My daughters bought me some interesting books for Mother's Day this year. One was a book of drink recipes...yes the alcoholic kind. The other was Screw Calm and Get Angry (resigned advice for hard times), pictured above.
I am not quite sure how to take these gifts. The daughters know me too well? Or not well enough. I have a feeling it's the first. Either way I got a good laugh out of this book, although some of the quotes are thought provoking.
The book is divided in sections, Politics, Politicians, The Art of Politics, Democracy, Work, Stupidity, Money, Business, Banks, Debt, Life, Civilization, Happiness, Unhappiness, Deceit, Hypocrisy, Morality, Rat Race, Curmudgeon, Anger and Protest. Phew, all very relevant topics over the span of human existance.
Each page contains one quote and the author's name, if known. It is an easy read and fun to just skip about randomly. Below are a few of my favorites....
From Politics:
"Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first." Ronald Reagan
"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it, misdiagnosing it, and then applying the wrong remedies." Groucho Marx [a favorite of mine]
From Politicians:
"We hang thieves and appoint the great ones to public office." Aesop
"Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks." Doug Larson
From The Art of Politics:
"If you can't convince them, confuse them." Harry S Truman
From Work:
"Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?" Edgar Bergen
From Money:
"The easiest way for your children to learn about money is for you not to have any." Katharine Whitehorn
From Banks:
If you owe the bank $100, that's your problem. If you owe the bank $100 million, that's the bank's problem." J. Paul Getty
From Happiness:
"Happiness is a perpetual possesion of being well deceived." Johnathan Swift
"What a wonderful life I've had! I only wish I had realized it sooner." Colette [a thought to consider]
So how have you been?
10 Comments and Reactions:
Those are so great! I love Ronald Reagan's and J. Paul Getty. They made me laugh!
ha these are fun...
my wife gave me "pleasures of the damned" on the recent opening of my poets pub...not sure what she is saying either...
Those are wonderful quotes. I loved Ronald Reagan's. What great gifts!
That sounds like a fun book to read. I like books like that, they are such conversation starters.
Love this one! "The easiest way for your children to learn about money is for you not to have any." Katharine Whitehorn
Made it my facebook status!!!
Love these - what a great gift!
Just tweeted the Groucho Marx one --- is so so so true!
What an awesome title! It would definitely get my attention on a bookshelf. One quote I learned from Jane Fonda's autobiography that would fit in that book, too:
"Remarriage is the triumph of hope over experience."
I'm happily remarried, but I just find that quote hilarious!
i love the book so far.
great quotes :)
the groucho marx one you have chosen is so true!
and doug larson could become my favorite :)
love helen
I've got to get a copy of that one!
boy, can I relate to lots of those!! what a great book - yes, your daughter's know you well - screw calm!!
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