November 6, 2002
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Self-quotation and other pretentious nonsense
Nothing to say but I can’t stop talking
Nothing to do so I’ll just keep walking
I plan to use those words in a song some day. It makes me want to cry to think of all the good lines that I don’t seem to be able to expand into songs and poems. I just have to remember that patience and persistence will pay off… Sigh. If only I possessed either of those qualities.
As is usual for a Tuesday night, I spent a considerable amount of time last night talking to my friend who´s a math teacher-Ana. One of the topics that came up dealt with how pretentious it is to quote yourself. I think there’s a fine line to walk there – I may get my friend Ana to work out a mathmatical formula to deal with it. On the one hand, as a friend once said to me, “Why are your thoughts any less valid than the writings of a bunch of dead guys who lived thousands of years ago?” That was a thinker… Because as my friend is fond of saying, “Just because they say it better doesn’t make them right.” I completely agree with both those statements. I really don’t see why an opinion becomes more valid once a person is dead or why my opinion is more valid if other people happen to agree with me. But there seems to be this pervasive feeling that one’s own opinion should be devalued for modesty’s sake or something like that.
Here’s what I think… Every person is exposed to a large-if-finite number of profound or share-worthy thoughts and ideas in their life. Some of these will have occured within the person’s own mind. There is something of an obligation to share these thoughts with others if the situation calls for it. The line should be drawn when you find yourself quoting your own thoughts more than anyone else’s. Yeah, Ana really needs to help me with the mathmatical formula for this….
Comments (11)
i agree with you on this one!!!
We make something quotes without know it . Sometimes I meet people younger than me who recalls to me any good or strong words I said when I teached them . I even don’ t remember ! Among the tons of words we say in our life there are certainly some interesting that may be quotes ! ! ! !
Thank Shy for your kind comment about the birth of Clementine .
Amitié Michel
I agree with you that we need not limit our share-worthy thoughts by the intimidation of the big names. Well, at least we have Xanga to bring our thoughts out of the closet. I have no problem quoting myself either! Ha ha! By the way, I love your new background, top logo and the Chinese painting of lotus!
I have a quote, ” If no one quotes you, you have’nt said a thing worth saying!”
persistance n patience, well … u can aquire those qualities.. u jus need to work on them… i know its easier said than done, but u cud try… both the qualities r related.. so if u seem to b aquiring one, then u can get the other one too…
i agree abt the quotes thing.. but like airchild said.. we have Xanga to bring out those thoughts.. come to think of it..we have xanga for many more things,.. to express ourselves, a place to make new frendz.. well the list goes on … n umm yeah.. the new look of the site is gr8!
Did you never read in some places the words” I have been hier”? It was just somebody ,one of the millions,whatever he writes, he will stay nobody.
It is not just the words that makes them cristallyze and survive time, it is also very important who said them and when and why.
have a great sunday Jane/Shy
somehow ive never really spoken out or talked abt my thoughts n quotes with any1. ive a book in which i write stuff ……but somehow never felt compelled to share it with any1.
nice blog. hope ur doing good. take care.
ROFL.. and when you find the equation will you help me out?
U r right we all have an obligation somewhere to share r thoughts with the other person, we indirectly help them to grow spritually by it!
…hmmm, to whom should you quote when you speak your truth?
MuSe
those would be awesome lyrics in a song!!