The all-new quote thread

[Saturn]

Yes Wordsworth did like to hear himself speak, I know that. As for Emerson, those American transcendalists were a rather pretentious lot in my opinion, not much fun if you ask me excepting maybe Whitman he was okay he loved the roar of the traffic, the modern world and could see how society was changing.

[Heaven/Hell]

By "snooty" I mean that he was a bit of an elitist. He looked down on Hawthorne (I believe in part because Hawthorne didn't write in a style Emerson appreciated) and from what I heard from American Literature scholars on an NPR radio show once, liked to hear himself talk. . .a lot! Sort of like the aging Wordsworth, I guess. It reminds me of that story where Keats was visiting Wordsworth's house once and while Wordsworth was in one of the middle of his monologues, Keats tried to say something and Wordsworth's wife put a hand on Keats's and said, "Mr. Wordsworth is never interrupted."

I think it's a trivial incident that's been overblown somewhat. Hand on your heart, can you honestly say you'd want any interruption to your train of thought if you were constructing a monologue? Damn, I have trouble not taking a sniper's rifle to the noisy kids outside if I'm disturbed writing a story or something. When the 'time' comes for the inspiration, you do your best to immortalise it on paper or on tape.
I don't see these guys as arrogant (or Wordsworth as a wife-beater ), when they have something to say I would hear them out; they were two of the finest thinkers of their time, and their works have influenced a lot of people.

[Malia]

Well, there is a difference between monologue/lecture and conversation. I suppose Keats thought that since he hadn't bought a ticket and he was with Wordsworth at his home, he was going to participate in a *conversation* where *both* people speak for a similar amount of time and share ideas Wordsworth really should have put a sign out front for Keats to read before he walked in the door: "Wordsworth Lecture Today. Open your mouth and my wife/bouncer will see you to the door!"
In all seriousness, of course it would be wonderful to hear smart people speak. . .but some of the glitter rubs off when the talker is in obvious love with himself to the point he doesn't think anyone else's ideas are worth a grain of salt. No one is so smart or wise that he couldn't benefit from another opinion.

[Heaven/Hell]

I'll let William Blake close the argument (friendly discussion) and recommence the quotes:

"Reason, or the ratio of all we have already known, is not the same that it shall be when we know more."

[Saturn]

"Character is what you have left when you've lost everything you can lose."
- Evan Esar

[fleshyniteshade]

Fashion is something so ugly it has to changed every six months
- oscar wilde

one of his better ones

[Saturn]

On the same topic:

"Fashion is what one wears oneself, what is unfashionable is what other people wear"

[Heaven/Hell]

"Although a skillful flatterer is a most delightful companion if him all to yourself, his taste becomes very doubtful when he takes to complimenting other people."
- Charles Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby

[Saturn]

One of my favourite songs ever...such beautiful lyrics I wish I had written this.

Suzanne - Leonard Cohen

Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river
You can hear the boats go by you can spend the night beside her
And you know she's half crazy but that's why you want to be there
And she feeds you tea and oranges
That come all the way from China
And just when you mean to tell her
That you have no love to give her
Then she gets you on her wave length
And she lets the river answer
that you've always been her lover.
And you want to travel with her and you want to travel blind
And you know she will trust you
for you've touched her perfect body with your mind.
And Jesus was a sailor when he walked upon the water
And he spent a long time watching from his lonely wooden tower
And when he knew for certain only drowning men could see him
He said all men will be sailors then until the sea shall free them
But he himself was broken long before the sky would open
Forsaken
almost human he sank
Beneath your wisdom like a stone.
And you want to travel with him and you want to travel blind
And you think may be you'll trust him
For he's touched your perfect body with his mind.
Now Suzanne takes your hand and she leads you to the river
She is weaving rags and feathers from salvation army counters
And the sun pours down like honey on our lady of the harbour
And she shows you where to look
Among the garbage and the flowers
There are heroes in the seaweed
there are children in the morning
They are leaning out for love and they will lean that way forever
While Suzanne holds the mirror.

And you want to travel with her and you want to travel blind
And you know that you can trust her
For she's touched your perfect body with her mind.

[AsphodelElysium]

That is lovely. Have you ever heard "Girl from a Pawnshop" by the Black Crowes? The lyrics of this song remind me of it. I guess because it is the same kind of girl...

[Malia]

"I cannot speak well enough to be unintelligible."
--Jane Austin

[Heaven/Hell]

One of my favourite songs ever...such beautiful lyrics I wish I had written this.

I love Leonard Cohen's work, of course he also wrote 'Hallelujah' which Jeff Buckley covered. I like another song of his called 'Sweet Jane'.

[Saturn]

He's "an acquired taste" I think is the phrase...

[Saturn]

"The love that lasts longest is the love that is never returned."
Somerset Maugham

Sad, but probably true...

[Saturn]

"And think not, you can direct the course of love; for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course". Khalil Gibran