Opinion: Witty, wise words stand test of time

For instance, there is Robert Frost’s quote: “By working faithful eight hours a day you may eventually get to be boss and work 12 hours a day.” I expect most folks who have worked their way to the top can verify this notable quote.

Because he hit upon my feelings about writing, I envy Isaac Asimov for having said, “Thinking is the activity I love best, and writing is simply thinking through my fingers.” Asimov has described my experiences at the keyboard. When I write, I feel that my fingers and my mind are attached.

Where Asimov leaves off, Thomas Berger fills the gap: “Why do writers write? Because it isn’t there.” The elusive “it” magically flows to fingers to keyboard and onto the page.

This next quote is by an unknown author: “The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.” I wish I had said it.

Of the same category is this bit of truth by Jean Giraudoux: “Only the mediocre are always at their best.”

Oscar Wilde and Gore Vidal were from different eras with few, if any, literary similarities. However, I envy both for placing the human ego into proper perspective. Wilde said, “To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance.” Vidal said, “A narcissist is someone better looking than you are.”

Friendly, political speak

Rusty Saber readers during the past 25 years know that next to family, friends are the most important ingredients in my life. It stands to reason that I would wish I had been the author of these quotations defining friendship. Izaak Walton said, “A friend is one who comes to you when all others leave.”

I especially envy Ralph Waldo Emerson for the best way to describe a friend: “A friend is a person who goes around saying nice things behind your back.”

So many of the quotes I wish were mine were written long ago. One comes to mind that is so fresh it could be introduced today. George Bernard Shaw was responsible for the timeless: “A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.”

Will Rogers had a knack for striking at the core of his subjects. For instance, he stated pointedly, “I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.”

Mark Twain spared no one in Congress when he wrote:

“Reader, suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself.”

Other quotable quotes

Here are a few other quotes I wish I had coined because they are clever and make salient points in a few words:

• “Life is what happens while you are making other plans.” —John Lennon

• “There’s nothing wrong with teenagers that reasoning with them won’t aggravate.” —Unknown

• “It is better to be a coward for a minute than to be dead for the rest of your life.” —Irish proverb

• “If people don’t want to come out to the ballpark, nobody’s going to stop them.” —Yogi Berra

• “I don’t jog. If I die, I want to be sick.” —Abe Lemons

Finally, from an unknown author comes a quote we all can live by, “A closed mouth gathers no feet.” I really wish I could claim that.

Joe McAdoo is former chairman of the communication department at Drury University.