The first new works from Oscar Wilde and Mark Twain in over a century...

ON: GOOD MANNERS

2012-02-24T16:46:00.004-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

Good manners means treating superiorsas if they were truly better than you and treating inferiors better than theydeserve.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

Good manners mean that people will bemore inclined to invite you back, even when they do not have to.

Originalworks by Vincent Lewis can be obtained online at Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: EXPERIENCE

2012-02-23T20:47:00.003-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES
The difference between an experience and a memory is that an experience changes one's life, while a memory can be changed to match the circumstances.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS
I keep learning from experience, but hope keeps making me forget the lessons.

Books by Vincent P Lewis are available on line at Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: THE ARTIST

2012-02-22T15:05:00.003-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

If an artist seeks only to satisfy an audience, and nothimself, then he is only a craftsman, concerned with function and profit, and not with eternity.

MARK TWAINREMARKS

An artistwho seeks only to satisfy himself needs only one thing… a day job that payswell.

Worksby Vincent Lewis are available on line at Lulu.com and Amazon.

ON: TRUE WORTH

2012-02-21T15:23:00.003-05:00

OSCAR

It is the direction in which we face,and not how far we are from the goal in which we are interested, thatdetermines our true worth.

MARK

Our true worth, often, isdetermined by the interest we earn.

Works by the author of the blog are available via Amazon.com and Lulu.com

ON: CIVIL SERVANTS

2012-02-20T12:20:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

Regardless of what laws are passed orregulations decreed, it is only the dedicated civil servant who actually causes all themischief.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

We can only be grateful thatprovidence has produced so few of them.

Worksby Vincent Lewis are available on line at Amazon and Lulu.com

ON: CRIMINAL JUSTICE

2012-02-19T13:58:00.002-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES
It has been said that justice is better served by having nine guilty men go free than by having one innocent man suffer. This must have been said by one of those guilty.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS
A nine to one ratio of guilty to innocent...? We are talking about Congress, are we not?

Additional wonderful works by Vincent Lewis are available online at Lulu.com and Amazon.

ON: THE USE OF HISTORY

2012-02-18T18:09:00.004-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES
Cicero wrote that history may be used to learn from the lives and mistakes of others. I would do this... if anyone had ever lived a life as unique as I.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS
The primary purpose of history is to provide a relatively harmless function for history teachers, lest they all be forced to become insurance agents.

Other works by Vincent Lewis are available via Amazon and Lulu.com

ON: THE SERIOUSLY RELIGIOUS

2012-02-17T14:51:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

In the openly religious hypocrisy mayirritate us, but sincerity torments our souls.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

The seriously religious person isseriously annoying only when he is not seriously amusing. Fortunately, this is not often.

Worksby Vincent Lewis are available online at Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: THE YOUNGER GENERATION

2012-02-16T12:50:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

This current younger generation is nomore troubled than any other. It is simplythat they employ an advanced technology in making their whining heard.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

So the medium is the message afterall.

Worksby Vincent Lewis are available online via Lulu.com and Amazon.

ON: STEALING FROM OTHER WRITERS

2012-02-15T13:18:00.004-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

I see nothing wrong with stealingfrom other writers. It does require anexceptional talent to select what to choose, and an even higher talent to concealthe theft from readers.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

I wonder if he would mind if Irepeated this without attribution.

ON: FEMINISM

2012-02-14T14:09:00.002-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

The basic problem with feminists isthat they MS-identify the remedies to their discontent as the causes.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

By rejecting femininity, and seeking ahigher equality with males, the feminists, by necessity, assert their owninferiority.

Works by Vincent Lewis are available on line at Amazon and Lulu.com

ON: "HISTORY WILL JUDGE"

2012-02-13T14:18:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

“History will judge” does not meanhistory---which is inanimate----could judge anything. History almost always becomes nothing morethan what the publishers of history books judge will sell.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

I shall be interested in how historywill judge that judgment.

Works by Vincent Lewis are availableonline via Lulu.com and Amazon.

ON: PERFECTION AND SIN

2012-02-12T11:16:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

No man is perfect. Thank God. How else could our gossip aobut others be so interesting?

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

I had thought that my sins wereonly my own pleasing faults. Now I find that Iam serving others with my vices.

Other works by Vincent Lewis are available on Lulu.com and Amazon... and sometimes ebay.

ON: MODERN TIMES

2012-02-11T10:10:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES
A major error of modern times is that because so much more is now known we therefore believe that we make fewer errors.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS
I could be in error, but I believe that he is.

Books by Vin Lewis are available via Amazon and Lulu.com

ON: THEOLOGY

2012-02-10T15:30:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

We do not want a just God, regardlessof what we say in our prayers. We want aharsh God to judge our enemies, and a merciful God to forgive our sins. Reconciling this, without becomingpolytheists, is the perpetual theological problem.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

I shall not dare to comment on thenature of the Deity. I shall simply hopethat the angel bookkeeper in charge of my accounts is rather careless, or canbe bribed with a cigar.

Other works from Vincent Lewis are available on Lulu.com and Amazon.

ON: COMPARISONS

2012-02-09T10:57:00.003-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

I never sought to be superior toothers. I sought only to satisfymy own standards. Surpassing others was simply anunavoidable coincidence.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

I don’t compare myself toothers. My wife does woman’s work betterthan I.

Booksby Vincent P Lewis are available on Lulu.com and Amazon.com.

ON: CHILD VERSUS ADULT

2012-02-08T11:59:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

With regard to the future, the childhopes, which is a natural impulse of the heart. In contrast, the adult believes, which is an act of will, employed ofnecessity when facts are undeniable.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

If children were naturally wise theywould hope never to grow up.

Booksby Vincent P Lewis are available on Lulu.com and Amazon.com.

ON: SUFFERING AND HAPPINESS

2012-02-07T10:06:00.006-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

The more one has suffered in the pastthe more one can deal with sorrows, andappreciate happiness, now.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

According to Mr. Wilde, those mostable to enjoy happiness are those who have had it the least.

Books by Vincent P Lewis areavailable on Lulu.com and Amazon.com.

ON: SIMPLIFICATION

2012-02-06T14:21:00.004-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

Any attempt to simplify the nature ofgood poetry is as coarse and foolish as attempting to simplify the actions ofthe heart of a woman.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

It may not be impossible to simplifya woman… no, it is impossible!

Books by theauthor are available at Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: FAVORS

2012-02-05T16:39:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES
I am always grateful for small favors done for me by others. When one is as near perfection as I, these are all anyone can do for me.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS
When a person is able to do me a large favor, he is not willing. And when he is willing... come to think about it, people just are not willing to do large favors.

ON: SINNERS

2012-02-04T09:35:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES
The lesser sinner seeks repentance, because the world disapproves of his sins. The greater sinner seeks to change the world, so that his sins will be approved.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS
I disagree. Our world already is clearly the creation of great sinners.

ON: INSPIRATION

2012-02-03T11:58:00.003-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

An unrestricted impulse becomes aninspiration. An indulged inspiration thenbecomes creativity. Analyzed creativity thenbecomes art.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

An unrestricted impulse becomes incarceration.

Books by theauthor of this blog are available at Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: ART

2012-02-02T13:28:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

The most difficult part of artistic creation is toimitate without slavish duplication.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

The most difficult part of artistic creation is toimitate without slavish duplication.

Oscar’snew play, The Importance of Being theBride of the Son of Frank-enstein, is available on Amazon andLulu.com.

ON: THE INTELLECTUAL

2012-02-01T14:00:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

An intellectual is a man who devisesnew ways to misidentify old vices as revised virtues.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

And vice versa… or is it virtueversa?

OscarWilde’s new play, Who’s Afraid of theLong Day’s Journey into the Drawing Room, is available on Amazon andLulu.com.

ON: GOOD THEATER

2012-01-31T08:26:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

Good theater is real lifeconcentrated and clarified… and censored.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

Good theater contains actors whospeak loud enough to be heard. Good badtheater contains actors who speak softly enough that you can sleep through theperformance.

OscarWilde’s new play, Who’s Afraid of theLong Day’s Journey into the Drawing Room, is available on Amazon andLulu.com.

ON: KNOWLEDGE

2012-01-30T16:03:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

The only way to know how much one knowsabout a subject is to know how much is still to be known.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

I don’t know about that… or maybe Ido.

OscarWilde’s new play, Who’s Afraid of theLong Day’s Journey into the Drawing Room, is available on Amazon andLulu.com.

ON: CREATIVITY

2012-01-28T17:54:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES
The truly creative man, by creating something new, seeks to improve the entire world by expanding himself.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS
And vice verse... I think.

ON: YOUTH AND WISDOM

2012-01-27T13:51:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

We generally do not expect wisdomfrom youths because youth is often too consumed in enjoying life.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

At least we hope that they are… andthat we were.

OscarWilde’s new play, Who’s Afraid of theLong Day’s Journey into the Drawing Room, is available on Amazon andLulu.com.

ON: THE USE OF RELIGION

2012-01-26T09:53:00.002-05:00

OSCARWILDE OBSERVES

Ido not object to religion being used as a crutch. A good crutch will prevent repeatedfalls. The original one by Adam was more than enough.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

The problem with many ministers isthat they keep sell crutches at excessive prices.

Oscar’snew play, The Importance of Being theBride of the Son of Frank-enstein, is available on Amazon andLulu.com.

ON: WISDOM

2012-01-25T19:19:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES
There is more true wisdom available from a box of fortune cookies than in the philosophy classes of any modern university.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS
This is a completely untrue evaluation. The two resources are completely equal.

ON: POLITICIANS

2012-01-24T12:35:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

The truly skillful politician doesnot evade questions. Instead hemanipulates the circumstances so that he is asked only what he wants to beasked.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

Mr. Wilde’s comment makes me wonderwhy all politicians are not women.

Oscar’snew play, The Importance of Being theBride of the Son of Frankenstein, is available on Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: INSANITY

2012-01-23T14:50:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

There is a famous quote attributed toEinstein. It is that the definition ofinsanity is repeating the same action and expecting different results. I find it odd that the people who cite thisrepeat it endlessly, somehow expecting different reactions each time.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

As I understand it, Edison repeatedhis actions thousands of times before he discovered a practical electriclight. I am quite grateful for such insanefanatics, but I do fear the officially moderate.

Oscar’snew play Who’s Afraid of the Long Day’sJourney into the Drawing Room is available on Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: SUCCESS

2012-01-22T06:55:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES
A man who is judged successful by others is one who is valued by his successes and not by his attempts.

MARK TWAIN
A man who is judged to be successful is he who has been successful in hiding his failed attempts from the judgments of others.

ON: GOD

2012-01-21T13:54:00.002-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES
Regardless of how we pray, we believe in two gods. There is the God of Mercy and Forgiveness for ourselves, and the God of Harsh Justice for our enemies.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS
I shall avoid commenting directly upon the Divinity. I shall merely say that we all sincerely hope that the angel in charge of keeping our records is a careless fellow.

ON: SOCRATES

2012-01-20T15:46:00.003-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES
Socrates declared that a man should "Be as you wish to seem." I advise that one should be as you wish to be seen (by others).

MARK TWAIN REMARKS
I can see how he feels that way.

ON: AVOIDING PEOPLE

2012-01-19T17:32:00.001-05:00

OSCAE WILDE OBSERVES
Some people are too obtuse to leave after a witty and subtle insult. These are those people who do not use the word "obtuse."

MARK TWAIN REMARKS
To be rid of a person loan him money and pretend that you expect repayment. This is particularly useful with relatives.

ON: THE USE OF HISTORY

2012-01-17T19:29:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES
Cicero says that history may be used to learn from the lives and mistakes of others. I would do so, if any one in the past had been as unique as I.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS
The primary purpose of history is to provide a relatively harmless past-time for history teachers, lest they otherwise become insurance salesmen. As teachers they are slightly less annoying, as they tend to be concentrated in classrooms and thus can more easily be avoided.

ON: BEING SPECIAL

2012-01-15T15:15:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES
No man should attempt to make his wife feel special. Should he succeed she may then feel so special so as not to be satisfied with someone as ordinary as he is.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS
Trying to make my wife judge herself to be special is like trying to increase the sun's internal heat by holding a candle next to it.

ON: HYPOCRISY

2012-01-14T14:26:00.001-05:00

OSCARWILDE OBSERVES

Theonly man who is, at times, not a hypocrite is he whose standards are so adaptable that even he can meet them.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

Hypocrisy is the sincerest admission ofour fallen natures and our inherent knowledge of the good. On second thought, Iam not sure that I believe that.

Oscar’snew play The Importance of Being theBride of the Son of Frankenstein is available on Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: TRUTH

2012-01-13T13:41:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

There is a common sense rule that the“truth lies between the two extremes.” If this were true then it would be only partially true, and thus nottrue at all.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

There are at least two versions to everystory. There is the truth and then thereare the lies.

Oscar’snew play The Importance of Being theBride of the Son of Frankenstein is available on Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: PRAYER

2012-01-12T14:44:00.006-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

We often pray, in petition, to God whenwe want conditions changed. We seldompray, in gratitude, when we do not. Suchis a problem with human nature.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

The fact that we often need to prayfor a change is, in my opinion, a problem with the Divine Nature.

Oscar Wilde’snew play, The Importance of Being theBride of the Son of Frankenstein, is available on Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON" WOMEN AS MYSTERY

2012-01-10T14:49:00.002-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

What a deep mystery is WOMAN! What man can know the depths and hiddenways! It is only time most men seek tobecome lost. And they refuse to ask fordirections.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

Women are not so much mysterious… asthey are too often confused by the same facts that men totally ignore.

Other works by the author are available on Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: CRITICIZING OTHERS

2012-01-09T13:38:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES
We fear most in ourselves what we most attack in others. This is why I find it so difficult to criticize others, no matter how stupid or evil they are... and most are.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS
I can find nothing wrong with that statement.

ON: MONEY AND HAPPINESS

2012-01-08T17:09:00.002-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES
The relation between money and happiness is relative. If you have relatively enough money your relations will be happy.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS
The relation is absolute, but only applies to those relatives who feel that you will still loan them money.

ON: LITERARY STYLE

2012-01-07T10:23:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:
If an author reminds the reader of another then he has merely duplicated. Each successful author creates his own unique and permanent effect.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:
I recall reading somewhere like this somewhere else, but I can't remember who wrote it.

ON: DAILY SUCCESSES

2012-01-06T10:50:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

The success of a day should bedetermined not only by what you have done today, but also by what you were inspiredto do tomorrow.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

I judge such matters by the amount ofwork I was able to put off until tomorrow.

Oscar’snew play The Importance of Being theBride of the Son of Frankenstein is available on Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: ACCOMPLISHMENTS

2012-01-05T10:10:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES"

It is improper to judge a man by his opinion of his own accomplishments. It is proper to judgehim by how much he appreciates mine.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

I define an accomplishment as theamount of work I have done right up to the point of my giving up on it.

Oscar’snew play The Importance of Being theBride of the Son of Frankenstein is available on Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: AUTHOR'S INSPIRATION

2012-01-04T11:04:00.001-05:00

OSCARWILDE OBSERVES

Theprofessional author sees every new acquaintance as either a source of new inspirationor as a potential customer.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

Unfortunately most people fail ineither role.

Oscar’snew play The Importance of Being theBride of the Son of Frankenstein is available on Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: INSPIRATION

2012-01-03T09:28:00.003-05:00

OSCARWILDE OBSERVES: posted

Aproblem with being “inspired” by other authors is that the admiration canevolve into envy… for other authors, that is.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:

I wish that I had written this… in myown way, of course.

Oscar’snew play Who’s Afraid of the Long Day’sJourney into the Drawing Room is available on Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: PREDICTIONS

2012-01-02T16:43:00.002-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:
To be considered a prophet simply wait for the future to occur and then claim that you predicted it.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:
As we spend so much time denying the past I see no reason that we can not deny the future as well.

ON: AMERICAN GREED

2012-01-01T11:37:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:
Not all Americans are motivated primarily by the pursuit of the dollar. They also are interested in its acquisition.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:
The dollar is so highly prized only for one reason. The USA is no longer on the Gold Standard.

Oscar Wilde's new prize winning play The Importance of Being Driven is available on Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: LEADERS

2011-12-31T20:50:00.002-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:
Leadership is getting what you want done by others who think that they want it also.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:
Leaders are frequently chosen by being the last one to be blamed for failures.

Oscar Wilde's version of "The Honeymooners" (The Importance of Being Driven)
is available on Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: FLATTERY

2011-12-29T12:49:00.003-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:
The difference between a true admirer and a flatterer is the difference between belief in past accomplishment versus hope in a future promise.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:
The difference between the two does not matter as long as they each buy a book.

ON: LITERARY CRITICISM

2011-12-28T12:38:00.003-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:
To criticize any literary work is to praise literature in general.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:
A critic is a man who would object that the hangman's rope was not long enough to convey its occupant safely to the ground.

ON: CHRISTMAS

2011-12-26T16:09:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES: Until December 25th Americans rejoice in the birth of "our newborn king." From December 26th onward, they again proclaim democracy as the only moral form of government. When it comes to outright hypocrisy American is still a land of unfilled potential.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:
The atheists will have to find another way to contradict themselves.

ON: BUYING SHOES

2011-12-24T07:35:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:
For a woman the purchase of shoes indicates her personality, taste and impulse control (or lack of same).

MARK TWAIN REMARKS: For a man the purchase of shoes indicates necessity, long past due... or a forthcoming wedding.

Oscar’snew play The Importance of Being theBride of the Son of Frankenstein is now available on Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: FAIRY TALES

2011-12-23T10:36:00.004-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:

Fairy tales are dismissed as fit onlyfor children, as if the triumph of virtue, love and hope are to be expectedonly by children. In such a judgment we seethe state of the world.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:

This is why I have chosen to remain achild… but one who smokes cigars.

Oscar’snew play The Importance of Being theBride of the Son of Frankenstein is available on Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: AMERICAN ELECTIONS

2011-12-22T14:00:00.002-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:

In America presidential elections arecontests between amnesia and gullibility.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:

Usually they are reminders of howgullible we have forgotten we are.

Oscar’snew play Who’s Afraid of the Long Day’sJourney into the Drawing Room is available on Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: CLASSIC WORKS

2011-12-21T16:26:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:

The problem with referring tosomething as a classic is that there is no precise date at which it can be determined that the work has achieved the status.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:

Some people honor the past so muchthat they would not even sweep a floor if the dirt were a few centuriesold.

Oscar’snew play Who’s Afraid of the Long Day’sJourney into the Drawing Room is available on Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: THE THEATER

2011-12-19T16:14:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILD OBSERVES:

The widespread attraction of thetheater is that, despite the difference in prices, those in the orchestra hear thewords at the same time as those in the balcony.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:

The theater is popular as it allows aman to receive credit for taking his wife out for the night, while still sleepthrough the entire thing.

Oscar’snew play Who’s Afraid of the Long Day’sJourney into the Drawing Room is available on Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: APPEARANCES

2011-12-18T17:22:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:
In most instances it takes but two sequential inquiries to distinguish reality from mere appearance.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:
Apparently so... yes, apparently so.

Oscar's new play Who's Afraid of the Long Day's Journey into the Drawing Room is now available on Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: POLITICAL DEBATES

2011-12-17T20:26:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:

A political debate is an event where candidates attempt to hide the obvious in themselves, and expose the same in other opponents.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:

Apolitical debate educates the electorate as to which candidate would help the nation the most by losing the election.

New plays by Oscar Wilde are available on Amazon.

ON: BEING EXCEPTIONAL

2011-12-16T14:48:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:

Exceptions do not “prove therule.” Their unique natures exceedrestrictions. The same applies toexceptional people.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:

I assume that Mr Wilde means this asa general rule.

New Oscar Wilde plays are available on Amazon.

ON: FRIENDS

2011-12-15T14:18:00.002-05:00

OSCARWILDE OBSERVES:

Afriend who deserts when you have become involved in a dangerous undertaking maysimply be more intelligent than you are.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:

A friend who helps you when you havemade a fool of yourself is at the same time probably confirming his opinion ofyou.

Posthumous plays by Oscar Wilde areavailable at Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: VICE AND VIRTUE

2011-12-14T11:02:00.005-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:

The extremely virtuous man is, uponidentification, rejected to the same degree that is the man of extremevice.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:

More so! The seller of vice merely offers us pleasure. The donor of virtue wants us to be better,which is intolerable.

Additional works by Oscar and Mark areavailable at Amazon and Lulu. com, under the name of Vincent Lewis.

ON: CHARITY

2011-12-13T15:51:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:
I do not mind being asked to contribute to charitable causes. It is the expectation that I will do so that irritates me.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:
An act of charity requires both material and intention. The poor alwayslack one while the rich usually lack the other.

New posthumous plays by Oscar Wilde are now available.

ON: PATIENCE

2011-12-12T16:33:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:
Patience is a virtue that can be practiced only when you do not have it.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:
I don't mind being patient; it's only the waiting part that bothers me.

New posthumous works by the authors are available on Amazon and Lulu.com

ON: POLITICAL DEBATES

2011-12-11T11:35:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:
A political debate often is similar to an investigation in which each professional criminal attempts to convince the police that every one else is the guilty party.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:
Rather than giving politicians the benefit of doubt, they are, without doubt, out for their own benefit.

Works by the authors are available on Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: THE MAJORITY

2011-12-10T14:49:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:
There may well be security in numbers but a mob will never follow a genius.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:
Common sense is very often wrong, but most people refuse to admit it.

New works by the authors are available on Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: FACT VERSUS FICTION

2011-12-09T13:47:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:
Those who write that fact is stranger and more interesting than fiction are blessed with a strange life, or cursed with commonplace talent.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:
I do not know if this is fact or fiction,and I am strangely not interested.

Additional works by these authors are available at Amazon and Lulu.com, under the name of Vincent Lewis.

ON: HAPPINESS AND MONEY

2011-12-08T13:25:00.001-05:00

OSCARWILDE OBSERVES:

Moneymay not buy happiness but it makes the attempt to do so far moreinteresting.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:

Happiness and money may be independent but they can happilycoexist.

Books by theauthor are available at Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: FIRST LOVE

2011-12-07T18:36:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:
First love seems incomparable because, by definition, it can be compared to nothing similar.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:
Comparing such a thing is like comparing something incomparable to itself.

Books by the author are available on Amazon and Lulu.com.

ON: HYPOCRISY

2011-12-06T12:14:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:

What we declare to be hypocrisy inothers we consider polite behavior in ourselves.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:

If you are not a hypocrite this is onlybecause your standards are so low that even you can achieve them.

Booksby the author are available on Amazon and Lulu.com

ON: APOLOGIZING

2011-11-30T06:35:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:
For a man an apology is an admission of failure; for a woman it is an attempt to repair a relationship.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:
I am sorry to hear that.

Books by the author are available on Amazon.

ON: THINKING OF OTHERS

2011-11-29T14:00:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:

To think better of others, think lesswell of yourself. This is a marvelouslygood insight of mine, is it not?

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:

I don’t know what to think of that.

Books by the author are available on Amazon.

ON: SUCCESS

2011-11-28T15:29:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:

The problem with truly exceptionalsuccess is that there are few people who are exceptional enough to appreciate itproperly.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:

It seems to me that success is what happenswhen more people decide that it has happened than insist that it has not.

Books by the author are available on line at Amazon.

ON: ART VS CRAFT

2011-11-27T09:49:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:
Art is not craft. Art is what we create for its own sake. Craft is what is reproduced in order for us to use.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:
Art is what costs more and does less. The very best art costs the most, and does nothing.

Books by Vincent Lewis are available on Lulu.com and Amazon.

ON: LOVE

2011-11-26T12:38:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES
We do not see ourselves in those we love. We see why we could become who we could become.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS
For men, we see someone who can clean our clothes, fix our meals, endure our opinions, so that we do not have to do this ourselves.

Books by Vincent P Lewis are available on Lulu.com and Amazon.

ON: EXPERIENCE

2011-11-25T16:22:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES
Experience teaches only the particular and the individual; history teaches the universal.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS
My particular study of history teaches me that most individuals refuse to learn from any experience.

Books by the author (Vincent P Lewis) are available on Lulu.com and Amazon.com.

ENDURING MISFORTUNE

2011-11-23T16:15:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES

We often can endure great misfortunesmore readily than minor irritations. Wejudge the great to be fate, but the minor to be individually particular tous.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS

I know some particular individualswho are great irritations.

Books by Vincent P Lewis can be obtained on-line at Lulu.com and Amazon.com. Search by author's name.

ON: DREAMING

2011-11-22T16:10:00.001-05:00

OSCAR WILDE OBSERVES:

Those who dream only at night areconfined in their imagination only to what has already been done and restrictedwithin their inspiration to what has already been thought.

MARK TWAIN REMARKS:

I just take a nap after breakfast andbefore lunch… sometimes twice, if I truly need inspiration.

P.S. Some of our newer books are available via Amazon.com, and LuLu.com. Search by author's name, Vincent P Lewis.

On: COMPLACENCY

2011-11-21T20:00:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE Observes:

Complacency destroys ambition. However, having achieved perfection, I have no alternative.

MARK TWAIN Remarks:
That is so well expressed that I won't try to improve upon it.

P.S. Some of our newer books are available via Lulu.com, and Createspace.com (part of Amazon). Search by author's name, Vincent P Lewis

ON: PHYSICAL BEAUTY

2011-11-20T10:27:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE Observes:

It is true that our society over emphasizes physical beauty.  However, it does have the advantage of inducing in us a sympathy born of pity for the rest.  

MARK TWAIN Remarks:
Beauty may be only skin deep.  However, as I can not see any deeper than this, I have always found this limitation to be quite sufficient.      

Several of the author’s books are available on line.  Visit Lulu.com and Createspace.com (Amazon).  Search by author’s name, Vincent P Lewis

ON: AUTOBIOGRAPHY

2011-11-19T17:57:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE Observes:

The act of producing an autobiography is evidence that author has more confidence in his ability to deceive others than he has in their ability to see truth. 

MARK TWAIN Remarks:
I would love to read my own autobiography, but in advance of my death, so that I might be able to alter the ending.   

Several of the author’s books are available on line.  Visit Lulu.com and Createspace.com (Amazon).  Search by author’s name, Vincent P Lewis

ON: NEEDED BOOKS

2011-11-18T14:10:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE Observes:

Confucius once said that we neglect most the books we most need. I am certain that authors who are never read would agree. 

MARK
I must get around to reading him sometime.  

Several of the author’s books are available on line.  Visit Lulu.com and Createspace.com (Amazon).  Search by author’s name, Vincent P Lewis

ON: PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

2011-11-17T08:06:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE Observes:

Practice makes perfect primarily because it repeats an established action. I prefer to risk failure by conquering new worlds. Let others then practice repetition of what I have perfected.

MARK

Practice does not always make perfect. Often, before we achieve perfection via practice, we achieve fatigue, and simply fall asleep.

Several of the author’s books are available on line. Visit Lulu.com and Createspace.com (Amazon). Search by author’s name, Vincent P Lewis

ON: NOVELTY

2011-11-16T21:07:00.002-05:00

OSCAR WILDE Observes:

In general women desire novelty and surprise, while men, in general, want repetition and routine. The general exception for men is women.

MARK

My wife, in general, is so different and surprising every day that I feel that I have many of the characteristics of a harem, with none of the expenses.

Several of the author’s books are available on line. Visit Lulu.com and Createspace.com (Amazon). Search by author’s name, Vincent P Lewis

ON: "LIGHTING ONE CANDLE"

2011-11-14T14:17:00.000-05:00

OSCAR WILDE Observes:

It may be better to light one candle than to curse the darkness. However, if the cursing were executed in a sophisticated manner, it is more fun to express and more pleasing to listen to, even if we remain in the dark.

MARK TWAIN Remarks:
It is better to light one cigar, and to smoke it. You can do that in the dark too.

P.S. Some of our newer books are available via Lulu.com, and Createspace.com (part of Amazon). Search by author's name, Vincent P Lewis