Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Quips and Quotations

It ain't so much the things we don't know that get us in trouble. It's the things we know that ain't so.

--Artemus Ward

14 comments:

  1. Oh, very good, Sir! Here's another of his that I liked: "Why is this thus? What is the reason for this thusness?" He certainly did not live to a very old age. He puts me in mind of Mark Twain, a bit, but in a slightly earlier era.

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  2. I almost used that quote instead, so with your comment I get to use both.

    Ward was popular during the Civil War, and was a big influence on Twain, who didn't become well known until about a decade later. Ward was also a favorite of Abraham Lincoln. In fact, Lincoln supposedly read a few passages from one of Ward's books before revealing the Emancipation Proclamation to his cabinet.

    What I about the quote is how it seems contradictory but actually makes sense.

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  3. This is a terrific quote Kirk. I agree with Ward, and you're right it makes sense, despite sounding slightly nonsensical at first reading.

    The quotes, both quotes, Les's as well, put me in mind of the problems of arrogance and omnipotence and the notion that there are those who somehow need to convince themselves they know everything in the belief that if they don't know everything they know nothing.

    It's best to harbour a reasonable and ever evolving level of doubt, tinged with a degree of personal confidence in one's own values that can also be examined regularly.

    Gosh, that was a mouthful. I'm trying to argue for balance here.

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  4. I guess he had plenty of time riding the rails around the west with Jim West. I enjoyed Kevin Kline portrayal in the movie. (just kidding). I know it ain't so.

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  5. Feel free to pontificate, Elisabeth. That's what these comment sections are here for, and, anyway, I think you got Ward spot on.

    Speaking of arrogance and omnipotence, if I seem like an expert on Artemus Ward in my response to Limes, keep in mind that I'm only a click away from Wikipedia.

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  6. @Tag--Kevin Kine couldn't hold a candle to Ross Martin.

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  7. Very True Kirk, I wonder if Artemus Gordon was based on Artemus Ward?

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  8. You might be joking, but I wouldn't be surprised if that's at least where they got the name from.

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  9. Yay, Elisabeth! What a wonderful argument in favor of balance! I'm on a constant quest for it in my life.

    Kirk, I use Wikipedia, too. We all do. That's a good thing. It supports the balance sought: "I know about this. I don't know about that. But I know how to find out."

    And I agree about the name. How many Artemi can there have been in the world so far?

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  10. "A picture, it is said, is worth a thousand words, but cannot a few well-spoken words convey as many pictures?"

    love the Ward quote - it is humorous and so accurate!

    loveNlight
    Gabi

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  11. Thanks for the quote, Gabriela. Wish I knew who said it, but when I googled it, it came up anonymous.

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  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  13. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  14. I also would like to know the author, but same luck over here, all I get is:- Author unknown. :(


    loveNlight
    Gabi

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In order to keep the hucksters, humbugs, scoundrels, psychos, morons, and last but not least, artificial intelligentsia at bay, I have decided to turn on comment moderation. On the plus side, I've gotten rid of the word verification.