Timeless Truths

Things we find funny change as we get older.

Small children laugh at clowns.

As a tweenager, I recall reading a library book my mother had just finished ― one of Leslie Charteris’s “Saint” stories. I was moved to hysteria over a comment made by Simon Templar to his sidekick, Hoppy. (Hoppy’s words are paraphrased as I don’t recall them exactly.)

    Hoppy: I got an idea, boss.
    Templar: Be kind to it, Hoppy. It’s in a strange place.

For some reason, this tickled my funny bone to an extent that reduced me to incoherence, to the amusement of my mother.

As a full-blown teenager, I would dash home on Sunday evenings to watch the Rowan and Martin Laugh-in. (Enough said.)

But over time my laughter response has become harder to trigger. Does that happen to everyone?

A fellow Wordsmith recently shared some quotes from his favourite author, Raymond Chandler, which prompted me to post some of my favourite Terry Pratchett quotes.

I may have got carried away. . .

I did edit out loads ― honest! Treasure these for their insight as much as their gentle humour.

“Stories of imagination tend to upset those without one.” ― Terry Pratchett

“Knowing things is magical, if other people don’t know them.” ― Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky

“It’s still magic even if you know how it’s done.” ― Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky

“In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this.” ― Terry Pratchett

“What kind of man would put a known criminal in charge of a major branch of government? Apart from, say, the average voter.” ― Terry Pratchett, Going Postal

“A lie can run round the world before the truth has got its boots on.” ― Terry Pratchett, The Truth

“The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.” ― Terry Pratchett, Diggers

“The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they’ve found it.” ― Terry Pratchett, Monstrous Regiment

“And what would humans be without love?”
“RARE,” said Death. ― Terry Pratchett, Sourcery“

“Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.” ― Terry Pratchett, Hogfather

Always be wary of any helpful item that weighs less than its operating manual.” ― Terry Pratchett, Jingo

“The intelligence of that creature known as a crowd is the square root of the number of people in it.” ― Terry Pratchett, Jingo

“Wisdom comes from experience. Experience is often a result of lack of wisdom.” ― Terry Pratchett

“I’ll be more enthusiastic about encouraging thinking outside the box when there’s evidence of any thinking going on inside it.” ― Terry Pratchett

“No, actually it isn’t,” said Tiffany. “Patronizing is a big word. Zoology is really quite short.” ― Terry Pratchett, The Wee Free Men

A vital ingredient of success is not knowing that what you’re attempting can’t be done. – Terry Pratchett, Equal Rites

A person ignorant of the possibility of failure can be a half-brick in the path of the bicycle of history. – Terry Pratchett, Equal Rites

“It’s not worth doing something unless someone, somewhere would much rather you weren’t doing it”. ― Terry Pratchett

“She was already learning that if you ignore the rules people will, half the time, quietly rewrite them so that they don’t apply to you.” ― Terry Pratchett, Equal Rites

“A good plan isn’t one where someone wins, it’s where nobody thinks they’ve lost.” ― Terry Pratchett, The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents

“If you trust in yourself. . .and believe in your dreams. . .and follow your star. . . you’ll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren’t so lazy.” ― Terry Pratchett, The Wee Free Men

“Time is a drug. Too much of it kills you.” ― Terry Pratchett, Small Gods

“…inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened.” ― Terry Pratchett, Moving Pictures

That last one is a leeetle bit close to home.

I’d be interested to hear quotes from your favourite heros.

Which comedies stand the test of time for you? ( Only Fools and Horses comes to mind in the UK.)