Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Quotes

I'm probably about to alienate a few people, but I have to be honest. I don't like quotes. There's something about them that drive me up the wall. Maybe they sound too much like poetry. LOL!

But seriously now, quotes sound, or are meant to sound like universal truths, and they really aren't. Things are said in context and by mortal and fallible humans. Taking them out of context and attributing to them absolute wisdom doesn't make sense to me.

Don't get me started about "motivational quotes" for example. Mostly, I don't even understand them. It's not that I'm a cynic, far from it, but quotes rarely "do it" for me.

And I especially hate it when people use quotes to prove a point. So what if Einstein, Twain or Churchill said something? Like they were always right. As if just because they're famous and dead makes the saying absolutely correct, true and eternally wise.

Here. Allow me also to quote someone to prove my point:
It is unbecoming for young men to utter maxims.
                                            Aristotle
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13 comments:

Anonymous said...

You really shouldn't be so down on poetry melly, I'm sure if you gave it a chance it could enrich your life beyond your wildest dreams. ;)

Julia said...

"Quotation, n: The act of repeating erroneously the words of another."
Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary
US author & satirist (1842 - 1914)


Sorry, I couldn't help myself!

Julia said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

I can take or leave quotes, along with poetry. Neither do much for me.

Anonymous said...

I don't like quotes either, and what's worse, with the older fellows like Aristotle, you get inferior paraphrases of bad translations of what he actually said.

However, I don't think you took the alienation thing far enough. Let me have a go. I'm not sure people place quotes in emails, web pages, etc. to stand them up as "true and eternally wise" but rather as a way to express some sort of sham erudition. (How about that for alienation?) Of course, those who place quotes and have read Einstein, Churchill and Aristotle, I'm not talking about you. Quote away.

Quote away? Wait a minute! I feel a killer app idea...How about an email client plug-in that strips all quotes from email footers? And I even have the perfect product name: Quote Away.

And because I cannot end this comment without expressing my sham erudition, here goes:

Anaxagoras of Clazomenae, when asked "who is the happiest man?" said "None of the people you think; He would seem a strange person to you." Anaxagoras answered in this fashion because he saw that his inquirer supposed that it was impossible for anyone who was not powerful and beautiful, or rich, to win this appellation; whereas he perhaps thought that it was the man who lives by the standard of justice without pain and in purity, or participates in some enlightening contemplation who is happy. (Aristotle, Eudemian Ethics, 1215b6)

Melly said...

Oh gosh, I couldn't stop laughing reading all your comments. You guys are the best, quote lovers and not :)

So let's see:
Jack, I'll start reading poetry when you start writing it :) :)

Jennifer (#1), when a quote really fits the moment, I can live with it. So we're good :)

Julia, LOL. But of course you couldn't. I expected nothing else :)

Deborah, I guess I should have started with a short explanation why all this came about. I just finished reading a book that made such an annoying and improper use of comments that it really got to me. Most of the time, I'm more like you, just ignore quotes.

Chris, I must say, well done. I can stand to learn a thing or two from you on the alienation front :)
I do think you should immediately copyright and patent your Quote Away idea. I already used it on your comment ;) LOL!

Eric, you forget who you're talking to here. A Canadian. And us Canadians are very concerned about the weather and talk about it often. And with great real interest. I do not want to hear any more disregard for weather talk! LOL!
You are too funny and like Chris, much better at that alienation thing :)
I can't stop laughing.
You mention films, don't forget books. This whole post started because I was reading a book full of quotes.

Jennifer (#2), your status has indeed fallen. And how :)
Just kidding of course. And to quote Chris: "Quote Away!"
My belly's aching from laughter.

Carter, you're one of the few persons I believe can actually quote in style and that I know has enough knowledge that it isn't "sham erudition" :)
As for your quote, let me answer with one of mine:
Let he who cast the first stone have not sinned Himself.
Or was it:
Let he who cast the first stone, not live in a glass house.

rdl said...

You might be on to something with the poetry and quotes thing; I like both - but they have to speak to me. And why watch the weather - they're always wrong - well here anyway.

Melly said...

Carter, you're hilarious :)

rdl, I don't watch the weather, only talk about it. Although other people in my household like the weather channel's music. LOL.

Jean said...

What an interesting time to stumble onto this post. A few months ago, I slapped a quote page up on my blog, but over the last two weeks or so, I've considered deleting it. Not because I don't like quotes, but because I slapped some quotes up there to get started, meaning to sift them and replace them with quotes I particularly like or feel an affinity to. I haven't made the time to do that yet, and I've been thinking I may not find the time, and I haven't found a way to hide the page until I do.

I like quotes when they strike a chord in me. I doubt they are universally true. They certainly are all out of context from their original usage.

But, like the weather, which can be vitally important to be informed about at certain times but is usually more mundane, a quote can help someone maintain focus or provide a thread to sustain them during times when they might otherwise despair.

Melly said...

Oh, Jean the wise :)
I always say that about you and I certainly missed your balanced take on this . Thanks.

Anonymous said...

LOL - you're funny Melly.
I like quotes. I find them motivational and good as affirmations. Makes me feel like my experiences are universal.

Melly said...

Nienke, thanks for laughing and not taking any of this personally (not that anyone did).
As for universal experiences, I already know my experiences and feelings aren't unique...

Melly said...

Good point Scot. If a quote can help focus something in writing, then why not use it?
The question is, if one is a good writer - shouldn't he use his own words to the same effect?