QUOTES

I keep a running document on my computer of quotes that I like. I didn't predetermine the subjects I wanted the quotes to be about, but they mostly talk about self-improvement. That's a little embarrassing, I think. Here are some of them:

"Take this rule: whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish of spiritual things; in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over mind, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself." - Susanna Wesley, mother of John Wesley (founder of Methodism) and Charles Wesley (famous writer of protestant hymns, like "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" and "Christ The Lord Is Risen Today")

“Were man but constant, he were perfect”

Shakespeare, Two Gentlemen of Verona (adjusted a little by me)

‎"I must return to the mountains—to Yosemite. I am told that the winter storms there will not be easily borne, but I am bewitched, enchanted, and tomorrow I must start for the great temple to listen to the winter songs and sermons preached and sung only there." - John Muir

“The moon looks wonderful in this warm evening light, just as a candle flame looks beautiful in the light of morning. Light within light. It seems like a metaphor for Something. So much does. Ralph Waldo Emerson is excellent on this point.

“It seems to me to be a metaphor for the human soul, the singular light within the great general light of existence. Or it seems like poetry within language. Perhaps wisdom within experience. Or marriage within friendship and love. I’ll try to remember to use this. I believe I see a place for it in my thoughts on Hagar and Ishmael. Their time in the wilderness seems like a specific moment of divine Providence within the whole providential regime of Creation.” –Marilynne Robinson's Gilead, pg. 119

“I wish to preach, not the doctrine of ignoble ease, but the doctrine of the strenuous life, the life of toil and effort, of labor and strife; to preach that highest form of success which comes, not to the man who desires mere easy peace, but to the man who does not shrink from danger, from hardship, or from bitter toil, and who out of these wins the ultimate triumph.” – Theodore Roosevelt on the strenuous life

Thoughts on the recent Republican debate

I'm watching the Arizona Republican Primary Debates right now.

Here are thoughts:

-I like that Rick Santorum is a family guy. He seems truly passionate about helping children be born in wedlock and the benefit of being raised in homes.

-I get a kick out of Ron Paul's delivery. He has such a great straight-forward delivery for stuff.

-On this question about contraception and the recent issue with Obama and the Catholic Church, it is very interesting to see the candidates essentially agreeing with each other, and supporting each other. They're all just attacking Obama and not really attacking each other.

-Newt Gingrich freaks me out! He seems to me like the most Washington-y guy possible. Like if we want no change, then vote for him. Also, it seems like he is so pumped to have a chance at being president, and all for the wrong reasons. Like he just wants the power, and that's it.

-I love this picture of a Ron Paul fan.

-I am excited to see whoever wins this run against Obama.

Here are some grammar jokes.

Jokes:

What do you call one of Santa's little helpers?
A subordinate clause.


A comma splice walks into a bar, it has a drink and then leaves.


~Make me a milkshake.
~ZAP! You're a milkshake.


Here are some words I learned on my vocab app:
abase, abdicate, aberration, abet, abeyance, abhorrence, abhorrent, abidance, abject, abjure, aboveboard, abscond, abstruse, abyss, accede, accession, acclaim, actuary, actuate, acumen, acute, addle, adduce, afire, aghast, agile, amicable, ardent, ardor, arid, armada, armory, arraign, arrange, arrant, arrear, arrogate, arthurian, artifice, artless, ascendant, ascension, ascetic, ascribe, ashen, askance, aspiration, aspire, assailant, assay, assent, assess, assessor, assets, assiduous, assmilate, assonance

Here are the last couple lines of a cover letter from a job application that was forwarded around because it was funny. It has a nice comma splice in it too.

"Please realize that I am not a braggart or conceited, I just want to outline my usefulness. Egos can be a huge liability, and I try not to have one.

"Thank you so much for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you."