“To build up a library is to create a life. It’s never just a random collection of books.”
Dominguez, Library
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Author Archives: Hal
Myers, Scottish Cuisine
”My theory is that all of Scottish cuisine is based on a dare.”
Mike Myers
Austen, Company
“My idea of good company, Mr Elliot, is the company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company.”
“You are mistaken,” said he gently, “that is not good company; that is the best. Good company requires only birth, education, and manners, and with regard to education is not very nice. Birth and good manners are essential; but a little learning is by no means a dangerous thing in good company; on the contrary, it will do very well.”
Jane Austen, Persuasion
Harrison Ford, Actor
”I’m an actor. You weren’t supposed to recognize me.”
Harrison Ford, on his non-descript cameo in Apocalypse Now.
Peace-loving
I’ll believe I live in a peace-loving nation when the bookshelves devoted to diplomatic history outnumber the shelves on military history.
Dunitz’ Disclaimer
My second favorite disclaimer in a book, from Jay Dunitz’ collection of photographs Pacific Light:
“DISCLAIMER and WARNING:
The process utilized by the Artist in the creation of the Pacific Light series is extremely dangerous, and may be injurious or lethal to person and hazardous to property. Neither the Artist nor anyone associated with the publication and distribution of PACIFIC LIGHT shall be responsible or liable in any way for any injury, death, or other damage arising from the reader’s or public’s application of the described process and its related materials.”
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Take that!, Anarchist Cookbook
Travel shopping, Lecler
”In general, people don’t travel to go shopping but they certainly go shopping when they travel.” — René Lecler
Thurber, inflammation
“With sixty staring me in the face, I have developed inflammation of the sentence structure and definite hardening of the paragraphs.”
Joe Louis, Paul Morphy
“Imagine Joe Louis at his prime in a country where his most dangerous opponent was five-foot-six and weighed 150 lbs.”
Reuben Fine, on Paul Morphy’s chess career
Exploring
“We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time”
T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets