G. K. Chesterton
In truth there are only two kinds of people, those who accept dogmas and know it, and those who accept dogmas and don’t know it.
Month: August 2021
Seamus Heaney
Late August, given heavy rain and sun For a full week, the blackberries would ripen. At first, just one, a glossy purple clot . . . Like thickened wine: summer’s blood was in it Leaving stains upon the tongue and lust for Picking
Philip Larkin
Homage To A Government Next year we are to bring all the soldiers home For lack of money, and it is all right. Places they guarded, or kept orderly, Must guard themselves, and keep themselves orderly We want the money for ourselves at home Instead of working. And this is all right. It’s hard to say who wanted it to happen, But now it’s been decided nobody minds. The places are a long way off, not here, Which is all right, and from what we hear The soldiers there only made trouble happen. Next year we shall be easier in our minds. Next year we shall be living in a country That brought its soldiers home for lack of money. The statues will be standing in the same Tree-muffled squares, and look nearly the same. Our children will not know it’s a different country. All we can hope to leave them now is money.
Kurt Vonnegut
Be careful what you pretend to be because you are what you pretend to be.
Rudyard Kipling
THE Camel’s hump is an ugly lump Which well you may see at the Zoo; But uglier yet is the hump we get From having too little to do. Kiddies and grown-ups too-oo-oo, If we haven’t enough to do-oo-oo, We get the hump— Cameelious hump— The hump that is black and blue! We climb out of bed with a frouzly head, And a snarly-yarly voice. We shiver and scowl and we grunt and we growl At our bath and our boots and our toys; And there ought to be a corner for me (And I know’ there is one for you) When we get the hump— Cameelious hump— The hump that is black and blue! The cure for this ill is not to sit still, Or frowst with a book by the fire; But to take a large hoe and a shovel also, And dig till you gently perspire; And then you will find that the sun and the wind, And the Djinn of the Garden too, Have lifted the hump— The horrible hump— The hump that is black and blue! I get it as well as you-oo-oo If I haven’t enough to do-oo-oo! We all get hump— Cameelious hump— Kiddies and grown-ups too!
G K Chesterton
Some of the most civilized and highly organized cultures, like Carthage at its wealthiest, had human sacrifice at its worst. Culture, like science, is no protection against demons.
President Reagan
The American Dream that we have nursed for so long in this country, and lately neglected, is not that every man must be level with every other man. The American Dream is that every man must be free to become whatever God intends he should become.