| 20 Feb, 2009 |
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The great virtue of my radicalism lies in the fact that I am perfectly ready, if necessary, to be radical on the conservative side. There is nobody so irritating as somebody with less intelligence and more sense than we have. The best executive is one who has sense enough to pick good people to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it. I long ago came to the conclusion that all life is six to five against. Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. In all things it is a good idea to hang a question mark now and then on the things we have taken for granted. The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts. Patriotism is the willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons. The important thing is not to stop questioning. Sanity calms, but madness is more interesting. You should never bet against anything in science at odds of more than about 10-12 to 1. All military type firearms are to be handed in immediately... The SS, SA and Stahlhelm give every respectable German man the opportunity of campaigning with them. Therefore anyone who does not belong to one of the above named organisations and who unjustifiably nevertheless keeps his weapon... must be regarded as an enemy of the national government. You say that my way of thinking cannot be tolerated? What of it? The man who alters his way of thinking to suit others is a fool. My way of thinking is the result of my reflections. It is part of my inner being, the way I am made. I do not contradict them, and would not even if I wished to. For my system, which you disapprove of, is also my greatest comfort in life, the source of all my happiness --- it means more to me than my life itself. A poor fool indeed is he who adopts a manner of thinking (meant) for others!. Knowing how things work is the basis for appreciation, and is thus a source of civilized delight. All of the books in the world contain no more information than is broadcast as video in a single large American city in a single year. Not all bits have equal value. It is of interest to note that while some dolphins are reported to have learned English -- up to fifty words used in correct context -- no human being has been reported to have learned dolphinese. Skeptical scrutiny is the means, in both science and religion, by which deep insights can be winnowed from deep nonsense. The universe is not required to be in perfect harmony with human ambition. Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people. In order to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe. A celibate clergy is an especially good idea, because it tends to suppress any hereditary propensity toward fanaticism. But the fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses. They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at Fulton, they laughed at the Wright brothers. But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown. In an optimal world, I would not be necessary. Remember folks. Street lights timed for 35 mph are also timed for 70 mph. This is no time to act like a gentleman. I am a cad and shall react like one. Skepticism is the chastity of the intellect, and it is shameful to surrender it too soon or to the first comer: there is nobility in preserving it coolly and proudly through long youth, until at last, in the ripeness of instinct and discretion, it can be safely exchanged for fidelity and happiness. I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be. Each religion, by the help of more or less myth which it takes more or less seriously, proposes some method of fortifying the human soul and enabline it to make its peace with its destiny. Oh, what tangled webs we weave, When we first practice to deceive. If someone tells you that the fully armored man of the Middle Ages was so encumbered by his armor that he could not rise if he fell, you may well ask yourself, first, if it is reasonable to assume that professional soldiers would go on wearing armor that kept them from fighting and second, if this theory is in line with what you know of the heavily armored men of your personal acquaintance. Immortality -- a fate worse than death. If you want to know your true opinion of someone, watch the effect produced in you by the first sight of a letter from him. For four-fifths of our history, our planet was populated by pond scum. You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you. If we are going to stick to this damned quantum-jumping, then I regret that I ever had anything to do with quantum theory. Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction. One form to rule them all, one form to find them, one form to bring them all and in the darkness rewrite the hell out of themsendmail ruleset 3 comment from DEC. ...adults are just obsolete children and the hell with them. To thine own self be true -; And it must follow as the night the day; Thou canst not be false to any man. One of the advantages of being a captain is being able to ask for advice without necessarily having to take it. Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everybody agrees that it is old enough to know better. There is no satisfaction in hanging a man who does not object to it. Do you know what a pessimist is? A person who thinks everybody is as nasty as himself and hates them for it. Except during the nine months before he draws his first breath, no man manages his affairs as well as a tree does. Life is a disease; and the only diference between one another is the stage of the disease at which he lives. Democracy is a device that insures we shall be governed no better than we deserve. England and America are two countries seperated by the same language. Success covers a multitude of blunders. When a stupid man is doing something he is ashamed of, he always declares that it is his duty. |
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