grandfolks"), reckoning that the average family Thanksgiving gathering is 2/3 incontinent. But why rub it in; I'll be there soon enough myself.

smiles,
rb

I'm just chuckling about the incontinence thou...

2009-09-14T07:12:24.515-07:00

I'm just chuckling about the incontinence thought -- and you could add the elderly to that one too! ha!

I think we all 'felt' the thought about the child - -I know that in my own life, it's children that bring the most light and happiness to my daily life and I'm grateful for everyone who has had the courage to continue bringing children into the world. They are my bright spots indeed.

Liz, Randi Thank you both for taking the time to ...

2009-09-14T04:58:27.521-07:00

Liz, Randi

Thank you both for taking the time to comment so thoughtfully on this post.

Liz, you really have to consider posting some thought collections of your own. The world could use a more hopeful quotesmith than I, and there's a sense of "been there, done that" in what you write that may be lacking here. BTW, I saw your essay on the President's school speech and found it a wonderfully-refreshing breath of reason in the current intellectual vacuum.

Randi,
Like you, I tend to go after my smaller, irritating faults, the larger ones being inoperable. BTW, I have nothing against Margaret Thatcher; I originally used Charles de Gaulle but decided the quip requires a woman.

I noticed the grandparent quote on your blog and was delighted to see it used so charmingly. I like it best when I find something I've said used as a caption. Proves it relates to something.

Your blogs continue to be models of how to write a first-rate magazine article. While the internet has utterly desrtroyed the paying market for "thoughts", there's got be a buyer for your stuff somewhere.

smiles,
rb

Oh, and by the way, last night I searched through ...

2009-09-13T18:16:44.040-07:00

Oh, and by the way, last night I searched through scores of quotes, trying to find the perfect one to caption a picture I was using. At last, I found the one I was looking for, only to smile in recognition when the author was listed as Robert Brault.

"You do not wake up one morning a bad person....

2009-09-13T18:15:07.943-07:00

"You do not wake up one morning a bad person. It happens by a thousand tiny surrenders of self-respect to self-interest." I frequently tell this to my students and son. No one (I hope!) wakes up one day as a child and thinks, "I want to be a murderer someday." It's those day by day decisions that culminate in our end result.

In a dark moment I ask, "How can anyone bring a child into this world?" And the answer rings clear, "Because there is no other world, and because the child has no other way into it."

My response to that is that with each new birth, we are hoping that the child will align himself with the seeming minority who try to shine so brightly that darkness is overcome.

"Life is short, especially when you consider that one-third of it is based on circumstantial evidence." I have never heard sleep described this way, yet it is so true. Good one!

Loved the Napoleon quote!

The more I read the one on leaving principles on the table, the more true it rings.

Regarding the last quote, I find that the more I chisel away my faults, the more minute a fault must be for it to irritate me and send me on a deeper chiseling expedition.

rb, Were I to comment on all these gems it wou...

2009-09-13T16:50:29.830-07:00

rb,
Were I to comment on all these gems it would be a blog unto itself, so I must confine myself to just a few....

In a dark moment I ask, "How can anyone bring a child into this world?" And the answer rings clear, "Because there is no other world, and because the child has no other way into it."

--To this one I would say that I brought children into this dark world because it needed the light that only a child can bring.

"I've concluded, after observation, that my Lab does not actually think, which is not to say she doesn't have an opinion."

--To this I would replace 'Lab' with 'teenager'!

And on your last, multiple choice question....I would be afraid to chisel away my faults...what if my faults are all I have?
---Liz