Quote of the Day: And If the Twain Should Meet?

 

‘All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure.’ – Mark Twain.

‘Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.’ – William Shakespeare.

‘Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.’ – Andre Gide.

‘It’s useful to go out of this world and see it from the perspective of another one.’ – Terry Pratchett.

‘Be content to seem what you really are.’ – Marcus Aurelius.

You could take the opening quotation of this quintet as being at least ironical, but you could also take it another way: that lying in plain sight is, to borrow another line from Terry Pratchett, the key, that ‘no one ever told me it was hard’ and also to have a little trust and faith in yourself. To have the courage, so to speak, ‘to lose sight of the shore’.

We could do worse than that, sometimes. And, what if – what if the twain should meet? What might happen then?

I’m not really sure, but I get the feeling it might be interesting.

Published in Group Writing
This post was promoted to the Main Feed by a Ricochet Editor at the recommendation of Ricochet members. Like this post? Want to comment? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

There are 36 comments.

Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
  1. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Andrew Miller: And, what if – what if the twain should meet?

    0h, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet,
    Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God’s great Judgment Seat;

    • #1
  2. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Andrew Miller: And, what if – what if the twain should meet?

    0h, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet,
    Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God’s great Judgment Seat;

    Though we riders may be Haggard,
    Let us never cease from Kipling! 

    • #2
  3. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Andrew Miller: And, what if – what if the twain should meet?

    0h, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet,
    Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God’s great Judgment Seat;

    Though we riders may be Haggard,
    Let us never cease from Kipling!

    We shall tolerate neither the hawing nor the hemming way.

    • #3
  4. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Andrew Miller: And, what if – what if the twain should meet?

    0h, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet,
    Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God’s great Judgment Seat;

    Though we riders may be Haggard,
    Let us never cease from Kipling!

    We shall tolerate neither the hawing nor the hemming way.

    Aargh! That took me a moment. 

    • #4
  5. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Andrew Miller: And, what if – what if the twain should meet?

    0h, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet,
    Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God’s great Judgment Seat;

    Though we riders may be Haggard,
    Let us never cease from Kipling!

    We shall tolerate neither the hawing nor the hemming way.

    Aargh! That took me a moment. 

    I shake my speare at you! 

    • #5
  6. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):
    I shake my speare at you!

    • #6
  7. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):
    I shake my speare at you!

    I wondered when we’d crest that wave.*

    *: Edit: Well, not quite, but it’s all in good pun.

    • #7
  8. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):
    I shake my speare at you!

    I like the Latin: “Not the droids you’re looking for”.

    • #8
  9. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):
    I shake my speare at you!

    I like he Latin: “Not the droids you’re looking for”.

    Well saved, Master Mental — some people might ha’ been after my bacon if they’d realised what that thing apparently says. Ah, those heralds — as Master Pratchett pointed out — always a thrust to the punny bone.*

    *: Edit: Scratch that, he probably thought of it himself.**

    **: Now I’ve gone and done it.

    • #9
  10. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    Is it supposed to be a chicken, because it looks like a chicken?

    • #10
  11. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Is it supposed to be a chicken, because it looks like a chicken?

    Ah, well, birds of a feather, you know . . .

    • #11
  12. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Is it supposed to be a chicken, because it looks like a chicken?

    Falcon.

    • #12
  13. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Is it supposed to be a chicken, because it looks like a chicken?

    Falcon.

    Had the guy who drew it ever seen a falcon?

    “They probably look like chickens.  I mean, they’re both birds, right?”

    • #13
  14. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Is it supposed to be a chicken, because it looks like a chicken?

    Falcon.

    Had the guy who drew it ever seen a falcon?

    “They probably look like chickens. I mean, they’re both birds, right?”

    Nothing to get eggs cited about, I hope?

    Edit: And not just because that has obviously never happened when I’m drawing birds, no-sirree . . .

    • #14
  15. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    I mean, if all’s fair, no harm no fowl, right? 

    • #15
  16. Mark Alexander Inactive
    Mark Alexander
    @MarkAlexander

    “If at first you don’t succeed, quit.” – Kenny McCormick

    ”When in doubt, vacillate.” Lou Costello

    • #16
  17. She Member
    She
    @She

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Is it supposed to be a chicken, because it looks like a chicken?

    Falcon.

    Had the guy who drew it ever seen a falcon?

    “They probably look like chickens. I mean, they’re both birds, right?”

    You rang?

    • #17
  18. She Member
    She
    @She

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):

    I mean, if all’s fair, no harm no fowl, right?

    If you overlook the fact that fair is fowl and fowl is fair, I suppose you could work your way to that conclewsion.

    ***

    These are the Quotes of the Day. Our sign-up sheet for May is here.  There are still a very few days left.  Get ’em while they’re hot! If you’re new at this game, it’s a easy way to get your feet wet and start a conversation; if you’re an old-timer, you already know the ropes.  Either way, please sign up to speak up.

    Another ongoing project to encourage new voices is our Group Writing Project. May’s theme is “May Day, Mayday, May Days.” If you’re looking to share your own thoughts rather than those of others, please sign up for Group Writing too!

     

    • #18
  19. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    If you illegally entered a chicken into competition that had received proscribed hormones, that would be a Fowl Fair foul.

    If all the other entrants had done the same, that would be a fair Fowl Fair foul.

    • #19
  20. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    Percival (View Comment):

    If you illegally entered a chicken into competition that had received proscribed hormones, that would be a Fowl Fair foul.

    If all the other entrants had done the same, that would be a fair Fowl Fair foul.

    And the rotting food fed to the chickens would be fair Fowl Fair foul fare.

    • #20
  21. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    If you illegally entered a chicken into competition that had received proscribed hormones, that would be a Fowl Fair foul.

    If all the other entrants had done the same, that would be a fair Fowl Fair foul.

    And the rotting food fed to the chickens would be fair Fowl Fair foul fare.

    Daaargh!

    • #21
  22. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):
    Daaargh!

    You started it.

    • #22
  23. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):
    Daaargh!

    You started it.

    Ah the most unkindest cut of all. 

    • #23
  24. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):
    Daaargh!

    You started it.

    Ah the most unkindest cut of all.

    Only because it’s true.

    • #24
  25. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):
    Daaargh!

    You started it.

    Ah the most unkindest cut of all.

    Only because it’s true.

    It’s a fair cop.

    • #25
  26. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Is it supposed to be a chicken, because it looks like a chicken?

    Falcon.

    Had the guy who drew it ever seen a falcon?

    “They probably look like chickens. I mean, they’re both birds, right?”

    The question is, why did he cross the road? 

    • #26
  27. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Is it supposed to be a chicken, because it looks like a chicken?

    Falcon.

    Had the guy who drew it ever seen a falcon?

    “They probably look like chickens. I mean, they’re both birds, right?”

    The question is, why did he cross the road?

    It’s where his spear landed.

    • #27
  28. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Is it supposed to be a chicken, because it looks like a chicken?

    Falcon.

    Had the guy who drew it ever seen a falcon?

    “They probably look like chickens. I mean, they’re both birds, right?”

    The question is, why did he cross the road?

    The existential dread that is the lot of gallus gallus domesticus.

    • #28
  29. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    Percival (View Comment):

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Is it supposed to be a chicken, because it looks like a chicken?

    Falcon.

    Had the guy who drew it ever seen a falcon?

    “They probably look like chickens. I mean, they’re both birds, right?”

    The question is, why did he cross the road?

    The existential dread that is the lot of gallus gallus domesticus.

    Monkey Island Chicken GIF - MonkeyIsland Chicken GuybrushThreepwood GIFs

    • #29
  30. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Is it supposed to be a chicken, because it looks like a chicken?

    Falcon.

    Had the guy who drew it ever seen a falcon?

    “They probably look like chickens. I mean, they’re both birds, right?”

    The question is, why did he cross the road?

    It’s where his spear landed.

    Can’t argue with logic.

    perform bugs bunny GIF by Looney Tunes

    • #30
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.