Wit & Wisdom

From Richard Nixon, Dave Barry, Dorothy Parker, Hermann Hesse, Galway Kinnell, Helen Gurley Brown, Robert Hughes

“Finishing second in the Olympics gets you silver. Finishing second in politics gets you oblivion.”

Richard Nixon, quoted in the Montreal Gazette

“Hobbies of any kind are boring, except to people who have the same hobby.”

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“Take care of the luxuries, and the necessities will take care of themselves.”

Dorothy Parker, quoted in the Dayton, Ohio, Daily News

“The truth is lived, not taught.”

Hermann Hesse, quoted in the Associated Press

“Too much consolation may leave one inconsolable.”

Poet Galway Kinnell, quoted in The Boston Globe

“If you’re not a sex object, you’re in trouble.”

Helen Gurley Brown, quoted in TheDailyBeast.com

“The greater the artist, the greater the doubt. Perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize.”

Art historian Robert Hughes, quoted in The Independent (U.K.)