# Favorite Words/Phrases/Quotes and Sayings **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 26, 2019, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-words-phrases-quotes-and-sayings/839248 "2019-08-26T03:44:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-words-phrases-quotes-and-sayings/839248/61 "2019-08-29T04:53:21Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > “_Ladran, luego cabalgamos_”: “they bark, therefore we ride on”. One of a zillion sayings found in either El Quijote or Conde Lucanor (in this case, El Quijote), and still getting mileage 5 centuries later. It means “they don’t want us here? Their loss.” Also used to mean “good riddance to bad garbage” (another favorite of mine). > > When someone complains to me that “the computer isn’t doing what I tell it to do!” I tell them “oh no, it’s much worse: the computer is doing what you TELL it to do, not what you WANT it to do! Very rude, computers!” The phrase, or anything similar, is not in the Quixote, that’s a bit of a literary legend. My mother says something similar though, _“Si ladran es porque son perros”_ (If they bark is because they are dogs). Now that I mention that my family, on my mother’s side practically runs on sayings. The one I always keep in mind (not one of theirs though) is the paraphrase from Solzhenitzyn’s quote in The Gulag Archipelago _“The line between Good and Evil cut’s through the heart of every human being”_; and, perhaps, every dog too. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-words-phrases-quotes-and-sayings/839248/62 "2019-08-29T10:41:55Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > A saying from a friend of mine: > > Someone else’s success is not my failure. And someone else’s failure is not my success. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-words-phrases-quotes-and-sayings/839248/63 "2019-08-29T11:10:30Z")
“Mongo not know, Mongo only pawn in game of life.” when asked for info I don’t have. I’m very fond of _persiflage_. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-words-phrases-quotes-and-sayings/839248/64 "2019-08-29T11:27:52Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > A saying from a friend of mine: > > Someone else’s success is not my failure. > [@panache45](#): > > And someone else’s failure is not my success. The enemy of my friend’s cousin’s enemy is my friend. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-words-phrases-quotes-and-sayings/839248/65 "2019-08-29T13:25:21Z")
For words, “callimastian”, which I apply to the Lovely and Talented Mrs. **Shodan** on frequesnt occasions. > [@Robert Heinlein](#): > > There is no such thing as luck. There is only adequate or inadequate preparation to cope with a statistical universe. Also, see my sig. Regards, Shodan * * * “The road to truth is long, and lined the entire way with annoying bastards.” - Alexander Jablokov ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-words-phrases-quotes-and-sayings/839248/66 "2019-08-29T13:39:54Z")
All that we see or seem Is but a dream within a dream. -Edgar Allan Poe ---
**Author:** ![Jumpbass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jumpbass/32/147_2.png) [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-words-phrases-quotes-and-sayings/839248/67 "2019-08-29T15:17:02Z")
Outside a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside a dog, it’s too dark to read.- Groucho It’s not just a silly line to me. I like looking at things from a different perspective from most folks. This helps inspire me to do so. I also love absurd humor. Word: Insouciant ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-words-phrases-quotes-and-sayings/839248/68 "2019-08-29T16:31:46Z")
> [@Jumpbass](#): > > Outside a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside a dog, it’s too dark to read.- Groucho > > It’s not just a silly line to me. I like looking at things from a different perspective from most folks. This helps inspire me to do so. I also love absurd humor. > > Word: > > Insouciant I love Groucho! I used to watch You Bet Your Life marathon sessions with my Granny in Ca. You got one of my favorites, so I’ll go with… One morning, I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got there, I’ll never know. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-words-phrases-quotes-and-sayings/839248/69 "2019-08-29T19:04:46Z")
Favorite word: Abecedarian. (Orderliness is good.) ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-words-phrases-quotes-and-sayings/839248/70 "2019-08-29T19:28:44Z")
Get busy living or get busy dying, that’s goddamn right. Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding, The Shawshank Redemption. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-words-phrases-quotes-and-sayings/839248/71 "2019-08-29T19:38:00Z")
OH MY GOD! BECKY! (obviously) ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-words-phrases-quotes-and-sayings/839248/72 "2019-08-29T20:19:01Z")
Attributed to Hannibal, as he contemplated taking his army (and elephants) over the Alps: “We will find a way, or make one” The French equivalent of speak of the devil is “When you speak of the wolf, you see his tail” I just like the image of catching a glimpse of a wolf’s tail. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-words-phrases-quotes-and-sayings/839248/73 "2019-08-29T21:14:56Z")
Another I love - the concept of the [Mendoza line](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mendoza_Line#Other_uses) (not in baseball, but in life generally) is wonderfully useful - I genuinely feel that the language was enriched when the term was created. It’s somewhere between little known and unknown in the UK. I still use it, even if I know that I’ll have to explain what it means. I’m not showing off - I’m spreading the word! j ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-words-phrases-quotes-and-sayings/839248/74 "2019-08-30T04:14:42Z")
Flotsam and jetsam ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-words-phrases-quotes-and-sayings/839248/75 "2019-08-30T04:34:13Z")
“Life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans” I attribute this to a Lennon song. He may have gotten somewhere, himself. I didn’t google it. ---
**Author:** ![Lucifer4u2c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a698b9/32.png) [@Lucifer4u2c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucifer4u2c)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-words-phrases-quotes-and-sayings/839248/76 "2019-08-30T04:40:35Z")
> [@saucywench](#): > > How about a fun thread.🙂 > I love military **jargon** : > > SNAFU > > FUBAR > > TARFU (Things are really effed up!), or the Brit’s version (Totally and royally fouled up!) > Totally unrelated… > > Chiffarobe What doesn’t kill you, Only makes you Stronger!!! ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-words-phrases-quotes-and-sayings/839248/77 "2019-08-30T06:51:19Z")
Military: KMAG-YOYO! Kiss my ass guys, You’re on your own! ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-words-phrases-quotes-and-sayings/839248/78 "2019-08-30T07:15:49Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > “Everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die.” > [@](#): > > [Heaven for climate, Hell for company.](https://quoteinvestigator.com/2011/07/19/heaven-for-climate/) > [@Colibri](#): > > Necessity is the mother of strange bedfellows. “If necessity is the mother of invention, who’s the father?” – My Mom > [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > When something goes wrong, I have a phonetically perfect Gene Wilder impression ready to swing into action: > > “Son of a BITCH!” > [@](#): > > I may not know my flowers, but I know a BITCH when I see one! NSFW, with sound:[Michael Greer](https://youtu.be/kOZY7e5XN6s) ---
**Author:** ![Tomyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@Tomyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomyros)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-words-phrases-quotes-and-sayings/839248/79 "2019-08-30T07:42:18Z")
To indicate amazement Well, cut me off at the knees and call me Shorty ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-words-phrases-quotes-and-sayings/839248/80 "2019-08-30T08:21:42Z")
> [@saucywench](#): > > Flotsam and jetsam Did you know these were [legal terms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flotsam,_jetsam,_lagan,_and_derelict)? I always thought Flotsam fell in (to the sea) and Jetsam was thrown in, but that seems to be a bit of an oversimplification. The other two that go with them are Lagan (thrown in and sunk) and Derelict (sunk and abandoned). j [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-words-phrases-quotes-and-sayings/839248.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-words-phrases-quotes-and-sayings/839248.md?page=5)