# Quotes that at first sound profound but really are obvious, stupid or pointless **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 25, 2004, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quotes-that-at-first-sound-profound-but-really-are-obvious-stupid-or-pointless/256800 "2004-07-25T14:13:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![igor\_frankensteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/839c29/32.png) [@igor\_frankensteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/igor_frankensteen)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quotes-that-at-first-sound-profound-but-really-are-obvious-stupid-or-pointless/256800/41 "2017-10-07T16:19:39Z")
Minor note on the economics sidetrack: in ANY economy, everything is affected by and connected to everything else. By definition. So any “inflation” anywhere, in a barter or a money-based economy, can and will end up affecting everything else. After all, money was invented to begin with, to FACILITATE what continues to be essentially a barter economy. Now as to lousy “profound” sayings. I just stumbled across an old gem. " It’s good that love is blind, or it would see too much." It might SOUND deep and insightful at first, but since it’s based on a stupid falsehood to begin with (i.e. that love is a creature or a thing or an independent force in nature), in the end it’s just an annoying snotty comment by someone with a bad attitude. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quotes-that-at-first-sound-profound-but-really-are-obvious-stupid-or-pointless/256800/42 "2017-10-07T17:10:29Z")
Often seen in advertisements: _“Save up to 50% or more!”_ ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quotes-that-at-first-sound-profound-but-really-are-obvious-stupid-or-pointless/256800/43 "2017-10-07T17:38:08Z")
**igor** , out of quriosity, you’re not the occasional googler so how did you stumble upon this +13 year old thread and decided to reply to it? ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quotes-that-at-first-sound-profound-but-really-are-obvious-stupid-or-pointless/256800/44 "2017-10-07T17:46:29Z")
Seriously, 2004, and NOBODY banned? And what’s it been with the recent zombie attack? Do I need to go out and buy an axe? ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quotes-that-at-first-sound-profound-but-really-are-obvious-stupid-or-pointless/256800/45 "2017-10-07T19:37:40Z")
> [@Dunderman](#): > > “On a long enough timeline the survival rate of everyone drops to zero” (really?!?). To be fair, that’s not a real saying. It was spouted by a movie character who was losing his mind. ETA: grrrr, zombie. ---
**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:** [October 7, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quotes-that-at-first-sound-profound-but-really-are-obvious-stupid-or-pointless/256800/46 "2017-10-07T19:55:25Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Well, that’s another one. Maybe it’s because I’m an old man, but I see value in some of these. Like that one. It doesn’t mean that your muscles will be stronger if you’re beaten to a pulp, but that your character will be stronger if you endure great struggle. Christopher Reeves may be a quadriplegic, but he is stronger than ever. Ummm, no. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quotes-that-at-first-sound-profound-but-really-are-obvious-stupid-or-pointless/256800/47 "2017-10-07T20:02:24Z")
> [@OtakuLoki](#): > > The quote of that nature that leaves me grinding my teeth is the so-called wisdom of Yoda from Empire Strikes Back: “Do, or do not. There is no try.” This, a thousand times this. Blames people for not having supernatural power to make things happen as wished. Don’t try to beat cancer - just \*beat \*cancer! Don’t try to get into Harvard - just _get into_ Harvard! Don’t try to win the gold medal - just \*win \*gold! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quotes-that-at-first-sound-profound-but-really-are-obvious-stupid-or-pointless/256800/48 "2017-10-07T21:59:26Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > This, a thousand times this. Blames people for not having supernatural power to make things happen as wished. > > Don’t try to beat cancer - just \*beat \*cancer! > > Don’t try to get into Harvard - just _get into_ Harvard! > > Don’t try to win the gold medal - just \*win \*gold! > :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: Don’t try to reply to a 13-year-old thread and add nothing of substance - just \*reply \*to a 13-year-old thread and add nothing of substance! mmm ---
**Author:** ![Scougs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scougs/32/3158_2.png) [@Scougs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scougs)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quotes-that-at-first-sound-profound-but-really-are-obvious-stupid-or-pointless/256800/49 "2017-10-08T11:31:41Z")
I was merrily reading this thread and was about to reply to one of the points in it. Then I saw a reference to Christopher Reeve in the present tense and looked at the date. ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quotes-that-at-first-sound-profound-but-really-are-obvious-stupid-or-pointless/256800/50 "2017-10-08T13:27:58Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > ETA: grrrr, zombie. Zombies don’t growl. Well, zombie dogs maybe. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quotes-that-at-first-sound-profound-but-really-are-obvious-stupid-or-pointless/256800/51 "2017-10-08T18:38:31Z")
In an old Wizard of Id comic strip, an eastern ruler – call him The Sultan – is showing The King around his place: > [@](#): > > Sultan: And here are my concubines, each more beautiful than the last! > > King: Really? > > Sultan: Well, only if you line them up that way. I love it. It takes the wind out of that extravagant saying by pointing out how meaningless it really is. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quotes-that-at-first-sound-profound-but-really-are-obvious-stupid-or-pointless/256800/52 "2017-10-08T22:03:03Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > [Getty Lee] If you chose not to decide, you still have made a choice [/Rush] So much wrong, here! I’m not even going to bother… ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quotes-that-at-first-sound-profound-but-really-are-obvious-stupid-or-pointless/256800/53 "2017-10-08T22:45:28Z")
Wife, U of C washroom wall, early '70s. She resented later appropriations: “A man without God is like a fish without a bicycle.” ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2017, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quotes-that-at-first-sound-profound-but-really-are-obvious-stupid-or-pointless/256800/54 "2017-10-09T05:19:01Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > [Getty Lee] If you chose not to decide, you still have made a choice [/Rush] Yeah, this is so wrong. First, the tags don’t match. Second, it’s Geddy Lee, not Getty Lee. Geez, get it right! ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2017, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quotes-that-at-first-sound-profound-but-really-are-obvious-stupid-or-pointless/256800/55 "2017-10-09T06:34:25Z")
"If you believe you received this message in error . . . " No, dumbass, I was trying to get intercept. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2017, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quotes-that-at-first-sound-profound-but-really-are-obvious-stupid-or-pointless/256800/56 "2017-10-09T16:43:31Z")
I wonder if anyone thought “life’s like a box of chocolates” to be profound. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quotes-that-at-first-sound-profound-but-really-are-obvious-stupid-or-pointless/256800/57 "2017-10-09T18:30:25Z")
I am trying to remember what I was doing 13 years ago, oh yeah, that. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2017, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quotes-that-at-first-sound-profound-but-really-are-obvious-stupid-or-pointless/256800/58 "2017-10-09T18:39:24Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > I wonder if anyone thought “life’s like a box of chocolates” to be profound. Yeah, it’s only profound if you’re an illiterate idiot who can’t or won’t read the box. Which, you know, Forrest was. I much prefer the original aphorism from the book: “Being an idiot is no box of chocolates”. ---
**Author:** ![Bouttoruinthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5ac83/32.png) [@Bouttoruinthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bouttoruinthis)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quotes-that-at-first-sound-profound-but-really-are-obvious-stupid-or-pointless/256800/59 "2020-11-24T01:05:50Z")
Freedom is the driving force of freedom ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quotes-that-at-first-sound-profound-but-really-are-obvious-stupid-or-pointless/256800/60 "2020-11-24T20:00:57Z")
My favorite deflation of a profound-sounding saying is from the comic strip _The Wizard of Id_ The King is visiting a Middle Eastern country and is being shown the harem by the Sultan. Sultan: There they are, fifty beautiful women, each more beautiful than the last! King: (clearly excited by the thought) Really??!! Sultan: (nonchalantly) Well, only if you line them up that way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quotes-that-at-first-sound-profound-but-really-are-obvious-stupid-or-pointless/256800.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quotes-that-at-first-sound-profound-but-really-are-obvious-stupid-or-pointless/256800.md?page=4)