NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm looking for some really unique stuff here... ;)

Mine is pretty simple. It's Polonius from Hamlet:

"This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man."

Mine was from a fellow cadet:

"Always know who's coming up behind you."

I discovered that not listening to this advice ends with you slamming a BMT in the nuts.

If you want something done right do it yourself.

"This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man."

Edit: Never mind. I got it backwards. Although it stands that if you can be true to yourself then you can also know what would be 'false'. If you assume a distinction between outward appearence and inner thoughts then you should be able to present yourself falsely and still be 'true' to yourself in the sense that you know that your presentation is false.

My best advice comes from the one and only "Weird Al Yankovic" ...

"Everything you know is wrong."

Artisticlly and otherwise, the best bit I've ever gotten came from a music instructor, initially trying to teach us about improvising but it applies just about everywhere:

"It's a sin to 'wanna.'"

It's in relation to 'you can do anything but you have to know why you're doing it-not just 'because I wanna.'"

I practically live by it.

So how did he trick Polonius into thinking that he was insane (Although he could have had a touch of insanity the entire time, I suppose.) and follow his own advice at the same time? Seems to me as though the ability 'to be false' to someone else would make perfectly good sense if you are true to yourself. If you're true to yourself then you know that the false you would be anything other then that. Surely there is nothing to stop you from presenting yourself in a false manner while still being true to yourself (This would depend on making a distinction between outward appearences and inner thoughts).

Of course I could be misinterpreting the quote.

Hamlet is an incredibly intricate play. I took a class on it, and we went really in depth, so I can't explain it to you without you reading the guide I have. It's better than I am. :p
Basically, Polonius is a complete jackass, and contradicts himself throughout the whole play. His words mean absolutely nothing, which is why I love his quotes, because they show what he lacks. He isn't enough of a man to back them up, but he did have some pretty cool sayings.
Hamlet fooled him with simple rhetoric devices. I could go on and on, but I'm too tired for that.

Hamlet is an incredibly intricate play. I took a class on it, and we went really in depth, so I can't explain it to you without you reading the guide I have. It's better than I am. :p
Basically, Polonius is a complete jackass, and contradicts himself throughout the whole play. His words mean absolutely nothing, which is why I love his quotes, because they show what he lacks. He isn't enough of a man to back them up, but he did have some pretty cool sayings.
Hamlet fooled him with simple rhetoric devices. I could go on and on, but I'm too tired for that.

I said that on the assumption that the quote was from Hamlet. I goofed.

Best advice I ever got: "You probably shouldn't light that."

True story. I was waiting to make sure a secure package was going to be loaded on a certain plane. I was bored. I put a Pall Mall in my mouth and was about to light up, when my security guy motioned to the jet fuel tanker I was standing next to, and pointed out the obvious.

My fiancee would say "Duck" was the best she ever got...lol

My uncle,when I was down, gave me an inspirational thingy for my wallet which he received from someone else entitled "Don't Quit", and gave me a large version of it in a frame when I graduated.

This helped me out when I was younger. Its a shame I dont know who its by.

Live your own life, for you will die your own death.

I said that on the assumption that the quote was from Hamlet. I goofed.

Phew, good...I didn't want to have to explain anymore. :D Shakespeare is awesome, but man...it hurts sometimes.

Best advice I ever got: "You probably shouldn't light that."

True story. I was waiting to make sure a secure package was going to be loaded on a certain plane. I was bored. I put a Pall Mall in my mouth and was about to light up, when my security guy motioned to the jet fuel tanker I was standing next to, and pointed out the obvious.

rofl Have some candy.

Two more, one from a t-shirt my mom gave me and my dad looked at thoughtfully and said, "Thats about right."

"Make it look easy, but underneath paddle like hell." (they where ducks...obviously)

EDIT: I should add, though that this one has actually gotten me in trouble-people thinking that I'm not working hard enough because I'm disguising it.

The other one comes from Burroughs and is in my sig
"Like an old junk pusher once told me; Watch whose money you take."

Mine was from a fellow cadet:

"Always know who's coming up behind you."

I discovered that not listening to this advice ends with you slamming a BMT in the nuts.

I hate it when that happens. :(

"You're ugly, but that's OK because everyone else in your age group will be ugly in 20 years too. This just gives you a head start on the important things in relationships. Just remember, every single relationship you enter will fail, until the last one." My mother

I can't remember anyone giving me any life-changing advice.

I hate it when that happens. :(
So did he. I believe the reply was something about doing pushups until my arms fell off, and then he was going to have to send them to my mother with a note explaining why they were no longer attached.

His wording was a lot more humerous but I can't remember now. It was pretty traumatic. Not 5 minutes off the bus and I was already in trouble.

"Never summon anything larger than your head."

An old man in a pointy grey hat once told me "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us" :)

Hamlet is an incredibly intricate play. I took a class on it, and we went really in depth, so I can't explain it to you without you reading the guide I have. It's better than I am. :p
Basically, Polonius is a complete jackass, and contradicts himself throughout the whole play. His words mean absolutely nothing, which is why I love his quotes, because they show what he lacks. He isn't enough of a man to back them up, but he did have some pretty cool sayings.
Hamlet fooled him with simple rhetoric devices. I could go on and on, but I'm too tired for that.
I'm glad someone pointed this out, or I would have had to. My favorite Polonius line is his instruction to "by indirection, find direction out", which I think captures the essence of his character. Rather than approaching life directly, he always approaches it indirectly, choosing wise sayings over true wisdom, and polite circumlocution to plain speech.

I love the Polonius character - he embodies the sort of confusion that is so common that you can't help but sympathize with the old fool. I think one of the saddest moments in the play is when Hamlet kills him. I'm weird though.

But I think the whole point Shakespeare was making with the Polonius character is that wise sayings are no substitute for wisdom.

So on that note, I don't have a best piece of advice to offer here, though a good piece of advice is 'read Hamlet at least 4 times' since it's a great play. I don't really think you can go wrong with that advice.

I'm glad someone pointed this out, or I would have had to. My favorite Polonius line is his instruction to "by indirection, find direction out", which I think captures the essence of his character. Rather than approaching life directly, he always approaches it indirectly, choosing wise sayings over true wisdom, and polite circumlocution to plain speech.

I love the Polonius character - he embodies the sort of confusion that is so common that you can't help but sympathize with the old fool. I think one of the saddest moments in the play is when Hamlet kills him. I'm weird though.

But I think the whole point Shakespeare was making with the Polonius character is that wise sayings are no substitute for wisdom.

So on that note, I don't have a best piece of advice to offer here, though a good piece of advice is 'read Hamlet at least 4 times' since it's a great play. I don't really think you can go wrong with that advice.

I am reminded of the musical version of Hamlet set to the score from Carmen. It was performed by the inhabitants of Gilligan's Island and the role of Polonius was played by the Skipper. Sublime.

I am reminded of the musical version of Hamlet set to the score from Carmen. It was performed by the inhabitants of Gilligan's Island and the role of Polonius was played by the Skipper. Sublime.
Are you serious? Is it possible to get a video of it? That would be hilarious! :D

Do it yourself.

Are you serious? Is it possible to get a video of it? That would be hilarious! :D

I'm serious, but I never tried looking for the video. The best part of the play is Polonius(Skipper) singing to the Toreador(sp?) song:

Do not forget - Stay out of debt
Think twice - and take this good advice from me -
To thine ownself be truuuue!

both my sister and i are adopted. i was really interested in finding my birth parents until i asked my sister if she wanted to find hers. she said, "no i figure they're probably scumbags." i thought about it awhile, then never really seriously considered finding mine again.

Are you serious? Is it possible to get a video of it? That would be hilarious! :D
that was by far the best espisode of gilligan's island ever. its probably the only one the truely rises to the level of a tv classic.

Hmm... the bit quoted in my sig, which is a great way to look at life. But I'm also rather partial to "Never mess in the afairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup", which is also a good way to look at life. ;)

Hamlet is an incredibly intricate play. I took a class on it, and we went really in depth, so I can't explain it to you without you reading the guide I have. It's better than I am.

Which guide was this? It sounds like a worthwhile one.


As per advice: Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.

As per advice: Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.
I hate you sooo much right now....in a kind of 'shoot the messenger' kinda way...

i've always been fond of "do unto others, then run"

"I will accept and rules that you feel necessary to your freedom. I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone and morally responsible for everything I do."

Dont marry[date] women with psychological problems.

Dont marry[date] women with psychological problems.
oh yeah, try following through on that one without just switching to men with psychological problems.

I, myself, am reminded of that great poet and philosopher Paul McCartney who said, "....and in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.". :D

Probably the most profound line in rock history. Yup. Probably.

Otherwise it would have to be the fella who told me I shouldn't put my tongue on that metal pole when it was 12 degrees fahrenheit outdoors.

German rhyme:
Trinken was klar ist
sagen was wahr
ficken was da ist.

Drink what is clear
talk what is the truth
fuck what is there

"Never summon anything larger than your head."

haha... how did that good ol' thread end? i miss the result... that is, assuming you got that from the "so im summoning a demon tonight" thread.

as for the best advice i've gotten so far (that i can think of) came from a fellow NS'er. "the best things in life hurt while they're happening."

Otherwise it would have to be the fella who told me I shouldn't put my tongue on that metal pole when it was 12 degrees fahrenheit outdoors.

Absolutely true. I should have listened to my brother, who is actually younger, I didn't, and so had my tongue stuck to a chair lift in St.Anton in Austria. I jerked my head back, blood spewed all over the place, I couldn't eat hot food for a week. :(

Best piece of advice:

Slartibartfast - The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy

"I'd rather be happy than right"

Best piece of advice:

Slartibartfast - The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy

"I'd rather be happy than right"
And are you?

" Don't put fireworks in the mailbox"

I had to buy my dad a new mailbox
Seriously.

Three Simple words. Never Give Up. I've lived by those guidelines for 4 years now.

Das ist mein beer
Und Das ist dein beer.

Good for drinking when in Germany.

"maybe we should stop for a minute and drink"

my brother - after running a few km somewhere around 14.00 with the sun at it's heighest of the day during a summer heatwave in the nevada desert.

Dont marry[date] women with psychological problems.

a very important one!

"I will accept and rules that you feel necessary to your freedom. I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone and morally responsible for everything I do."

That's a great one...gotta love the Professor. ;)

I also like...

"You live and learn, or you don't live long."

Allow me the courage to change the things I can,
the serenity to accept the things i can't,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

My Gran.

Always wipe your fingers on your socks if you have nothing proper, noone can see it and you change them evey day any way.

My Grandad.

Both wise words but in quite different ways.

And are you?
No, that's where it all falls down of course.

No, that's where it all falls down of course.
He, he. ;)

Damn. Nobody ever really gives me good advice. I mostly give it or glean it.

Still, I live by such notions as:

Moderation in all things. But: All things.
(That is, don't completely ignore a possible part of life)

Intelligence is what you use to get out of trouble. Wisdom is what you use to avoid getting in to trouble in the first place.

Knowledge is impossible, so use what works.
(My answer to people who blather on about the invisible supernatural BS they say I should be all scared of.)

Give me liberty, or I rip your jaw off and castrate you with it.

Better to have happiness in a sad world, than to be sad, and just make it worse.

If ignorance is bliss, I'll become a masochist.

Morality is in internal intent. Anything else is just details.

You don't have to actually be intimidating, you just have to be convincing.

The best advice is simple advice:

"Screw that"

"Don't Panic" From the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

I hate you sooo much right now....in a kind of 'shoot the messenger' kinda way...

Pourquoi?

"You never really understand a person until you climb into his shoes and walk around in them."

At the time, I thought it was my dad speaking. It was, but I suspect he may have been quoting Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. Either way, he was extremely correct. I've found no better way to work with people, no matter how asinine or screwed-up, than this principle.

Best advice comes from the Big Lebowski:

"Fuck it. Let's go bowl."

WORST piece of advice I ever got:

"DOn't worry about it. Shit washes off."

plastics

From a friend of mine I learned this lesson: Never trust pudding or Rice Krispies, they're evil.

"I've learned that making a living isnt the same as making a life. "


more of a saying I guess...but I like it

My Dad:

"Don't take a weapon to a school fight because it will be used against you."

I bet the guy I fought wish his Dad told him that. :D

P.S. Violence is fun :sniper:

1. Dont give advice

2. Dont listen to advice

;)

If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything.

If you want something done right, do it yourself.



Something I've learnt over the years = More often than not people will answer a question knowing they don't know the answer.. instead of just telling you that they don't know. So now I try my best to find the answer on my own.

if you're not sure, poke it with a stick... (my friend after i ran over thumper...he wasn't dead, so i stabbed him with the stick)

but i think the best advise i've ever gotten was from my husband in our first big fight........"How the hell do you expect to keep up this argument and find new things to argue about if you won't let me get a word in edgewise"
but my favorite one he tells me is "If you don't shut up and drop it I'm going to sleep in the car" For some strange reason I always dropped it, not like i was sleeping out there, just enjoyed his company. :fluffle: