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LIGHT RELIEF

Apropos of nothing in particular, a truckshunter called Mike has sent me some quotations which, he said, might provide me with ‘light relief’ - or at least distract me (and you) from the turmoil of the last few days.

He’s right - they did the trick.

I have long been of the opinion that if work were such a splendid thing, the rich would have kept more of it for themselves.
Lord Grocott

I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I will go to it laughing.
Herman Melville

There is an alchemy in sorrow.  It can be transmuted into wisdom which, if it does not bring joy, can yet bring happiness.
Pearl Buck

The vitality of thought is in adventure.  Ideas won’t keep.  Something must be done about them.
Alfred North Whitehead

The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty.
John Adams

Perhaps the feelings that we experience when we are in love represent a normal state.  Being in love shows a person who he should be.
Anton Chekhov

What others think of us would be of little moment did it not, when known, so deeply tinge what we think of ourselves.
Paul Valery

Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty.  Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.
Franz Kafka

To the most trivial actions, attach the devotion and mindfulness of 100 monks.  To matters of life and death, attach a sense of humour.
Zhuang Zi

The danger of computers becoming like humans is not as great as the danger of humans becoming like computers.
Conrad Zuse

If I find 10,000 ways something won’t work, I haven’t failed.  Every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.
Thomas Edison

Physical deformity calls forth our charity.  But the infinite misfortune of moral deformity calls forth nothing but hatred and vengeance.
Clarence Darrow.

Autobiography is only to be trusted when it reveals something disgraceful.  A man who gives a good account of himself is probably lying.
George Orwell

Your manuscript is both good and original.  But the part that is good is not original and the part that is original is not good.
Samuel Johnson

I think that last one’s a cracker.

Just for good measure, Mike also sent me some of his favourite Groucho Marx quotations…

I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.

Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.

The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you've got it made.

A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere.

Military justice is to justice what military music is to music.

One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know.

She got her looks from her father. He's a plastic surgeon.

Marriage is a wonderful institution, but who wants to live in an institution?

I never forget a face, but in your case I'll be glad to make an exception.

I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it.

From the moment I picked your book up until I laid it down, I was convulsed with laughter. Someday I intend reading it.

Either he's dead or my watch has stopped.

Thanks, Mike.  You made my day.

(Unlikely as it seems, Mike also sent me some information about a church he thought I might consider joining - of which more later.)

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