Eleanor Hamilton

"A compliment is a gift, not to be thrown away carelessly, unless you want to hurt the giver." -- Eleanor Hamilton

In other words, if someone pays you a compliment, don't just shrug it off, but acknowledge it with thanks. Otherwise you may offend the giver of the compliment.

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George Santayana, philosopher

To delight in war is a merit in the soldier, a dangerous quality in the captain, and a positive crime in the statesman. -George Santayana, philosopher (1863-1952)

I agree with two out of three, but I don't think anyone, even a soldier, should delight in war. I would agree rather that for a soldier to delight in battle is probably a good thing.

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Norman Douglas, novelist

You can tell the ideals of a nation by its advertisements. -Norman Douglas, novelist (1868-1952)

Scary as it is, I suspect this is true. But advertising is a relatively recent development, so it is really hard to say how true it is, viewed longitudinally. On the other hand, it would be very interesting to compare advertising around the world over the last few decades to see if it reveals, as some contend, a growing homogenization of culture.

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Pablo Picasso

"Computers are useless. They can only give you answers." – Pablo Picasso

Answers, of course, are very useful, but only if the right questions are asked.

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George Bernard Shaw

"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." -- George Bernard Shaw

THIS DESERVES A DIATRIBE! Well, perhaps not a diatribe, but definitely a denunciation. Cynicism is the habit of mind that is, according to The American Heritage Dictionary, "scornful of the motives or virtue of others; bitterly mocking; scornful." To claim that such an attitude is simply accurate is simply false, and, it seems to me, to reveal a sadly proud heart.

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Christopher Morley, writer

Lots of times you have to pretend to join a parade in which you're not really interested in order to get where you're going. -Christopher Morley, writer (1890-1957)

This doesn't sound like a good idea. Insincerity comes at a cost, greater or less depending on how near your core values it comes. What would cause you to such a course other than plain ambition? Another motivation that comes to mind, perhaps revealing too much exposure to romantic movies, is the desire to get to know another person.

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William Feather, author, editor and publisher

One of the indictments of civilizations is that happiness and intelligence are so rarely found in the same person. - William Feather, author, editor and publisher (1889-1981)

I wonder why he thinks so? Perhaps he believes that cynicism is the same as intelligence, or at least a necessary concomitant. I strongly disagree.

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