On Political Aphorisms
I ruined at least one person’s breakfast yesterday when, during an appearance on The Takeaway to discuss aphorisms (or the lack thereof) in the second presidential debate, I illustrated my point that political slogans are, by design, almost content-less by citing the Obama campaign slogan “Change you can believe in.” At least one listener found [...]
At the Multatuli Museum
Multatuli (see pp.163–165 of Geary’s Guide) was the pseudonym of Eduard Douwes Dekker, the son of a Dutch sea captain. Dekker seemed destined for a career as an obscure colonial bureaucrat until he uncovered corruption in Dutch–administered Java and decided to expose it. When Dekker brought the exploitation of local labor to the attention of [...]
Aphorisms by Fred Lee
Fred Lee says his blog, an almost daily posting of fresh aphorisms, “provides more than 100% of the daily recommended dosages of pessimism, negativity and ill-humor.” In his profile, he lists his nicknames as “the anti-fortune cookie,” his religion as “secular,” and his interests as “aphorisms.” His blog contains lots and lots of aphorisms, and [...]
Aphorisms by Shalom Freedman
Shalom Freedman has loved aphorisms all his life, and cites some auspicious sources of inspiration in the Jewish wisdom tradition. “The one book which is aphoristic in flavor which struck me earliest on is Pirke Avot (Ethics of the Fathers),” he says. “Also, I return and read again and [...]
Aphorisms by the Covert Comic
The Covert Comic, a.k.a. John Alejandro King, has been subverting and perverting the course of justice for … well, I’m not sure for how long, really, but most likely for a very long time, indeed. Trouble is, there’s very little bio on the Covert Comic since he works deep undercover and so much of his [...]
More Aphorisms by Lori Ellison
You may remember Lori Ellison from a previous posting of her aphorisms here, in October of 2007. In addition to being an aphorist, she is an artist, voracious consumer of aphorists’ biographies, and lifetime devotee of independent bookstores, one of her current haunts being Spoonbill & Sugartown in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Here is a selection of [...]
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