johnjohnston’s most recent Quotables

We've heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the Complete Works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know this is not true.

The future has already arrived. It's just not evenly distributed yet.

The Sufis advise us to speak only after our words have managed to pass through three gates.  At the first gate, we ask ouselves, 'Are these words true?'  If so, we let them pass on; if not, back they go.  At the second gate, we ask, 'Are they necessary?'  At the last gate, we ask, 'Are they kind?'

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire

ARTISTS All charlatans. Praise their disinterestedness (old-fashioned). Express surprise that they dress like everyone else (old-fashioned). They earn huge sums, but squander them. Often asked to dine out. A woman artist must be a whore. What artists do can't be called work.