Quotes really confuse me. Now I do understand quoting scripture because that is truth and the Bible is the living word. But quoting celebrities or famous people of the past really makes me scratch my head.
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.
You think hmm that is an interesting little sentence. Then I lower my brow look at you and say...Abraham Lincoln said that. Suddenly the quote is really meaningful. Wow honest Abe?! That's DEEP! Is it though? Is it? and people sometimes live by stuff people just say...so my two questions are:
1) Why do we care what famous people say?
What does it matter what Marilyn Monroe said 60 years ago? Who is Marilyn Monroe? Is her life more valuable than anyone else's? I feel like to settle arguments sometimes people find a quote by a famous person that pertains to the subject and that is the final blow in their argument... oh yeah well Albert Einstein said this (insert quote) and the other person in the debate now must end all arguments because I mean let's face it if Al said it then its law. (or any other celeb)
2)What does it take to become a person whom everyone cares about what they've said?At what point does a person become popular enough so that what they say is important? If you were in an argument and quoted me from this blog would that help your case? Of course it would instantly but if you were to quote a random person's blog people would laugh at you and say who is that why do I care what that person thinks? But then if you quoted some famous writer like Bill Shakespeare then all of the sudden you've got yourself a very interesting point. So I ask at what point does someone go from worthless blog to insightful columnist?
To me quotes are quotes whether I am reciting something from Super Bad or Hamlet, from Ben Franklin or Charlie Sheen it's all just words vomited out of some person's mouth.
I agree with this post wholeheartedly. This is also why I must back all of my arguments up with statistics (which a lot of people scold me for). If I just tell you my opinion and thoughts, what will that matter to you? I'm not an expert or famous or anything.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite things is when it comes to Biblical debates, and someone quotes C.S. Lewis. They act like if C.S. said it, then that's how something should be interpreted. He was just a guy trying to figure everything out just like the rest of us. Is his insight interesting? Yes. Does it mean he is 100% correct? Not at all.
People like Abraham Lincoln, Albert Einstein and William Shakespeare were all respected in one way or another, but they all had intelligence in common. I think we're more willing to quote people who have succeeded in their field and/or are particularly smart because they obviously know what they're doing so it couldn't hurt to follow their example in certain things.
ReplyDeleteBut at some point you have to stop quoting and start living it.
I think Kacie is right...It has to do with how well someone has succeeded in their field. Charlie Sheen has succeeded in becoming famous and infamous. If you are hoping to become infamous, Charlie Sheen quotes are worth their weight in gold.
ReplyDeleteI quote Adam Schuch when I'm lookin to have some influence in the toilet blog-o-sphere.
I quote James Al Channell when I'm lookin to prove that I'm some sort of a badass, commy destroyin, everything-fixer.
Quotes from important people are legit because of a little thing called "Appeal to Authority" (non-fallicious)
ReplyDeleteRead a logic textbook foo'
If you site a quote from Shakespeare when discussing English lit, it makes a lot bigger impression then quoting Sheen on English lit. If Im discussing winning, then I would quote Charlie Sheen to lend support to my argument.