# Quotable Short Sun *The Whorl list — 4 messages, 4 voices, 15 Jun 2001* > Exported from an unofficial mirror of a public mailing list. Copyright > in each message remains with the person who wrote it. > Email addresses are obscured as `user at host`, the form the original > archive published. This file was rebuilt from parsed fields rather than > retained headers, so it is faithful in content but not byte-exact. --- ### Doug Eigsti *15 Jun 2001, 04:38* One of the reasons I read Gene Wolfe is for the great lines. Here then are some to roll off your tongue. Again. THE QUOTABLE SHORT SUN page.paragraph (- indicates from the bottom) ON BLUE’S WATERS 122.-2 Sometimes it is better to make haste slowly. 185.2 If you wish to do a thing again, you must do it slowly. 185.2 What is written with great rapidity is rarely read, or worth reading. 211.3 Paradoxes explain everything. Since they do, they can’t be explained. 234.3 A closed mouth catches nae flies. 237.-1 The eyes see what the mind expects. 257.2 We are every bit as human as you are, whatever that means. 284.-2 If I need more courage than I have to live, I will pretend to have it and live anyway. 309.-2 A prisoner is free to get away if he can. I am no prisoner, and so cannot. 340.8 I never told you how it was for me when you died. 348.-2 Buildings are temporary. Ideas permanent. 354.6 Well, I can report that I’m in the god’s good books, since they’ve provided an unmistakable sign of their favor [humility]. 381.-2 I’m old now and soon must leave you, But a fairer maid I ne’er did see. Curse me not that I bereave you, I cannot stay, no more would she. These fair young girls live to deceive you, Sad experience teaches me. IN GREEN’S JUNGLES 18.-6 A wise man never harms another unless he intends to harm. 24.-2 Experience is a wonderful teacher, but one whose lessons come to late. 32.2 If work’s a good thing, why don’t the rich take it? 48.2 Fight to the end, but fight to somebody else’s end. 68.2 All stories are false, and none are falser than those that are supposed to be true. The lie adds a second layer of falsity. 74.-1 People of quality write letters. 76.-4 It is nothing to say, “I will be logical.” It is everything to be logical. 155.-4 At least I know how little I know. 219.-4 [Definition of peace] A period of cheating between two periods of fighting. 247.3 Interest, excitement and heroics enough for every quill in Oreb’s wings. 274.3 A war is never really won until the enemy’s ability to wage war no longer exists. 352.3 I won’t secure my safety at the price of my honor. RETURN TO THE WHORL 117.-3 Real stories, real events, never really end. 122.5 Silence and darkness, and the weight of years. 131.3 “Pretty often I thought I could have made it better,” to this Pas replied, “Yes, that’s what I wanted you to do.” 142.2 We are but the paper. Our clothes are the ink. 179.3 I’m causing him pain... Only children believe that there is no difference between cruelty and education. 182.-3 Are you sure?... No, but I’m going to bet my life on it… 184.-1 Besides, to line out is to accept responsibility of all that is let stand… No there really are such things as honest mistakes; this account is full of them, and I intend to leave it that way. 214.4 One could not forget what one had not known. 227.9 I’ve learned that I have a sort of mania for writing down conversations. 230.2 We live our lives in our thoughts or we do not live. 230.4 How do people with whom we walk in our dreams perceive our waking? 235.-1 A good woman’s hair is never of a bad color. 235.-3 Only love sees the unveiled truth. 241.-2 [from the Charasmologic Writings] There where a fountain’s gurgling waters play, they rush to land, and end in feast the day: they feed; then quaff; and now (their hunger fled) sigh for their friends and mourn the dead; nor cease their tears till each in slumber shares a sweet forgetfulness of human cares. Now far the night advances her gloomy reign, And setting stars roll down the azure plain: At the voice of Pas wild whirlwinds rise, And clouds and double darkness veil the skies. 246.4 It’s far better to..to have a bad leg or something of the sort than a propensity for evil. 262.-4 Leave beauty to your words. If your letters can be read, for them that is beauty enough. 271.2 Why are people mean? Because they separate themselves from the Outsider. 271.-4 It’s only a walking stick when I walk with it. 272.-3 But it would be easier to overturn a mountain than to replace it. 275.2 A bad horse needs a big whip. 232.-2 Whispers swept the throng that filled the Grand Mantieon as a breeze sweeps a forest in leaf. 338.-3 If you rob someone who would help you if you needed help you only rob yourself. =Talon= *This is WHORL, for discussion of Gene Wolfe's Book of the Long Sun. --- ### Jerry Friedman *15 Jun 2001, 09:01 · follows Doug Eigsti* > --- Doug Eigsti wrote: > One of the reasons I read Gene Wolfe is for the > great > lines. Here then are some to roll off your tongue. > Again. > > THE QUOTABLE SHORT SUN > page.paragraph (- indicates from the bottom) > > ON BLUE’S WATERS > > 122.-2 Sometimes it is better to make haste slowly. Augustus Caesar, "Festina lente" (make hast slowly). > 185.2 If you wish to do a thing again, you must do > it slowly. ;-) ... > 234.3 A closed mouth catches nae flies. A European proverb. Prosper Merrimee cites a Romany version in "Carmen" (a recommended story--the long version has the weirdest ending I've ever read), and translates it into French as "En close bouche n'entre point mouche", but I'll bet it's much older. > 237.-1 The eyes see what the mind expects. An old one--anybody know an original source? > 257.2 We are every bit as human as you are, whatever > that means. *smile* ... > 381.-2 > I’m old now and soon must leave you, > But a fairer maid I ne’er did see. > Curse me not that I bereave you, > I cannot stay, no more would she. > These fair young girls live to deceive you, > Sad experience teaches me. One of Wolfe's best, I think, though his supposed folk songs always strike me as too smooth. > IN GREEN’S JUNGLES > > 18.-6 A wise man never harms another unless he > intends to harm. "A gentleman is one who never gives offense unintentionally." Don't remember the source. > 24.-2 Experience is a wonderful teacher, but one > whose lessons come too late. I feel fairly sure this is a quotation from somewhere. > 32.2 If work’s a good thing, why don’t the rich take > it? Ditto (not quite as sure). ... > 155.-4 At least I know how little I know. Ditto. ... > 247.3 Interest, excitement and heroics enough for > every quill in Oreb’s wings. Good thing birds molt. ... > RETURN TO THE WHORL ... Jerry Friedman --- ### Dan'l Danehy-Oakes *15 Jun 2001, 09:21 · follows Jerry Friedman* >> 24.-2 Experience is a wonderful teacher, but one >> whose lessons come too late. > I feel fairly sure this is a quotation from somewhere. I think the usual form is "Experience is what you get right after you need it," which I've seen attributed to Robert Fripp, but it's probably older than that. >> 155.-4 At least I know how little I know. > Ditto. Socrates. It's all in Plato -- what _do_ they teach them in these schools? *This is WHORL, for discussion of Gene Wolfe's Book of the Long Sun. --- ### Betty, Brian *15 Jun 2001, 12:11 · follows Dan'l Danehy-Oakes* Jerry F. wrote: "A gentleman is one who never gives offense unintentionally." Don't remember the source. I first heard that from Robert A. Heinlein, but I doubt he's the originator. ;- ) Anna June ************* Surah 101: The Calamity (al-Qari'a) The qari'a What is the qari'a? What can tell you of the qari'a? A day humankind are like moths scattered And mountains are like fluffs of wool Whoever's scales weigh heavy His is a life that is pleasing His mother is Haayiyat What can tell you what she is? Raging fire *This is WHORL, for discussion of Gene Wolfe's Book of the Long Sun. ---