ON: SAINTHOOD

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

A saint is he whose vices die with him while his virtues live on forever.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

I thought that a saint is someone who knows how to have a better press image after death than before. 

You may also be interested in a formerly denied poetic work by the emetic Emily Dickinson, “A Great Challenge before me Lies.”  Should you wish to appreciate it, please visit the following site. http://vinlewis.typepad.com/emily_dickinson/    

Several books by Vincent P. Lewis are available on-line at Amazon and Lulu.  Please search by author’s name.  

ON: ANGER MANAGEMENT

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

Old advice is that one shoudol not go to bed angry.  I agree.  One of the parties should sleep on the couch. 

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

I would add that going to bed drunk is also an alternative. 

You may also be interested in a formerly denied poetic work by the emetic Emily Dickinson, “The Human Heart Seeks Itself.”  Should you wish to appreciate it, please visit the following site. http://vinlewis.typepad.com/emily_dickinson/    

Several books by Vincent P. Lewis are available on-line at Amazon and Lulu.  Please search by author’s name.  

ON: LOVE

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

Love is seldom given; it is most often returned.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

Love can’t be owned, like a house.  However, long term leases are often possible.  

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

A truly great artist can explain away any mistake as an intention expansion of technique.    

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

If Mr. Wilde were correct then, contrary to popular belief, no artist could be great after his death.  

You may also be interested in a formerly denied poetic work by the emetic Emily Dickinson, “Death Comes to All Who Live.”  Should you wish to appreciate it, please visit the following site. http://vinlewis.typepad.com/emily_dickinson/     

Several books by Vincent P. Lewis are available on-line at Amazon and Lulu.  Please search by author’s name.  

ON: SELF PRAISE

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

Self praise is allowable to the degree that one exceeds the next highest person… if there were one.  This is what I have been told by thos who can measure this difference. 

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

I would engage in self praise is I knew how.  I suppose that I am just too good at being humble.  

ON: SHARING SORROW

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

Women, when they share a sorrow with a friend, feel that it has become only half as bad.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

Men less often than women share a trouble, for they believe that they duplicate the sorrow by doing so. 

You may also be interested in a formerly denied poetic work by the emetic Emily Dickinson, “Does the Dumb Animal Soul Know?”  Should you wish to appreciate it, please visit the following site. http://vinlewis.typepad.com/emily_dickinson/    

Several books by Vincent P. Lewis are available on-line at Amazon and Lulu.  Please search by author’s name.  

ON: THE NATURE OF ART

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES                  

Nature is real, but not perfect.  Good art is perfect, but not real.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

Art which is pleasing is considered valuable only if very old.  It is the opposite with women. 

You may also be interested in a formerly denied poetic work by the emetic Emily Dickinson, “A Cat Comes Silently into my Room.”  Should you wish to appreciate it, please visit the following site. http://vinlewis.typepad.com/emily_dickinson/    

Several books by Vincent P. Lewis are available on-line at Amazon and Lulu.  Please search by author’s name.  

ON: WISDOM

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

Wisdom is that small voice that keeps saying “no.”  Unfortunately, it gets louder as we get older.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

That voice gets louder because, after a life of foolishness, we are inclined to become deaf. 

You may also be interested in a formerly denied poetic work by the emetic Emily Dickinson, “Clouds Can Change Themselves.”  Should you wish to appreciate it, please visit the following site. http://vinlewis.typepad.com/emily_dickinson/    

Several books by Vincent P. Lewis are available on-line at Amazon and Lulu.  Please search by author’s name.  

ON: HUMILITY

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

Humility means to expect the same results from others as I do from myself.  Thus, if I insult another for failing to meet my standards, I am only being humble.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

Well, that certainly is something to be proud of.

You may also be interested in a formerly denied poetic work by the emetic Emily Dickinson, “I Saw a Little Bird Alight.”  Should you wish to appreciate it, please visit the following site. http://vinlewis.typepad.com/emily_dickinson/    

Several books by Vincent P. Lewis are available on-line at Amazon and Lulu.  Please search by author’s name.  

ON: DREAMS

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

Dreamers do not see the world as it is, or as it could be, but as what it should become.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

Daydreaming can be cured by a good long nap. 

You may also be interested in a formerly suppressed poetic work by the (in)famous and suppressed Emily Dickinson, “The Hunted Deer.”  Should you wish to attempt to understand it, please visit the following site.

 http://vinlewis.typepad.com/emily_dickinson/    

Several books by Vincent P. Lewis are available on-line at Amazon and Lulu.  Please search by author’s name.  

ON: ATHEISM

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

Being an atheist requires great strength of will.  The status requires, at the same time, the conquest of both innate rationality and passionate desire.   

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

I practice a type of reciprocal atheism.  I ignore the Creator while on Earth, and I expect him to ignore me after death.   

ON: LOVE AND THE HEART

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

Love fills one hole in the heart while creating another.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

I thought that those things were called valves.  

ON: BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

He who writes a chidrens’ book that can be appreciated only by children is similar to a composer who writes a song that can be sung only by an opera singer. 

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

He who writes a book only for children forgets that such books are purchased by adults.  

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

The difference between Liberals and Conservatives can be explained using the sinking Titanic as a metaphor.  The Liberals would require everyone to drink to the point that they could neither find nor control the lifeboats.  The Conservatives would insist that the people pay for their last drinks. 

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

I am certain that, in such a case, the Liberals would force the Conservatives to pay for everyone.  Their sole principle is never to pay for their own programs. 

You may also be interested in a newly discovered poetic effort by the (post)humous Emily Dickinson, “Time Itself is out of Time.”  To attempt to appreciate it, please visit the following.

http://vinlewis.typepad.com/emily_dickinson/    

Several books by Vincent P. Lewis are available on-line at Amazon and Lulu.  Please search by author’s name.  

ON: ARTISTIC SUCCESS

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

Success in art hides technique.  The effort involved is noticeable only when the result is failure.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

Success in art hides poverty.   

ON: MONEY AND HAPPINESS

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES         

The pursuit of money does not lead to happiness.  Happiness is the result of the possession of money. 

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

Mister Wilde is wrong.  It is the possession of things that money can buy, with a little more left over.  

ON: DISTORTING REALITY

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES
Although we can not change reality a truly intelligent person can describe it in such a fashion so as to change perception to the exact opposite.  


MARK TWAIN REMARKS
If distorting reality is the goal, it is easier to lie... or drink a lot.

ON: LITERATURE'S ROLE

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

Literature elevates the reader not so much by showing him the heights others have reached, but by showing him the heights that can be conceived by man. 

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

Too often literature shows man new ways to do things and then avoid getting caught.     

You may also be interested in a formerly suppressed poetic work by the (in)famous and suppressed Emily Dickinson, “The Lonely House Sees Many pass.”  Should you wish to attempt to understand it, please visit the following site.

  http://vinlewis.typepad.com/emily_dickinson/    

Several books by Vincent P. Lewis are available on-line at Amazon and Lulu.  Please search by author’s name.  

ON: FAITH

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES
A very small amount of hope can induce great faith.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS
I found that a small amount of ignorance will serve just as well.