Aphorisms by Michael Theune

Posted on April 3, 2009
Filed Under Aphorisms | 15 Comments

Michael Theune describes himself as “a huge fan of aphorisms, probably bred into me by my upbringing in the church (I’m a preacher’s kid), which involved much exposure to proverbs and seductive gnomic utterances. I’ve been reading and thinking of them as an art form for more than fifteen years.” Theune is a self-confessed recovering E.M. Cioran addict. His own aphorisms are much more mischievous than Cioran’s (“so often humor is undervalued in discussions of the arts,” he says), though some rather immense and dark abysses can be glimpsed behind Theune’s puns and witticisms. Theune is also adept at glosses, clever spins on other people’s aphorisms. This is in the grand and ancient tradition of aphoristic sparring in which all lovers of the form delight. My favorite is his deflection of Walt Whitman from Leaves of Grass: ” Do I contradict myself? Fine, then I contradict myself. I am large. I contain platitudes.” Theune’s aphorisms are collectively called “Orthoparadoxy”. Here is a selection:

Flux is victorious but cannot accept the award.

Vision has become a version.

Second thoughts are tinder for the flames of Hell.

Whereof we cannot speak, thereof we must scream, laugh, grunt, cry.

History consigned to the dustbin of information.

The rain that gives the roofers work sends the roofers home.

Nothing gives off more dust than stars.

All around the world, the mighty ocean musters all its strength to cry pssst! and shhh . . .

The hiss at the end of metaphysics—

I know there is something greater than me, but without me it wouldn’t matter quite so much.

Sometimes you have to spit on the world to make it shine.

So many are alive only for the sake of their salvation.

Attention founders between seeking and looking after.

Comments

15 Responses to “Aphorisms by Michael Theune”

  1. marty rubin on April 4th, 2009 12:55 am

    Is hell the way to heaven? I think it’s the way to hell.

    Dust will still be here after all the brooms are broken.

    When it rains nobody can do anything about it.

  2. Michael Theune on April 4th, 2009 1:10 am

    Thanks for these responses, Marty–thery’re terrific! And it’s an honor to have you “spar”/interact with my aphorisms–I admire your aphorisms (those posted on this site) very much!

    Cheers,
    Mike

  3. Cihan on April 4th, 2009 10:51 am

    There is no flame in Hell. Everyone brings it from here… Pir Sultan Abdal ( A Turkish Philosopher )

  4. Candadai Tirumalai on April 4th, 2009 1:33 pm

    In power, even your faults are extolled as virtues; out of it, even your virtues are decried as faults.

  5. marty rubin on April 4th, 2009 9:15 pm

    Mike, thanks for your kind words. Visit my blog at wwwaphorismscom.blogspot.com for more of my thoughts. And tell me how and where I can read more of yours. I’m very interested in this kind of contact.

  6. Michael Theune on April 5th, 2009 11:51 pm

    Hi, Marty,

    Just back from visiting your blog–left a comment–really nice work!

    If you want to see a few more of my aphorisms (thanks for your interest!), check out

    http://sevencornerspoetry.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html

    Cheers,
    Mike

  7. Mantecanaut on April 6th, 2009 8:41 pm

    It is better to take a soft spoon to the egg of obmutescence.

  8. Olivia Dresher on April 10th, 2009 3:05 am

    I really like “The hiss at the end of metaphysics” (it keeps on hissing after reading it and becomes part of the senses). Also liked “Sometimes you have to spit on the world to make it shine.” And the Walt Whitman one.

  9. Michael Theune on April 29th, 2009 4:06 am

    Thanks, Olivia!

  10. Michael Theune on April 29th, 2009 4:17 am

    PS: Enticed by the selections of Eric Nelson’s “The Devil’s Almanac” posted on this site, I checked out FragLit, and found: Wow! A great journal– I look forward to exploring more…

  11. Olivia Dresher on April 29th, 2009 6:31 am

    Michael, I’m glad you like Eric Nelson’s work and FragLit Magazine. Lately I’ve been thinking of setting up a separate section of the magazine just for aphorisms…

  12. Michael Theune on April 30th, 2009 6:02 am

    The separate section for aphorisms might be good, Olivia. However (and this is just an initial reaction, and, admittedly, I don’t know your editorial goals or your readership as well as you), I think I like the mix. The aphorisms challenge the poetry/fragments to be witty and sharp, or, if they’re not, to be something spectacularly other… That is, I think the presence of aphorisms among the other writing keeps the bar raised–thus, I’d keep everything intervolved… (But, again: just my two cents…)

    However you do it, though, you’ve got a terrific online journal going on at FragLit. Kudos!

  13. Olivia Dresher on April 30th, 2009 8:19 am

    Michael, thanks for your thoughts. Currently, each issue of FragLit features a different theme, and the contributions in each issue relate to that theme. I was thinking of adding a section that would consist of non-topical contributions, as well…and that’s when I thought of maybe creating a section just for misc. aphorisms. Now that I reflect on it, though, maybe it would be good to include other short forms, too, and not limit a non-topical section to aphorisms. In order to keep everything “intervolved”, as you say. In any case, I want aphorisms to be a strong part of the magazine.

  14. Eric Nelson on April 30th, 2009 9:09 am

    Mike, Thanks for the positive response to my aphorisms. I really like yours — I’m especially taken by and envious of the roofers and rain one — wish I’d written that.
    I’ve been reading your selections on Seven Corners and browsing through Structure and Surprise. Excellent work on every front. Glad to make your virtual acquaintance.
    Eric

  15. Mini Interview on Blogging with Mike Theune « Introduction to Creative Writing on September 24th, 2009 6:04 am

    [...] Reading:  Seven Corners; Aphorisms @ All Aphorisms, All the Time; “Ballade” & “I Saw it Move” @ Sedge w/ Chip [...]

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