Tuesday, April 17, 2012

John Dryden, poet and dramatist

Errors like straws upon the surface flow: / Who would search for pearls must dive below. -John Dryden, poet and dramatist (1631-1700)

Unfortunately not always true.  Often errors are buried deep, and these are the most treacherous kind.

Alice Miller, psychologist and author (1923-2010)

Contempt is the weapon of the weak and a defense against one's own despised and unwanted feelings. -Alice Miller, psychologist and author (1923-2010)

I don’t think this is always the case. Sometimes the powerful regard many people and many ideas with contempt, and attributing this to hidden weakness, “despised and unwanted feelings,” may be wishful thinking.

John F. Kennedy, 35th US president

We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people. -John F. Kennedy, 35th US president (1917-1963)
The tide seems to be turning in this regard.  More and more, it seems that the arbiters of opinion are afraid to let some kinds of facts, philosophies, and values enter the open market of ideas. Does that mean that our opinion leaders are afraid of their people?

Robert A. Heinlein, science-fiction author

It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. -Robert A. Heinlein, science-fiction author (1907-1988)
I suppose this is a truism if you emphasize the almost.

Ogden Nash, poet (1902-1971)

Remorse is a violent dyspepsia of the mind. -Ogden Nash, poet (1902-1971)
And just as dyspepsia generally indicates something amiss in the stomach, so remorse indicates something amiss in the spirit.