It’s ridiculous. A normal man, by now, would have been humiliated into withdrawing his name. But moving his things into the speaker’s office before the voting even started shows what kind of ego he’s got.
All I know about McCarthy is what I said to Andrew. And the longer he hangs on, the more I dislike him. At the same time, Boebert is one of the 20 holding fast against him, and I find her an extreme embarrassment to the state of Colorado. We came so very close to voting her out — only 546 votes — but failed. For that I am deeply apologetic, even though I couldn’t vote in her district.
Completely agree! But my copy editor soul (and inner child) beckon to gently point out that while deserving of many accolades, the fine Mr. Einstein, as far as can be determined, did not utter nor write the above widely accepted bit of perceived wisdom that is so often attributed to him. He may have believed and even practiced it. We may never know. But there are a number of other likely origins of this thought, as outlined below. I have often seen this attributed to Good Ol’ Albert, so don’t feel bad. But I have also seen others question it, so I thought I’d better check again. So, no slight intended, just sharing some elucidation. May we all become more enlightened! Keep sharing your own takes on all the insanity we witness daily.
I was aware that Einstein probably didn’t say this, but a quick look didn’t find attribution to anyone else. I probably shouldn’t have cited anyone, but quotes look so naked without them. Thank you for that enlightening link. Looks like a great place to check quotations and I’d not seen it before.
No worries! I would be as concerned as you about posting unattributed quotes. And often, it seems like the wisdom of the quote is even more important than its source, so why does it matter, in the end. Sometimes, at least when I see a quote from a famous person, if both are familiar, my mind just tends to see “Oh, famous quote, famous person. That’s definitely true.” And then continues on without really registering it because it’s so familiar.
So, if research had shown the exact wording of that famous “Einstein” quote was really from the 1983 novel “Sudden Death” by Rita Mae Brown and we attributed it to her, how many readers would perk up and say, “Who? Wasn’t it Einstein that said that? Or Ben Franklin?” Who knows. Are we sometimes better off going with the flow and saying Einstein? Probably not. I’m pretty much always for leaning toward correction than perpetuating misinformation, even if it is the easy way out! But hey, that’s how we learn something new every day. Even if it diminishes Einstein’s legacy just a touch.
I think Einstein’s legacy is safe, regardless of what I do. It’s far more likely that my messing up the attribution would diminish my legacy. 😉
P.S. Maybe if an unattributed quote looks too naked for you, perhaps a snarky attribution like “– Somebody famous and/or wise, probably not Albert Einstein” could suffice!
Any over/under on number of votes? I’ll fess up…my comment here concerning current congressional goings on ended up on my site as I felt it a bit hot and weird for yours. The gist was a gibberish of performative politics and speculation that this Theater of the Disturbed is a free template for emulation in corralling democratic institutions from sea to shining sea.
Se what I mean…just talkin’ grease-paint and sprit gum. See ya, and say Hi to Charlie.
Love the “Theater of the Disturbed” description as well! The red elephants in the room are truly playing mostly performative politics for the unhinged base these days. Some might argue that description is redundant, as politics is already mostly performative theater.
One thing that seems in play is a notion the extreme right holds dear, which is already a strong Republican tenet — the “never, never, never ever give up” doctrine they apply to every situation. It’s probably part and parcel of their mostly fundamentalist religious underpinnings, as it takes the same dogmatic approach. From the days of the Tea Party and now the Freedom Caucus, the battle cry has always been NO COMPROMISE. They have been led to believe that compromise means betraying all you hold dear and turns you into some kind of lying hypocrite. So, instead of changing their minds or admitting defeat, they just double down and prove the Insanity Rule.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana,
The Life of Reason, 1905. From the series Great Ideas of Western Man. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905.
I always think of Santayana’s words when various factions in the US try to expunge all examples of the past. How can we learn from the past if we destroy all evidence of it?
and I’m just watching the show wondering if they’ll stop being insane …
right the answer is, “Never.”
It’s ridiculous. A normal man, by now, would have been humiliated into withdrawing his name. But moving his things into the speaker’s office before the voting even started shows what kind of ego he’s got.
He is as loathesome as all those elephants are. But more so.
All I know about McCarthy is what I said to Andrew. And the longer he hangs on, the more I dislike him. At the same time, Boebert is one of the 20 holding fast against him, and I find her an extreme embarrassment to the state of Colorado. We came so very close to voting her out — only 546 votes — but failed. For that I am deeply apologetic, even though I couldn’t vote in her district.
Completely agree! But my copy editor soul (and inner child) beckon to gently point out that while deserving of many accolades, the fine Mr. Einstein, as far as can be determined, did not utter nor write the above widely accepted bit of perceived wisdom that is so often attributed to him. He may have believed and even practiced it. We may never know. But there are a number of other likely origins of this thought, as outlined below. I have often seen this attributed to Good Ol’ Albert, so don’t feel bad. But I have also seen others question it, so I thought I’d better check again. So, no slight intended, just sharing some elucidation. May we all become more enlightened! Keep sharing your own takes on all the insanity we witness daily.
I was aware that Einstein probably didn’t say this, but a quick look didn’t find attribution to anyone else. I probably shouldn’t have cited anyone, but quotes look so naked without them. Thank you for that enlightening link. Looks like a great place to check quotations and I’d not seen it before.
Just changed the attribution. Thanks again.
No worries! I would be as concerned as you about posting unattributed quotes. And often, it seems like the wisdom of the quote is even more important than its source, so why does it matter, in the end. Sometimes, at least when I see a quote from a famous person, if both are familiar, my mind just tends to see “Oh, famous quote, famous person. That’s definitely true.” And then continues on without really registering it because it’s so familiar.
So, if research had shown the exact wording of that famous “Einstein” quote was really from the 1983 novel “Sudden Death” by Rita Mae Brown and we attributed it to her, how many readers would perk up and say, “Who? Wasn’t it Einstein that said that? Or Ben Franklin?” Who knows. Are we sometimes better off going with the flow and saying Einstein? Probably not. I’m pretty much always for leaning toward correction than perpetuating misinformation, even if it is the easy way out! But hey, that’s how we learn something new every day. Even if it diminishes Einstein’s legacy just a touch.
I think Einstein’s legacy is safe, regardless of what I do. It’s far more likely that my messing up the attribution would diminish my legacy. 😉
P.S. Maybe if an unattributed quote looks too naked for you, perhaps a snarky attribution like “– Somebody famous and/or wise, probably not Albert Einstein” could suffice!
That might be a good way to generate more discussion. Perhaps I’ll try it next time. 🙂
This shows what their governing will be like
Oh dear, I hope not. But it certainly doesn’t bode well.
Any over/under on number of votes? I’ll fess up…my comment here concerning current congressional goings on ended up on my site as I felt it a bit hot and weird for yours. The gist was a gibberish of performative politics and speculation that this Theater of the Disturbed is a free template for emulation in corralling democratic institutions from sea to shining sea.
Se what I mean…just talkin’ grease-paint and sprit gum. See ya, and say Hi to Charlie.
“Theater of the Disturbed.” Love it!
Charlie says “woof.”
Love the “Theater of the Disturbed” description as well! The red elephants in the room are truly playing mostly performative politics for the unhinged base these days. Some might argue that description is redundant, as politics is already mostly performative theater.
One thing that seems in play is a notion the extreme right holds dear, which is already a strong Republican tenet — the “never, never, never ever give up” doctrine they apply to every situation. It’s probably part and parcel of their mostly fundamentalist religious underpinnings, as it takes the same dogmatic approach. From the days of the Tea Party and now the Freedom Caucus, the battle cry has always been NO COMPROMISE. They have been led to believe that compromise means betraying all you hold dear and turns you into some kind of lying hypocrite. So, instead of changing their minds or admitting defeat, they just double down and prove the Insanity Rule.
r.Douglas elaborated on his own blog. Check it out. Jamming up the works, those 20 Repubs are.
A somewhat libertarian…
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana,
The Life of Reason, 1905. From the series Great Ideas of Western Man. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905.
From the series Great Ideas of Western Man.
I know, not the same thing. But similar – and attributed accurately.
I always think of Santayana’s words when various factions in the US try to expunge all examples of the past. How can we learn from the past if we destroy all evidence of it?