Pithy Paradoxes, Tricky Tautologies
I've always had a thing for catchy sayings of two different related kinds, which are almost mirror images of each other.
The first kind of saying is the paradox that seems plausible at first reading, but becomes apparently contradictory after you think about it. For example,
As everyone knows, Truth is absolutely subjective.
James Taranto gave us a lower brow example when he wrote, "This isn't an ad hominem attack, you jerk."
And William F. Buckley, Jr., crafted the famous insult,
I would like to take you seriously, but to do so would affront your intelligence.
The second kind of saying I have in mind seems meaningful at first reading, but is actually just a tautology or truism. When I was a kid my dad would brag to us about how fat his wallet was by saying,
I've got so much money, I've got money I ain't even spent yet!
Another example is, "If you don't improve, you'll never get any better."
I'd love to compile a list of similar sayings. Do you have any others?
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Comments:
Dec '10
Re: Pithy Paradoxes, Tricky Tautologies
No trespassing, violators will be persecuted.
Apr '11
Re: Pithy Paradoxes, Tricky Tautologies
This puts me in mind of Yogi Berra:
"It gets late early out there."
"No one goes [to that restaurant] anymore, it's too crowded."
"If the world was perfect, it wouldn't be."
These aren't exactly what you were asking for, but far be it from me to pass up an opportunity to quote Yogi.
Sep '11
Re: Pithy Paradoxes, Tricky Tautologies
My parents claimed their school principal would threaten, "If you don't behave, I'll send you ALL to the back of the line!"
May '10
Re: Pithy Paradoxes, Tricky Tautologies
Charlotte: This puts me in mind of Yogi Berra:
"It gets late early out there."
"No one goes [to that restaurant] anymore, it's too crowded."
"If the world was perfect, it wouldn't be."
These aren't exactly what you were asking for, but far be it from me to pass up an opportunity to quote Yogi. · 2 minutes ago
Charlotte, those first two are exactly what I'm looking for!
I don't really get the third one though. Is he saying a world without flaws would be so boring that its perfection would be its flaw?
Apr '11
Re: Pithy Paradoxes, Tricky Tautologies
I have absolutely no idea. I just think it's funny. :-)
Jan '11
Re: Pithy Paradoxes, Tricky Tautologies
It's farther up north than it is by train.
Do you walk to school or carry your lunch?
On the other hand, a glove.
Jun '12
Re: Pithy Paradoxes, Tricky Tautologies
"I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve." - Bilbo Baggins
Oct '12
Re: Pithy Paradoxes, Tricky Tautologies
"Same difference."
Nov '11
Re: Pithy Paradoxes, Tricky Tautologies
Was it Yogi Berra that said, "If you come to a fork in the road, take it"?
Apr '11
Re: Pithy Paradoxes, Tricky Tautologies
Probably! And even if it wasn't Yogi, it should have been.
Mar '11
Re: Pithy Paradoxes, Tricky Tautologies
Does "The older I get, the better I was" count?
Mar '11
Re: Pithy Paradoxes, Tricky Tautologies
No Lawyers, Prosecutors will be violated.
Re: Pithy Paradoxes, Tricky Tautologies
The history teacher got angry with our chit chat one day and said, "I want to hear quiet!" Some smarty guy said, "How do you know when you hear quiet?" Thoroughly exasperated, the teacher shot back, "I know when I hear quiet because when I hear quiet I can't hear anything!" Priceless...
Dec '12
Re: Pithy Paradoxes, Tricky Tautologies
I think a few people missed the memo about those self-contradictory statements.
Nov '10
Re: Pithy Paradoxes, Tricky Tautologies
Cut your legs off with that lawn mower -- don't come running to me (type II)
Now hope I don't seem condescending ... uh, condescending? "Condescending" means talking down to someone. (type I)
Nov '10
Re: Pithy Paradoxes, Tricky Tautologies
Edited on January 8, 2013 at 6:51amFeb '11
Re: Pithy Paradoxes, Tricky Tautologies
R. Craigen
· 7 hours ago
Edited 7 hours ago
Frog parking only. Others will be toad?
Jul '11
Re: Pithy Paradoxes, Tricky Tautologies
I am besides myself? (that always bothered me)
Feb '11
Re: Pithy Paradoxes, Tricky Tautologies
There is a very old Hebrew expression "to do nights like days," meaning to work very hard.
Most people say it the wrong way around "to do days like nights," which essentially means to sleep at work.
Dec '10
Re: Pithy Paradoxes, Tricky Tautologies
Just what does "head over heels" mean? Seems to me that's the nomal position.