Epigrams Flashcards
Ageing
I do what I can to delay the arrival of my Birthdays but nothing seems to work
I have two weapons for fighting time – memory and hope
Why must we keep looking forward when the view in the other direction is becoming increasingly pleasant
Its not easy to find yourself slowing down in a world that’s speeding up
I refuse to reveal my age but I will give you a hint – it’s in double digits
Yesterday has not been destroyed – but it is no longer accessible by ordinary means of communication
I brought something with me from the past – a strange thing called memory
For what crime is old age the punishment?
Why does life seem so short? When it’s actually the longest thing anybody ever goes through
If you don’t keep some souvenirs of the past then you’ll never know it wasn’t all a dream
How different things can get, before they come around to being the same again
Tears can’t wash out the past, but they can sometimes help soften it a little
No wonder I’m weary, I’ve spend my entire life just getting to this moment
It may be later than we think, or it may be earlier than we can possibly imagine
Isn’t it a wonderful system when everybody has a birthday in the same year as everybody else
It’s true I am getting older, but there are many good hugs left in me
People who need to get older are much luckier than people who need to get younger
More time behind me means less time ahead – but at least the total is always the same
One thing hasn’t changed – the people who were my age years ago are still my age today
I didn’t realise how much the world was changing until I looked in the mirror
Life becomes much easier, once you get through youth, middle age, and old age
Babies are made in a few months but it takes seventy years to make a seventy-year old
How you feel about getting older largely depends upon how long you’ve been doing it
Ambition
What it means to be the best depends entirely on how good the others are.
Lord help me to meet this self-imposed and totally unnecessary challenge
Get out of my way – I am in a hurry to rush home and relax
I need to learn some patience – where can I get a crash course?
I want to dominate – to whom should I apply for permission?
It is possible that I am wrong – but that’s never at the top of my list of possibilities
I’ve tried talking to animals but I usually find their minds are already made up.
To the tax office: its all over between us – please don’t attempt to communicate with me again
How can we make a mutiny if nobody’s in command
My life has been greatly influenced by many books which I have never read
Whenever I come to a turning point in my life – I just go straight on
Success ahead is always much better than success behind: but much less certain
The only thing that keeps me going is that I’ve forgotten how to stop
I don’t know what I’m looking for – that’s what makes the search to exciting
All I want is a warm bed, a kind word, and unlimited power
All I want is a little thing called total satisfaction
Success for some people depends on becoming well-known, for others it depends on never being found out
Doing it wrong fast is at least better than doing it wrong slowly
Change enough of the little pictures, and you’ll find you’ve changed the big picture
One way to making a big mistake is to start by putting many small mistakes together
Let’s be proud of what we are; regardless of the facts
Anger
Beserk & Amok are my two best friends
Going beserk and running amok are simply my ways of coping
By the shear force of my personality I alienate most of the people around me
Its not enough to have to have something to fight for, I also need something to fight against
Reason should not be resorted to until all attempts at a solution by force have been exhausted
The only good thing about anger is that it proves you have feelings
I would never deliberately hurt myself except in self-defence
All my enemies are potential friends – even though they may not be aware of it
Most of my threats do me no good at all if I have to carry them out
Not everything I dislike should be destroyed; some of it should simply be moved further away
Worry
Some people spend all their life worrying about the destination
Apathy
Few people know that for years I have been quietly wasting my time
How can I challenge myself when I know I am only bluffing
How can I do better tomorrow than today if there is no agreement about how I did today
I would save a lot of effort if I could operate myself by remote control
I have the rest of my life to improve but it may take longer than that
If I always did my best, then how would anyone know if was my best
I’m not much of a talker but I’m not much of a doer either
What shall I do with my God-given lack of talent?
I am torn between all the things that I don’t want to do.
What I want to feel is brave and adventurous, without actually having to risk anything
We mustn’t act hastily, let’s wait until our enthusiasm evaporates gradually
Facts should never be faced too early in the morning.
I can accept the inconvenient and the unjust but I cannot accept the inevitable.
The reason I never do anything is that there’s always something else to do first.
With a little more courage, I could get myself into a lot more trouble
I find being awake very tiring
I try to avoid stressful activities – that’s why I have so much free time.
Isn’t life hard enough without having to exercise
If you want to spend tomorrow being glad you did it, you have to do it today
For me, the easy things are so difficult that I never have time to attempt the hard ones
We can’t all be winners but we can all be tryers
Life isn’t easy, sometimes it’s all I can do to stay unconscious
What I need is a job I can get without ever having to make a good impression
Life is too short to do everything but too long to do nothing
I can’t believe its a whole year since whatever happened a year ago
The best ways of passing time are those that help you to forget that time is passing
Given enough time I can adjust to anything, but I’ve never yet been given enough time
A calender is a strange king of clock that gains 24hrs every day
I am glad the future hasn’t come yet, because I don’t think I could handle it right now.
Next time – I intend to be thoroughly prepared – for the last time
We get some kind of weather here nearly everyday day of your lifetime
Modern travel would be totally delightful if I could only learn to enjoy boredom, discomfort, fatigue
No journey is ever complete until you come back again.
In order to be ready when needed, you must unfortunately be ready when not needed.
If I do enough different things in enough different ways, I may eventually do something right
The surest way to learn is by doing it – but sometimes it is best to learn not to do it
I am torn by conflicting apathies
I’m thinking of quitting all of my activities in order to devote full-time to my boredom
Apathy
Not now – and maybe not later either
If I don’t do it today – what will I have to be glad or sorry about tomorrow
It would save so much time, If we could all be born knowing everything that’s ready known
I am in favor of self-reliance, especially if it prevents other people from relying on me
As time goes on, fewer and fewer things have ever been done before
Everything takes longer than you expect – even when you expect it to take longer than you expect
I love information, what I don’t like is having to do something with it
Once my potential is fulfilled – where will I get more potential?
What if nothing ever happens to me?
I don’t think I can face another year of annual events
It’s too late in the day to relax; I’ll have to go straight to bed
When I am sure I am right then nothing can stop me; but I’m never that sure
How can I do what’s expected of me if nobody expects anything of me
Keep taking chances; this could be your lucky life
Persevere! You can’t do anything a hundred times before you’ve done it ninety-nine
Don’t worry if you keep putting off decisions: eventually they’ll be made for you.
Shamus says ‘can’t be ars’d’
Some of my problems turn out to be more permanent than others.
There are somethings that children cannot know because they only learn them as adults
Communication
I want to reach your mind; where is it currently located?
I want to reach your mind, where can I find it?
What good is freedom of speech unless there are people who will listen
I disagree with everything you say, but I respect your right to be punished for saying it
Why has it taken me so long to tell you that I find it hard to communicate
The mind is a wonderful thing – everybody should have one
Mind if I think
Sometimes I make a mental note, but then forget where I put it
Purely by chance, the idea came to me that nothing ever happens purely by chance
Unfortunately it’s possible to do something extremely well that nobody ever wants done
This is no time to be reasonable
Thinking is a good exercise for the brain – unfortunately this applies to right and wrong thinking
It seems like only yesterday that we were calling today tomorrow
My strange behaviour as a child is easily explained: I was training to become a strange adult
My body usually knows what it wants but my mind is often much less certain
Always take your vitamins in alphabetical order;
The doctors have been doing everything in their power, but somehow I am still alive
My mind is resting so please don’t insert any troublesome thoughts
Frequent exertion is one way to prevent the pains caused by infrequent exertion
The main reason for wanting to stay healthy is so that I can keep doing my exercises
Don’t get well too soon; your an inspiration to us.
It costs money to stay healthy; but it’s even more expensive to get sick.
My struggle to remain healthy is gradually killing me
Questioning the Answers
Is it better to leave life still wanting more or satisfied that you’ve had enough
What exactly is life; I need to know before I can make important decisions
Life is part of a great adventure that I’m having
As soon as everybody chooses the wrong side, then by some miracle it becomes the right side
Aren’t I lucky to have survived so much bad luck
If only I could always have a good reputation without always having to be good
The future may consider me wrong the future may not necessarily be right
Confidence
Who I really am is one of those difficult questions I prefer to leave to the experts
Unfortunately my ability to stay unhappy for long periods of time has very little practical value
As a part of general amnesty, I have decided to forgive myself
I am the best me in the world
A certain group of experts can learn almost any language – they’re called babies
Sometimes the best thing you can do for your body is to leave it alone
To find out where you are it is sometimes necessary to go somewhere else
Why are my rehearsals so much better than my performances
How little I know about myself! Although I’m considered a leading authority on the subject
I want to be taken seriously! Isn’t that a joke
I’m a good leader if you don’t try to follow me too closely
I have to live with myself so I have to tolerate many things I dislike about me.
Somehow I have to play my role in life as a gifted beautiful well adjusted personality
Is there at least one person who believes in me?
How can I hope to be sure about you, when I’m not even sure about me?
To what do you attribute your total lack of appeal?
Life can be very deep – I try to stay at the shallow end
Why should I be the one to compromise – when I am the one who’s right?
The true artist is one who insists on producing a supply whether or not there’s any demand
My great ambition is to secure a speaking part in my own lifetime
Sometimes I think I understand everything – then I regain consciousness
In the continuing war between good and evil; those of us with any sense will remain neutral
If I ever become a saint; it will be a miracle
Conflict
Lets respect each other’s views; no matter how wrong yours may be.
I’ll be glad to discuss the problem as soon as you remove your hands from my throat
Its no good agreeing with a person who can’t make up their own mind
Don’t change a thing I like your inferiority just the way it is.
If I can’t have your full support; can I request a little less of your opposition?
I very much want to understand you because that would be a totally new experience
Liking who you are is sometimes much easier for me that liking what you do
I have right to ruin my life but you have no right to help me do it.
You were meant for me – perhaps as my punishment
Have you every considered what a rare privilege it is to be personally rejected by me.
Nobody ever told me love would be such hard work
We can’t yet cure all diseases but we are already expert at causing many of them.
There is a vast region of enormous potential located somewhere between your ears
Isn’t it surprising what terrible things people will do just to change a line on a map
The best way to stop threatening each other is to find something that threatens us all
Many problems could be solved if more people would just go and live somewhere else
We don’t need laws to make people care more about each other, what we need are disasters
As a goodwill gesture I will refrain from punching you on the nose
Must I risk my own sanity in trying to rescue yours
I know I am being fair when both sides accuse me of unfairness
What happened to you could have been worse – it could have happened to me
Will you be offended if I don’t envy you?
Correct me if I’m wrong, at your own risk
Even though it’s true; it can still be very insulting
Today I hate you, but try me again tomorrow
Why doesn’t it hurt you more when you hurt me?
I know there is something troubling you – is it me?
Must it always be you and me against me?
It’s not you I’m angry with – I’m angry at myself for letting you upset me
I’m very sensitive to pleasure – please don’t come too near me
I blame myself for not blaming you sooner
Wait! Come back! There’s a part of my face you haven’t stepped on yet!
Never expect fairness where my vital interests are concerned
How can you call it unreasonable when all I want is my own way
A good friend is worth pursuing – but why are they running away?
Somewhere there ought to be a club – for anti-social people
Confusion
Try to have an open mind but not so open that everything keeps falling out
Some of my instincts tell me not to follow some of my other instincts
Sometimes my mind and my heart give confusing messages, but my stomach gives clear messages
On this great voyage of life, why do I feel so often like a stowaway?
My life is already complicated enough without having to try to organise it
Why is the place I want to be… often far from where I am?
I will face the problem of how to live when I come to it.
It’s surprising how far you can go through life without ever having what you really need
There is no law against insanity.
I make the occasional visit to reality, but I am not a full-time resident
Congratulate me! I’ve just had another narrow escape from reality
By what process did I become a stranger in my own lifetime
I would like to speak with whoever is in control of my life and suggest some improvements
Let’s make it definite; I’ll see you when I see you
It’s not that I don’t trust you – or is it?
I feel the same way I did before I changed my mind
Wake me up when everything is organised
I never miss reality when I am not in it
The closer I get to my goal, the better my chance of discovering what it is.
My life shown a clear pattern of total unpredictability
Control
But if we eliminate too many unnecessary regulations, too many people may loose their jobs
Fool employment
It troubles me that I have no way of knowing what I have no way of knowing
Don’t cross over until you’re sure there’s another side
I make rules for myself quite easily, but I often have great difficulty following them
I am a potentially very dangerous influence on myself because I know my weaknesses so well
I want a signed apology from the world for the way it has been treating me
Considering the direction things are going, it’s impossible to predict in which direction they’ll be going next.
If we conceal all our embarrassing peculiarities, we’ll never know how many of us have them
Courage
Some minds will never change until enough people are willing to risk their lives to change them
Most of us live in safety only because some of us are always willing to face danger
I won’t let go of the past until you prove that I’ll never need it in the future
Why have I been singled out to be so ordinary?
The truth is we hide the same secrets on the same page
I’ve seen better days and worse days but this is the only day I’ll see today
Don’t do what you shouldn’t unless there’s a very good reason why you shouldn’t
Be brave and remember the worst that can happen is the worst that can happened
Death
One thing certain about death is that it’s an extremely inconvenient disability
If death doesn’t solve my problems then I’ll know I’m really in trouble
Think of death as a learning experience
How can I be sure that staying alive is really to my advantage
Stay alive – it’s the least you can do
I can take reality in small doses but life is much too big a dose
Now that I see what kind of game life is, I’m not sure that I want to play
Life is a wonderful opportunity – I wish it had come when I was more ready for it
My lifetime is just a moment in eternity, but it’s an important moment for me
Life can be an interesting worthwhile experience from beginning to end
The world is full of opportunities including numerous opportunities to get killed
I may be forgotten but I’m not gone
Officially we begin at birth and end at death, but it’s really much more complicated than that.
If only there was some way to learn in advance whose side time is on
Is it better to die before your memories or to have your memories die first
One requirement for staying completely healthy until you die – is to die very suddenly
No sense in dying before lunch
By what right do I hold the power of life and death over myself?
After coming this far in life; I might as well go all the way.
Try to live forever; you may not succeed but it’s worth the effort
Excess
Donations are desperately needed to support my reckless extravagance
I am on a special mental health diet – I can only eat what I enjoy
We are not responsible for our ancestors deeds, so why should they make us feel proud or shamed
If only I could relate to the people I am related too.
The only thing I fear is fear itself; but of fear itself I am scared to death
Meet me half way – you need the exercise
Instead of past present and future; you’d prefer chocolate , vanilla and strawberry
I may not be prosperous but at least I am overweight
If it’s sweet, it wants me to eat it
How can so many things that I have no more use for – still mean so much to me?
Guilt
You can’t have the joy of repenting unless you sin first
Where do people go to recover from being normal
I’m blameless and if even if I wasn’t, others are just as much to blame as me
I am only behaving well at present because I have so few opportunities to behave badly
Every time I do what I have to do, I get a little farther into trouble
The important thing is not to solve the problem but to fix the blameless
I’ve deserted from the war between good and evil but I can’t remember which side I was on
Watch out – it’s quite possible that some of best mistakes haven’t been made yet
First I lost my innocence; now I am trying to lose my guilt
Keep punishing yourself – you probably deserve it
Sometimes the worst possible punishment is to be completely forgiven
Deciding I’m guilty is easy, what’s hard is deciding on the length and severity of my punishment
