If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much. -- Donald
Rumsfeld
Monday, May 31, 2021
Sunday, May 30, 2021
Fortune Quote #3230
The higher a monkey climbs, the more you see of his behind. --
General Joe Stillwell
General Joe Stillwell
Saturday, May 29, 2021
Friday, May 28, 2021
Fortune Quote #3228
If partisanship makes us abandon intellectual honesty, if we oppose what
our opponents say or do simply because they are the ones saying or doing
it, we become mere political short-sellers, hoping for bad news because
it's good for our ideological investment. -- Kurt Andersen
our opponents say or do simply because they are the ones saying or doing
it, we become mere political short-sellers, hoping for bad news because
it's good for our ideological investment. -- Kurt Andersen
Thursday, May 27, 2021
Fortune Quote #3227
"[Being in love] makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it
opens your heart and it means someone can get inside you and mess you up.
You build up all these defenses. You build up this whole armor, for years,
so nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any
other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life. You give them a piece
of you. They don't ask for it. They do something dumb one day like kiss
you, or smile at you, and then your life isn't your own any more. Love
takes hostages. It gets inside you. It eats you out and leaves you crying
in the darkness, so a simple phrase like "maybe we should just be friends"
or "how very perceptive" turns into a glass splinter working its way into
your heart... It hurts. Not just in the imagination. Not just in the
mind. It's a soul-hurt, a body-hurt, a real gets-inside-you and
rips-you-apart pain. Nothing should be able to do that. Especially not
love. I hate love." -- Rose Walker, "Sandman: The Kindly Ones" by
Neil Gaiman
opens your heart and it means someone can get inside you and mess you up.
You build up all these defenses. You build up this whole armor, for years,
so nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any
other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life. You give them a piece
of you. They don't ask for it. They do something dumb one day like kiss
you, or smile at you, and then your life isn't your own any more. Love
takes hostages. It gets inside you. It eats you out and leaves you crying
in the darkness, so a simple phrase like "maybe we should just be friends"
or "how very perceptive" turns into a glass splinter working its way into
your heart... It hurts. Not just in the imagination. Not just in the
mind. It's a soul-hurt, a body-hurt, a real gets-inside-you and
rips-you-apart pain. Nothing should be able to do that. Especially not
love. I hate love." -- Rose Walker, "Sandman: The Kindly Ones" by
Neil Gaiman
Wednesday, May 26, 2021
Fortune Quote #3226
... an eye-popping array of statistics prove that an excellent way for
government to promote the pursuit of happiness is to encourage stable,
healthy marriages. -- Patrick Fagan
government to promote the pursuit of happiness is to encourage stable,
healthy marriages. -- Patrick Fagan
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Fortune Quote #3225
Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I've
tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish
twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction, ice Is
also great And would suffice. -- Robert Frost, "Fire and Ice"
tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish
twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction, ice Is
also great And would suffice. -- Robert Frost, "Fire and Ice"
Monday, May 24, 2021
Fortune Quote #3224
It is a very humbling experience to make a multimillion-dollar mistake,
but it is also very memorable. I vividly recall the night we decided how
to organize the actual writing of external specifications for OS/360. The
manager of architecture, the manager of control program implementation, and
I were threshing out the plan, schedule, and division of responsibilities.
The architecture manager had 10 good men. He asserted that they could
write the specifications and do it right. It would take ten months, three
more than the schedule allowed. The control program manager had 150 men.
He asserted that they could prepare the specifications, with the
architecture team coordinating; it would be well-done and practical, and
he could do it on schedule. Futhermore, if the architecture team did it,
his 150 men would sit twiddling their thumbs for ten months. To this the
architecture manager responded that if I gave the control program team the
responsibility, the result would not in fact be on time, but would also be
three months late, and of much lower quality. I did, and it was. He was
right on both counts. Moreover, the lack of conceptual integrity made the
system far more costly to build and change, and I would estimate that it
added a year to debugging time. -- Frederick Brooks Jr., "The
Mythical Man Month"
but it is also very memorable. I vividly recall the night we decided how
to organize the actual writing of external specifications for OS/360. The
manager of architecture, the manager of control program implementation, and
I were threshing out the plan, schedule, and division of responsibilities.
The architecture manager had 10 good men. He asserted that they could
write the specifications and do it right. It would take ten months, three
more than the schedule allowed. The control program manager had 150 men.
He asserted that they could prepare the specifications, with the
architecture team coordinating; it would be well-done and practical, and
he could do it on schedule. Futhermore, if the architecture team did it,
his 150 men would sit twiddling their thumbs for ten months. To this the
architecture manager responded that if I gave the control program team the
responsibility, the result would not in fact be on time, but would also be
three months late, and of much lower quality. I did, and it was. He was
right on both counts. Moreover, the lack of conceptual integrity made the
system far more costly to build and change, and I would estimate that it
added a year to debugging time. -- Frederick Brooks Jr., "The
Mythical Man Month"
Sunday, May 23, 2021
Fortune Quote #3223
A couple of young fellers were fishing at their special pond off the
beaten track when out of the bushes jumped the Game Warden. Immediately,
one of the boys threw his rod down and started running through the woods
like the proverbial bat out of hell, and hot on his heels ran the Game
Warden. After about a half mile the fella stopped and stooped over with
his hands on his thighs, whooping and heaving to catch his breath as the
Game Warden finally caught up to him. "Let's see yer fishin' license,
boy," the Warden gasped. The man pulled out his wallet and gave the Game
Warden a valid fishing license. "Well, son", snarled the Game Warden, "You
must be about as dumb as a box of rocks! You didn't have to run if you
have a license!" "Yes, sir," replied his victim, "but, well, see, my
friend back there, he don't have one!"
beaten track when out of the bushes jumped the Game Warden. Immediately,
one of the boys threw his rod down and started running through the woods
like the proverbial bat out of hell, and hot on his heels ran the Game
Warden. After about a half mile the fella stopped and stooped over with
his hands on his thighs, whooping and heaving to catch his breath as the
Game Warden finally caught up to him. "Let's see yer fishin' license,
boy," the Warden gasped. The man pulled out his wallet and gave the Game
Warden a valid fishing license. "Well, son", snarled the Game Warden, "You
must be about as dumb as a box of rocks! You didn't have to run if you
have a license!" "Yes, sir," replied his victim, "but, well, see, my
friend back there, he don't have one!"
Saturday, May 22, 2021
Fortune Quote #3222
After his Ignoble Disgrace, Satan was being expelled from Heaven. As he
passed through the Gates, he paused a moment in thought, and turned to God
and said, "A new creature called Man, I hear, is soon to be created."
"This is true," He replied. "He will need laws," said the Demon slyly.
"What! You, his appointed Enemy for all Time! You ask for the right to
make his laws?" "Oh, no!" Satan replied, "I ask only that he be allowed
to make his own." It was so granted. -- Ambrose Bierce, "The
Devil's Dictionary"
passed through the Gates, he paused a moment in thought, and turned to God
and said, "A new creature called Man, I hear, is soon to be created."
"This is true," He replied. "He will need laws," said the Demon slyly.
"What! You, his appointed Enemy for all Time! You ask for the right to
make his laws?" "Oh, no!" Satan replied, "I ask only that he be allowed
to make his own." It was so granted. -- Ambrose Bierce, "The
Devil's Dictionary"
Friday, May 21, 2021
Fortune Quote #3221
Once there lived a village of creatures along the bottom of a great
crystal river. Each creature in its own manner clung tightly to the twigs
and rocks of the river bottom, for clinging was their way of life, and
resisting the current what each had learned from birth. But one creature
said at last, "I trust that the current knows where it is going. I shall
let go, and let it take me where it will. Clinging, I shall die of
boredom." The other creatures laughed and said, "Fool! Let go, and that
current you worship will throw you tumbled and smashed across the rocks,
and you will die quicker than boredom!" But the one heeded them not, and
taking a breath did let go, and at once was tumbled and smashed by the
current across the rocks. Yet, in time, as the creature refused to cling
again, the current lifted him free from the bottom, and he was bruised and
hurt no more. And the creatures downstream, to whom he was a stranger,
cried, "See a miracle! A creature like ourselves, yet he flies! See the
Messiah, come to save us all!" And the one carried in the current said, "I
am no more Messiah than you. The river delight to lift us free, if only we
dare let go. Our true work is this voyage, this adventure. But they cried
the more, "Saviour!" all the while clinging to the rocks, making legends of
a Saviour. -- Richard Bach
crystal river. Each creature in its own manner clung tightly to the twigs
and rocks of the river bottom, for clinging was their way of life, and
resisting the current what each had learned from birth. But one creature
said at last, "I trust that the current knows where it is going. I shall
let go, and let it take me where it will. Clinging, I shall die of
boredom." The other creatures laughed and said, "Fool! Let go, and that
current you worship will throw you tumbled and smashed across the rocks,
and you will die quicker than boredom!" But the one heeded them not, and
taking a breath did let go, and at once was tumbled and smashed by the
current across the rocks. Yet, in time, as the creature refused to cling
again, the current lifted him free from the bottom, and he was bruised and
hurt no more. And the creatures downstream, to whom he was a stranger,
cried, "See a miracle! A creature like ourselves, yet he flies! See the
Messiah, come to save us all!" And the one carried in the current said, "I
am no more Messiah than you. The river delight to lift us free, if only we
dare let go. Our true work is this voyage, this adventure. But they cried
the more, "Saviour!" all the while clinging to the rocks, making legends of
a Saviour. -- Richard Bach
Thursday, May 20, 2021
Fortune Quote #3220
A young man wrote to Mozart and said: Q: "Herr Mozart, I am thinking of
writing symphonies. Can you give me any suggestions as to how to get
started?" A: "A symphony is a very complex musical form, perhaps you should
begin with some simple lieder and work your way up to a symphony."
Q: "But Herr Mozart, you were writing symphonies when you were 8 years
old." A: "But I never asked anybody how."
writing symphonies. Can you give me any suggestions as to how to get
started?" A: "A symphony is a very complex musical form, perhaps you should
begin with some simple lieder and work your way up to a symphony."
Q: "But Herr Mozart, you were writing symphonies when you were 8 years
old." A: "But I never asked anybody how."
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
Fortune Quote #3219
A physicist, a biologist and a mathematician were sitting at an outside
cafe having lunch. At one point they noticed two people go into a house
across the street. A little later, three people came out of the house.
The Physicist: "We must have made an error in measurement." The
Biologist: "They must have reproduced." The Mathematician: "Now, if exactly
one person enters the house, it will be empty again."
cafe having lunch. At one point they noticed two people go into a house
across the street. A little later, three people came out of the house.
The Physicist: "We must have made an error in measurement." The
Biologist: "They must have reproduced." The Mathematician: "Now, if exactly
one person enters the house, it will be empty again."
Tuesday, May 18, 2021
Fortune Quote #3218
It is certain that the two World Wars in which I have participated would
not have occurred had we been prepared. It is my belief that adequate
preparation on our part would have prevented or materially shortened all
our other wars beginning with that of 1812. Yet, after each of our wars,
there has always been a great hue and cry to the effect that there will be
no more wars, that disarmament is the sure road to health, happiness, and
peace; and that by removing the fire department, we will remove fires.
These ideas spring from wishful thinking and from the erroneous belief that
wars result from logical processes. There is no logic in wars. They are
produced by madmen. No man can say when future madmen will reappear. I do
not say that there will be no more wars; I devoutly hope that there will
not, but I do say that the chances of avoiding future wars will be greatly
enhanced if we are ready. -- General George Patton
not have occurred had we been prepared. It is my belief that adequate
preparation on our part would have prevented or materially shortened all
our other wars beginning with that of 1812. Yet, after each of our wars,
there has always been a great hue and cry to the effect that there will be
no more wars, that disarmament is the sure road to health, happiness, and
peace; and that by removing the fire department, we will remove fires.
These ideas spring from wishful thinking and from the erroneous belief that
wars result from logical processes. There is no logic in wars. They are
produced by madmen. No man can say when future madmen will reappear. I do
not say that there will be no more wars; I devoutly hope that there will
not, but I do say that the chances of avoiding future wars will be greatly
enhanced if we are ready. -- General George Patton
Monday, May 17, 2021
Fortune Quote #3217
A bunch of Polish scientists decided to flee their repressive government
by hijacking an airliner and forcing the pilot to fly them to the West.
They drove to the airport, forced their way on board a large passenger jet,
and found there was no pilot on board. Terrified, they listened as the
sirens got louder. Finally, one of the scientists suggested that since he
was an experimentalist, he would try to fly the aircraft. He sat down at
the controls and tried to figure them out. The sirens got louder and
louder. Armed men surrounded the jet. The would be pilot's friends cried
out, "Please, please take off now!!! Hurry!!!" The experimentalist calmly
replied, "Have patience. I'm just a simple pole in a complex plane."
by hijacking an airliner and forcing the pilot to fly them to the West.
They drove to the airport, forced their way on board a large passenger jet,
and found there was no pilot on board. Terrified, they listened as the
sirens got louder. Finally, one of the scientists suggested that since he
was an experimentalist, he would try to fly the aircraft. He sat down at
the controls and tried to figure them out. The sirens got louder and
louder. Armed men surrounded the jet. The would be pilot's friends cried
out, "Please, please take off now!!! Hurry!!!" The experimentalist calmly
replied, "Have patience. I'm just a simple pole in a complex plane."
Sunday, May 16, 2021
Fortune Quote #3216
Two men were sitting over coffee, contemplating the nature of things, with
all due respect for their breakfast. "I wonder why it is that toast always
falls on the buttered side," said one. "Tell me," replied his
friend, "why you say such a thing. Look at this." And he dropped his
toast on the floor, where it landed on the dry side. "So, what have you
to say for your theory now?" "What am I to say? You obviously buttered
the wrong side."
all due respect for their breakfast. "I wonder why it is that toast always
falls on the buttered side," said one. "Tell me," replied his
friend, "why you say such a thing. Look at this." And he dropped his
toast on the floor, where it landed on the dry side. "So, what have you
to say for your theory now?" "What am I to say? You obviously buttered
the wrong side."
Saturday, May 15, 2021
Fortune Quote #3215
A musician of more ambition than talent composed an elegy at the death
of composer Edward MacDowell. She played the elegy for the pianist Josef
Hoffman, then asked his opinion. "Well, it's quite nice," he replied, "but
don't you think it would be better if..." "If what?" asked the
composer. "If... if you had died and MacDowell had written the elegy?"
of composer Edward MacDowell. She played the elegy for the pianist Josef
Hoffman, then asked his opinion. "Well, it's quite nice," he replied, "but
don't you think it would be better if..." "If what?" asked the
composer. "If... if you had died and MacDowell had written the elegy?"
Friday, May 14, 2021
Fortune Quote #3214
The black bear used to be one of the most commonly seen large animals
because in Yosemite and Sequoia national parks they lived off of garbage
and tourist handouts. In Yosemite this bear has learned to open car doors
in search of food. Campaigns to bearproof garbage containers in wild areas
have been difficult, because as one biologist put it, "There is a
considerable overlap between the intelligence levels of the smartest bears
and the dumbest tourists."
because in Yosemite and Sequoia national parks they lived off of garbage
and tourist handouts. In Yosemite this bear has learned to open car doors
in search of food. Campaigns to bearproof garbage containers in wild areas
have been difficult, because as one biologist put it, "There is a
considerable overlap between the intelligence levels of the smartest bears
and the dumbest tourists."
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Fortune Quote #3213
It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong
man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit
belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by
dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up
short again and again, because there is no effort or shortcoming, but who
knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a
worthy cause; who at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high
achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while
daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid
souls who knew neither victory nor defeat. -- Teddy Roosevelt
man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit
belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by
dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up
short again and again, because there is no effort or shortcoming, but who
knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a
worthy cause; who at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high
achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while
daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid
souls who knew neither victory nor defeat. -- Teddy Roosevelt
Wednesday, May 12, 2021
Fortune Quote #3212
In America's ideal of freedom, the exercise of rights is ennobled by
service, and mercy, and a heart for the weak. Liberty for all does not mean
independence from one another. Our nation relies on men and women who look
after a neighbor and surround the lost with love. -- George W. Bush
service, and mercy, and a heart for the weak. Liberty for all does not mean
independence from one another. Our nation relies on men and women who look
after a neighbor and surround the lost with love. -- George W. Bush
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Fortune Quote #3211
...the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the
Republican model of Government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as
finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American
people. -- George Washington
Republican model of Government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as
finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American
people. -- George Washington
Monday, May 10, 2021
Fortune Quote #3210
Teachers are those who use themselves as bridges, over which they invite
their students to cross; then having facilitated their crossing, joyfully
collapse, encouraging them to create bridges of their own. -- Nikos
Kazantzakis
their students to cross; then having facilitated their crossing, joyfully
collapse, encouraging them to create bridges of their own. -- Nikos
Kazantzakis
Sunday, May 9, 2021
Fortune Quote #3209
I am not so enamored of my own opinions that I disregard what others may
think of them. I am aware that a philosopher's ideas are not subject to the
judgement of ordinary persons, because it is his endeavor to seek the truth
in all things, to the extent permitted to human reason by God. Yet I hold
that completely erroneous views should be shunned. -- Nicolaus
Copernicus
think of them. I am aware that a philosopher's ideas are not subject to the
judgement of ordinary persons, because it is his endeavor to seek the truth
in all things, to the extent permitted to human reason by God. Yet I hold
that completely erroneous views should be shunned. -- Nicolaus
Copernicus
Saturday, May 8, 2021
Friday, May 7, 2021
Fortune Quote #3207
Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight
very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands.
It hopes we've learned something from yesterday. -- John Wayne
very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands.
It hopes we've learned something from yesterday. -- John Wayne
Thursday, May 6, 2021
Fortune Quote #3206
"Because he's hiding." -- U.S. President George W. Bush's response
to a Washington Times reporter's question as to why Osama bin
Laden hadn't been captured yet
to a Washington Times reporter's question as to why Osama bin
Laden hadn't been captured yet
Wednesday, May 5, 2021
Fortune Quote #3205
In a world that has gone global, we no longer have a choice. If we don't
export freedom, we risk importing the viruses which have corrupted other
nations. ... Some critics complained that President Bush was arrogant when
he suggested America can and should export freedom to other countries. This
implies the people of unfree countries may not wish to be free. Which is
the greater arrogance? -- Cal Thomas
export freedom, we risk importing the viruses which have corrupted other
nations. ... Some critics complained that President Bush was arrogant when
he suggested America can and should export freedom to other countries. This
implies the people of unfree countries may not wish to be free. Which is
the greater arrogance? -- Cal Thomas
Tuesday, May 4, 2021
Fortune Quote #3204
That is the crux of modern conservatism -- government taking strong
measures to foster the attitudes and aptitudes necessary for increased
individual independence. -- George F. Will
measures to foster the attitudes and aptitudes necessary for increased
individual independence. -- George F. Will
Monday, May 3, 2021
Fortune Quote #3203
[I]n 1848, Karl Marx said, a progressive income tax is needed to transfer
wealth and power to the state. Thus, Marx's Communist Manifesto had as its
major economic tenet a progressive income tax. ... I say it is time to
replace the progressive income tax with a national retail sales tax, and it
is time to abolish the IRS. -- Rep. James Traficant, Jr.
wealth and power to the state. Thus, Marx's Communist Manifesto had as its
major economic tenet a progressive income tax. ... I say it is time to
replace the progressive income tax with a national retail sales tax, and it
is time to abolish the IRS. -- Rep. James Traficant, Jr.
Sunday, May 2, 2021
Fortune Quote #3202
Charity is reaching into one's own pockets to assist his fellow man in
need. Reaching into someone else's pocket to assist one's fellow man hardly
qualifies as charity. When done privately, we deem it theft, and the
individual risks jail time. -- Walter Williams
need. Reaching into someone else's pocket to assist one's fellow man hardly
qualifies as charity. When done privately, we deem it theft, and the
individual risks jail time. -- Walter Williams
Saturday, May 1, 2021
Fortune Quote #3201
Too many people -- some of them judges -- seem to think that freedom of
speech means freedom from consequences for what you have said. If you
believe that, try insulting your boss when you go to work tomorrow. Better
yet, try insulting your spouse before going to bed tonight. --
Thomas Sowell
speech means freedom from consequences for what you have said. If you
believe that, try insulting your boss when you go to work tomorrow. Better
yet, try insulting your spouse before going to bed tonight. --
Thomas Sowell
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