Quotes That Stand the Test of Time

How so many writers throughout history have been able to pen words that endure through the years always fills me with awe, especially when they pack a lot of ageless wisdom into those words.

So, whenever I see a quote I like, I add it to my "angel" book, noting the date and the individual who laced those words together so well. Eventually, I'll collate them all into a small collection, note why I like them and take it to Staples and have it made into a spiral book for family members—my way to keep those wonderful quotes alive and share what I love with those I love.

When I was writing a recent blog, "A world without childhood?" the expression, "youth is wasted on the young," came to mind. While I didn't use it in my posting, I keep wondering: Is it a quote or a cliché? Or a quote that became a cliché? Sayings sometimes seem to have a way of doing that—said so often that time seems to wear them down like the tires on a farm truck. It wasn't in my book of clichés, so once again, I turned to Google, the place where you can find almost anything except a clean pair of underwear.

When the page came up, I was surprised to see George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) coined that expression. My curiosity piqued, I searched through some of his other quotes. Definitely found some that belong in my quote book. But what truly amazed me was how relevant they are today. Consider these quotes:

On Politics

• "A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul." Whatever side of the political fight over what our country should do or not do regarding tax cuts/increases and the nation's debt crisis, this quote would certainly describe the views of some of our politicians, don't you think?
• "An election is a moral horror, as bad as a battle except for the blood; a mud bath for every soul concerned in it." It seems to me whenever any politician appears to rise in the polls, some hint of scandal or incapacitating illness surfaces. Like Michelle Bachmann's migraines. She wouldn't ever be my choice, but would a migraine really preclude her ability to be president? Pundits predict the 2012 election will be the worst negative campaign in the history of our country.
• "An asylum for the sane would be empty in America." Do I need to add any comment to this quote?

On life

• "Don't waste your youth on growing up." This hits home today especially when I see little girls sporting Madonna like outfits and eye make up, or little girls playing with breast feeding dolls. Childhood needs to be a time to be a child. Otherwise, George Bernard Shaw's other quote, "Youth is wasted on the young," becomes sad but true.

• "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." So, whatever your age, be silly! Dance in the kitchen or join a flash mob, perform at an Open Mic, sing in a karaoke bar, wear whatever you like no matter how much you hate your flabby arms. As my grandson, John says, "take a risk."
• "I want to be all used up when I die." This quote is perhaps my favorite of all. Such a lovely sentiment—to have done everything you've wanted to do, to have lived life fully with no regrets, to have loved unconditionally, loved long and hard.. Yes, I definitely want to be all used up when I die.

Facts about George Bernard Shaw:

1. He won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1925.
2. For seven years, he wrote five unsuccessful novels.
3. He was a socialist.
4. He supported women's rights and wrote about them in 1891.
5. His last play, Why She Would Not, was completed on July 23, 1950, three days before his ninety-fourth birthday.
6. One of his most famous plays was Pygmalion.

For more information about this great playwright, visit these sites.
Bernard: A Brief Biography
http://www.biography.com/articles/George-Bernard-Shaw-9480925"
http://www.notablebiographies.com/Sc-St/Shaw-George-Bernard.html

A Little Animal in all of us

While we ponder the news of our weak economy, the debt ceiling debate, and yet another rise in unemployment, it's hard not get depressed. Trying to balance being informed but not getting obsessed with the woes of our country and the world is not easy. But adding a little frivolity to our lives, the sort that doesn't require spending any money, can help lighten our spirits at least temporarily.

Recently, we had dinner with lifelong friends and quickly became embroiled in a discussion of what's happening in this country. A heavy pause followed. Seeking to shift the conversation in a more positive direction, I asked a question from one of my blog postings, "A Pumpkin Pie Sort of Woman."

Our friend, John, just couldn't get the concept, insisting on naming his favorite pie, instead. "Well, then, what kind of animal would you be?" asked his wife. "Oh, that's easy," he said, "a lion. After all, I'm a Leo and like a lion, I depend on the female providing the food. I'm proud, too, just like a lion." We all giggled. So much easier than describing yourself in pie terms, it seemed. My significant other, Will, is a horse, of course. Dependable, stable, strong, while friend Elizabeth is a bird, free and able to fly.

A few days later, I found myself thinking about the evening and how much fun it was to imagine magical, semi nonsensical matters so I decided right then and there it was time to do another survey. This time to bring out the animal in some of those I know and love. Surprisingly, there were few repeats. With a little help from my friends, perhaps I could open a small "menagerie."

Here are the "animals" that would populate it:

A tiger: Like a tiger, Julie, part of our West Coast family, sees herself as an introvert and so relates to the tiger which is a solitary creature. Like the tiger, Julie is smart and a bit mysterious. I believe she has an inner strength that's not always visible to others.

A dolphin: Julie's fiancee, Sandy, chooses the dolphin as her alter ego. She has a playful nature similar to the dolphin's. Sandy adds, "while the dolphin is often solitary, she also enjoys the "pod" life spent with loved ones. I concur with her choice because like the aquatic creature, Sandy is also a great communicator and brings joy wherever she goes.

A cat: Janni, our dear longtime neighbor, chooses the feline because she likes the idea that "they have nine lives—imagine that—no chores to do but chase mice." She adds the idea of being able to be so independent and to curl up on a window sill in the sun whenever she pleases sounds just about right. I can attest to her choice because no one enjoys her days more than Janni does.

A puppy: Pat, fellow book lover, definitely views herself as a canine, albeit a young one. She likes the idea that she would become part of a nice family and could grow and be part of the whole. "Faithful, loving, and kind," she adds. It's easy to imagine as Pat consistently demonstrates those qualities as an integral part of our St. Francis Book Group.

A koala bear: Julia, my youngest participant and beloved granddaughter, says she's a koala because like this lovable little figure, she says, "I look calm and innocent, but you mess with me, I'll bite back." I see her as this Australian marsupial for both her athleticism and her ability to hang on to her beliefs and values as the koala clings to the tree.


A chameleon: Elizabeth, the adult daughter of a close friend, loves all animals, but most identifies with her lizard, Charlie. "I see myself as not shy, but reserved. And like my chameleon, I tend to be most happy in the background rather than standing out in a group." A good choice, I think, because in talking to Elizabeth, the colors of her mood and emotions are visible to the listener.

So, tonight, if you feel weighed down with the news, turn it off and turn to your family members and ask, "What kind of animal are you?" After all, there's a little animal in all of us.

Now this rabbit has to hop away…