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		<title>Stevenson, Robert Louis -- Essay (1878-03), &#8220;Crabbed Age and Youth,&#8221; Cornhill Magazine, Vol. 37</title>
		<link>https://wist.info/stevenson-robert-louis/76846/</link>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Jun 2025 15:10:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dave</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Stevenson, Robert Louis]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[To be suddenly snuffed out in the middle of ambitious schemes, is tragical enough at best; but when a man has been grudging himself his own life in the meanwhile, and saving up everything for the festival that was never to be, it becomes that hysterically moving sort of tragedy which lies on the confines [&#8230;]]]></description>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>To be suddenly snuffed out in the middle of ambitious schemes, is tragical enough at best; but when a man has been grudging himself his own life in the meanwhile, and saving up everything for the festival that was never to be, it becomes that hysterically moving sort of tragedy which lies on the confines of farce.</p>
<br><b>Robert Louis Stevenson</b> (1850–1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet<br>Essay (1878-03), &#8220;Crabbed Age and Youth,&#8221; <i>Cornhill Magazine</i>, Vol. 37 
									<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(<a href="https://digital.nls.uk/rlstevenson/browse/archive/78694193?mode=transcription#:~:text=To%20be%0Asuddenly,confines%0Aof%20farce." target="_blank">Source</a>)
										<br><br><span class="cite">
						

<a href="https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Virginibus_Puerisque_and_Other_Papers/Crabbed_Age_and_Youth#:~:text=To%20be%20suddenly,confines%20of%20farce.">Collected</a> in <i>Virginibus Puerisque and Other Papers</i>, ch.  2 (1881)

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		<title>Russell, Bertrand -- Conquest of Happiness, Part 1, ch.  3 &#8220;Competition&#8221; (1930)</title>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 21 May 2025 15:33:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dave</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Russell, Bertrand]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[The working life of the businessman has the psychology of a hundred-yards race, but as the race upon which he is engaged is one whose only goal is the grave, the concentration, which is appropriate enough for a hundred yards, becomes in the end somewhat excessive.]]></description>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The working life of the businessman has the psychology of a hundred-yards race, but as the race upon which he is engaged is one whose only goal is the grave, the concentration, which is appropriate enough for a hundred yards, becomes in the end somewhat excessive.</p>
<br><b>Bertrand Russell</b> (1872-1970) English mathematician and philosopher<br><i>Conquest of Happiness</i>, Part 1, ch.  3 &#8220;Competition&#8221; (1930) 
									<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(<a href="https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.222834/page/n49/mode/2up?q=%22hundred+yards%22" target="_blank">Source</a>)
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		<title>Horace -- Odes [Carmina], Book 4, # 12, l.  25ff (4.12.25-28) (13 BC) [tr. Marshall (1908)]</title>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Dec 2024 19:20:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dave</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Horace]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Of lingering and gain-seeking make an end; Think, while there&#8217;s time, how soon Death&#8217;s pyre may blaze; And some brief folly mix with prudent ways: At the fit hour &#8217;tis sweet to unbend. [Verum pone moras et studium lucri nigrorumque memor, dum licet, ignium misce stultitiam consiliis brevem: dulce est desipere in loco.] Usually subtitled [&#8230;]]]></description>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Of lingering and gain-seeking make an end;<br />
Think, while there&#8217;s time, how soon Death&#8217;s pyre may blaze;<br />
And some brief folly mix with prudent ways:<br />
<span class="tab">At the fit hour &#8217;tis sweet to unbend.</p>
<p><em>[Verum pone moras et studium lucri<br />
nigrorumque memor, dum licet, ignium<br />
misce stultitiam consiliis brevem:<br />
dulce est desipere in loco.]</em></span></p>
<br><b>Horace</b> (65–8 BC) Roman poet, satirist, soldier, politician [Quintus Horatius Flaccus]<br><i>Odes [Carmina]</i>, Book 4, # 12, l.  25ff (4.12.25-28) (13 BC) [tr. Marshall (1908)] 
									<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(<a href="https://archive.org/details/horacescompletew00hora/page/106/mode/2up?q=%22gain-seeking%22" target="_blank">Source</a>)
										<br><br><span class="cite">
						

Usually subtitled by translators "To Virgil" or "Invitation to Virgil." There has been great controversy amongst scholars whether the Virgil mentioned in the ode refers to <a href="https://wist.info/author/virgil/">the famous poet</a> who composed the Aeneid, among other works. The two knew each other, but that Virgil died in 19 BC. Some suggest this was an older poem of Horace's, finished and inserted into this later, final volume by him.<br><br>

(<a href="https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0024%3Abook%3D4%3Apoem%3D12#:~:text=verum%20pone%20moras%20et%20studium%20lucri%0Anigrorumque%20memor%2C%20dum%20licet%2C%20ignium%0Amisce%20stultitiam%20consiliis%20brevem%3A%0Adulce%20est%20desipere%20in%20loco.">Source (Latin)</a>). Alternate translations:<br><br>

<blockquote>Think Life is short, forget thy fears,<br>
<span class="tab">And eager thoughts of Gain,<br>
Short Folly mix with graver Cares,<br>
<span class="tab">'Tis decent sometimes to be vain.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A44471.0001.001/1:5?rgn=div1;view=fulltext#:~:text=Think%20Life%20is,to%20be%20vain.">Creech</a> (1684)]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>Come, quit those covetous thoughts, those knitted brows,<br>
<span class="tab">Think on the last black embers, while you may,<br>
And be for once unwise. When time allows,<br>
<span class="tab">'Tis sweet the fool to play.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0025%3Abook%3D4%3Apoem%3D12#:~:text=Come%2C%20quit%20those%20covetous%20thoughts%2C%20those%20knitted%20brows%2C%0AThink%20on%20the%20last%20black%20embers%2C%20while%20you%20may%2C%0AAnd%20be%20for%20once%20unwise.%20When%20time%20allows%2C%0A%27Tis%20sweet%20the%20fool%20to%20play.">Conington</a> (1872)]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>But lay aside delay, and the desire of gain; and, mindful of the gloomy [funeral] flames, intermix, while you may, your grave studies with a little light gayety: it is delightful to give a loose on a proper occasion.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_works_of_Horace/Fourth_Book_of_Odes#:~:text=But%20lay%20aside%20delay%2C%20and%20the%20desire%20of%20gain%3B%20and%2C%20mindful%20of%20the%20gloomy%20%5Bfuneral%5D%20flames%2C%20intermix%2C%20while%20you%20may%2C%20your%20grave%20studies%20with%20a%20little%20light%20gayety%3A%20it%20is%20delightful%20to%20give%20a%20loose%20on%20a%20proper%20occasion.">Smart/Buckley</a> (1853)]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>To the winds with base lucre and pale melancholy ! --<br>
<span class="tab">In the flames of the pyre these, alas! will be vain, <br>
Mix your sage ruminations with glimpses of folly, --<br>
<span class="tab">'T is delightful at times to be somewhat insane!<br>
[tr. <a href="https://archive.org/details/odesofhoracetran00horarich/page/230/mode/2up?q=%22winds+with+base+lucre%22">Martin</a> (1864)]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>But put aside delays and care of gain, <br>
Warned, while yet time, by the dark death-fires; mix <br>
With thought brief thoughtlessness; to be unwise<br>
<span class="tab">In time and place is sweet.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://archive.org/details/odesandepodesho05horagoog/page/432/mode/2up?q=%22put+aside+delays%22">Bulwer-Lytton</a> (1870)]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>Then lay aside delays, pursuit of gain, and, mindful fo the funeral pyre, intermix, while it is permitted, a temporary foolishness with thy worldly plans. There is pleasure in indulging in folly on special occasions.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Works_of_Horace/-f8pAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22lay%20aside%20delays%22">Elgood</a> (1893)]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>Quick! ere the lurid death-fire's day, <br>
<span class="tab">Drive thou the lust of gain away! <br>
Thy wisdom with unwisdom grace: <br>
<span class="tab">'Tis well to rave, in time and place.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://archive.org/details/a587951400horauoft/page/n163/mode/2up?q=%22ere+the+lurid%22">Gladstone</a> (1894)]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>Come! a truce to delay, and the desire of gain! <br>
And, all mindful, in time, of the dark fun'ral fires. <br>
Mingle with your grave plans some little folly's fling, <br>
<span class="tab">Sweet is folly at fitting times.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://archive.org/details/odesofhoraceinen00horarich/page/118/mode/2up?q=%22truce+to+delay%22">Phelps</a> (1897)]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>Mingle a little folly with your wisdom; a little nonsense now and then is pleasant.<br>
[<a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_International_Encyclopedia_of_Prose/5PZPAAAAMAAJ?gbpv=1&bsq=%22then%20is%20pleasant%22">Source</a> (1908)]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>But put aside delay and thirst for gain, and, mindful of Death’s dark fires, mingle, while thou mayst, brief folly with thy wisdom. ’Tis sweet at the fitting time to cast serious thoughts aside.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.98705/page/n359/mode/2up?q=%22put+aside+delay%22">Bennett</a> (Loeb) (1912), "The Delights of Spring"]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>Quick, quit your usury. Time is fleet. <br>
<span class="tab">Think, while you may, of funeral flames, <br>
<span class="tab">And blend brief folly with your aims;<br>
Folly, in folly's hour, is sweet.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://archive.org/details/odesofhoracemills00horaiala/page/108/mode/2up?q=%22quit+your+usury%22">Mills</a> (1924)]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>Then come at once and pause for breath <br>
In chasing wealth. Remembering death <br>
And death's dark fires, mix, while you may, <br>
Method and madness, work and play.<br>
<span class="tab">Folly is sweet, well-timed.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://archive.org/details/odesofhorace0000hora/page/244/mode/2up?q=%22then+come+at+once%22">Michie</a> (1963)]  </blockquote><br>

<blockquote>Don’t linger, don’t stop to be sensible, <br>
Let a little folly mix with your wisdom, <br>
Be aware of death’s dark fires: <br>
Frivolity is sweet, in season.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://archive.org/details/essentialhoraceo0000hora/page/102/mode/2up?q=%22don%27t+linger%22">Raffel</a> (1983)]  </blockquote><br>

<blockquote>And, heedful of death's black fire, consent for a while <br>
To mix a little pleasure in with your prudence.<br>
It's right to be foolish when the time is right.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://archive.org/details/odesofhorace00hora_1/page/300/mode/2up?q=%22black+fire%22">Ferry</a> (1997)]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote><span class="tab">Be mindful, while you may,<br>
of black-smoked funeral pyres<br>
and blend a bit of folly with your wisdom.<br>
O it is sweet at the proper time<br>
<span class="tab">to play the fool!<br>
[tr. <a href="https://archive.org/details/completeodessati0000hora/page/180/mode/2up?q=%22be+mindful%2C+while%22">Alexander</a> (1999)] </blockquote><br>

<blockquote>But abolish delay, and desire for profit,<br>
and, remembering death’s sombre flames, while you can,<br>
mix a little brief foolishness with your wisdom:<br>
it’s sweet sometimes to play the fool.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/HoraceOdesBkIV.php#anchor_Toc40764113:~:text=But%20abolish%20delay,play%20the%20fool.">Kline</a> (2015), "Spring"]</blockquote><br>

Roald Dahl had Willy Wonka use the thematically similar line "A little nonsense now and then / Is relished by the wisest men" in both his screenplay for the movie <i><a href="https://youtu.be/kpgRdVBf5Qk?si=nu5ZJqw_Q1_FEKn1&t=20">Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory</a></i> (1971) and in the book <i><a href="https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780375829307/page/255/mode/2up?q=%22little+nonsense%22">Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator</a></i>. For more information in this variant and its possible origins, see <a href="https://quoteinvestigator.com/2016/09/27/nonsense/" title="Quote Origin: A Little Nonsense Now and Then is Relished by the Wisest Men – Quote Investigator®">Quote Origin: A Little Nonsense Now and Then is Relished by the Wisest Men – Quote Investigator®</a>.<br>						</span>
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		<title>Bukowski, Charles -- Factotum, ch. 55 (1975)</title>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Dec 2021 15:30:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dave</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Bukowski, Charles]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[It was true that I didn&#8217;t have much ambition, but there ought to be a place for people without ambition, I mean a better place than the one usually reserved. How in the hell could a man enjoy being awakened at 6:30 a.m. by an alarm clock, leap out of bed, dress, force-feed, shit, piss, [&#8230;]]]></description>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It was true that I didn&#8217;t have much ambition, but there ought to be a place for people without ambition, I mean a better place than the one usually reserved. How in the hell could a man enjoy being awakened at 6:30 a.m. by an alarm clock, leap out of bed, dress, force-feed, shit, piss, brush teeth and hair, and fight traffic to get to a place where essentially you made lots of money for somebody else and were asked to be grateful for the opportunity to do so?</p>
<br><b>Charles Bukowski</b> (1920-1994) German-American author, poet<br><i>Factotum</i>, ch. 55 (1975) 
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		<title>Greville, Fulke -- Maxims, Characters, and Reflections (1756)</title>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2015 14:05:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dave</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[They that seldom take pleasure seldom give pleasure.]]></description>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>They that seldom take pleasure seldom give pleasure.</p>
<br><b>Fulke Greville</b> (1554-1628) 1st Baron Brooke; Elizabethan poet, dramatist, and statesman<br><i>Maxims, Characters, and Reflections</i> (1756) 
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