Tag Archives: Pretend

Surrendered To the Knife

Surrendered To the Knifeby Michael DoyleOnce you’ve surrendered to the knifeYour silent pleas won’t save your lifeThis, then, is the solemn price paidFor the best-laid plans never madeThis is what it is to be done with mankindTo take the bitter … Continue reading

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Thought For the Day: Life Is Composed of Lights and Shadows, and We Would Be Untruthful, Insincere, and Saccharine If We Tried To Pretend There Were No Shadows

“I don’t believe in playing down to children, either in life or in motion pictures. I didn’t treat my own youngsters like fragile flowers, and I think no parent should. Children are people, and they should have to reach to … Continue reading

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First Principles: It Is A Just Observation That the People Commonly Intend the Public Good. This Often Applies To Their Very Errors.

“It is a just observation that the people commonly intend the Public Good. This often applies to their very errors. But their good sense would despise the adulator who should pretend they always reason right about the means of promoting … Continue reading

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Thought For the Day: What’s Terrible Is To Pretend that Second-Rate Is First Rate

“What’s terrible is to pretend that second-rate is first-rate. To pretend that you don’t need love when you do; or you like your work when you know quite well you’re capable of better.” – Doris Lessing

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What Used To Be

What Used To Beby Michael DoyleI remember when I showed my daughterWhat it was that used to once beShared like a loving fatherIn the twenty-second centuryWe dominated with technologyForgetting the natural carrying capacityAnd reframed the world in uglinessTo which her … Continue reading

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A Montage of Selective Outrage

A Selective Montage of Selective Outrageby Michael DoyleHave we finally got to the turn of the pageLiving life cut by cut of selective outrageIt seems so, or at least I have this hunchThat a few bad apples have spoiled the … Continue reading

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First Principles: The Fetters Imposed On Liberty At Home Have Been Forged Out of the Weapons Provided For Defense Against Real, Pretended, Or Imaginary Dangers From Abroad

“The fetters imposed on liberty at home have ever been forged out of the weapons provided for defence against real, pretended, or imaginary dangers from abroad.” – James Madison, 4th US president (16 Mar 1751-1836)

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In the Focus and Calm (Are Moments of Truth)

In the Focus and Calm (Are Moments of Truth)by Michael DoyleThere in the focus and calmIs a remembrance of who you areIt comes back like a twist of balmThat you reach for, no matter how farOnce this fortress has been … Continue reading

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Artistic Travesty

Artistic Travestyby Michael DoyleMouth breathers don’t truly understandThe logic, as it were, of supply and demandThat produces things of artistic travestyLike the weight of the world bringing me to my kneesThis is a complex world in its friendingAnd not often … Continue reading

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Thought For the Day: Everyone Discusses My Art and Pretends To Understand, As If It Were Necessary To Understand, When It Is Simply Necessary To Love

“Everyone discusses my art and pretends to understand, as if it were necessary to understand, when it is simply necessary to love.” -Claude Monet, painter (1840-1926)

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