# Unexpected wisdom in pop culture **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 27, 2003, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-wisdom-in-pop-culture/164604 "2003-03-27T20:36:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Simbelmyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Simbelmyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simbelmyne)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-wisdom-in-pop-culture/164604/41 "2003-03-28T17:43:36Z")
“Good…bad…I’m the guy with the gun.” ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-wisdom-in-pop-culture/164604/42 "2003-03-28T17:51:20Z")
As Dorothy once said about Lorelei, “she’s like a radio—nothing but junk comes out, and then just when you’re ready to throw it out the window, you hear something amazing.” On the opening episode of the Anna Nicole Smith show last season, she slurred unhappily, “People always say, ‘Life’s a bitch an’ then ya die.’ They _should_ say, ‘Life’s a bitch an’ then ya _live_.’” ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-wisdom-in-pop-culture/164604/43 "2003-03-28T18:34:18Z")
A couple: Big Trouble in Little China (paraphrase) “Have you paid your dues, Jack?” “Paid my dues? Ya, I’ve paid my dues, and the cheque is in the mail!” Radiohead (Palo Alto, I think) “I’m too busy to see you; you’re too busy to wait.” Something I heard that Michael Moore said backstage after his, er, ‘speech’ (likely an urban legend, but it’s sweet) “Mr. Moore, why did you just say what you did?” “Because I’m an American.” “That’s it?” “That’s a lot.” ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-wisdom-in-pop-culture/164604/44 "2003-03-29T06:39:27Z")
Forgot this exchange, from _Raising Arizona_: Glen: “It’s a crazy world.” H.I.: “Someone oughta sell tickets.” Glen: “Sure, I’d buy one.” Also: [Evelle picks up a pack of balloons.] Evelle: “Do these blow into funny shapes and all?” Grocer: “Well, no, unless round is funny.” I’m always hoping to say “I’d buy one,” or “not unless round is funny,” but they don’t work without the straight lines. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-wisdom-in-pop-culture/164604/45 "2003-03-29T06:55:56Z")
Best piece of wisdom from pop culture: “Watch out where the huskies go, and don’t you eat that yellow snow.” Words to live by, people. It just doesn’t get any more profound than THAT. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-wisdom-in-pop-culture/164604/46 "2003-03-29T07:00:45Z")
"TAKE THE UNIVERSE AND GRIND IT DOWN TO THE FINEST POWDER AND SIEVE IT THROUGH THE FINEST FILTER AND THEN _SHOW_ ME ONE ATOM OF JUSTICE, ONE MOLECULE OF MERCY. AND YET- “Why? Because FUCK HIM!” -Will Hunting, describing why he’d always take the heavier beating from his step-dad, from _Good Will Hunting_. “This, too, shall pass.” -Some damn parable or something. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-wisdom-in-pop-culture/164604/47 "2003-03-29T07:04:11Z")
Shit! I didn’t hit submit yet! I hadn’t finished my Pratchett post! Lemme try that again: “TAKE THE UNIVERSE AND GRIND IT DOWN TO THE FINEST POWDER AND SIEVE IT THROUGH THE FINEST FILTER AND THEN SHOW ME ONE ATOM OF JUSTICE, ONE MOLECULE OF MERCY. AND YET- Death waved a hand. AND YET YOU BEHAVE AS IF THERE IS SOME IDEAL ORDER IN THE WORLD, AS IF THERE IS SOME . . . SOME _RIGHTNESS_ IN THE UNIVERSE BY WHICH IT MIGHT BE JUDGED.” -Death, describing why it is important to believe in Santa Claus, in Terry Pratchett’s _Hogfather_. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-wisdom-in-pop-culture/164604/48 "2003-03-29T10:20:42Z")
From a fortune cookie in some long-forgotten Chinese restaurant in Jacksonville, Florida when I was about four or five years old: _He who seeks will find._ Doesn’t say what he’ll find, just that he’ll find something. This still (25-ish years later) affects me as deep wisdom. ---
**Author:** ![coffeecat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coffeecat/32/3405_2.png) [@coffeecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffeecat)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-wisdom-in-pop-culture/164604/49 "2003-03-29T14:47:44Z")
“Free your mind and the rest will follow.” En Vogue “Words are a motherfucker.” Eminem ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-wisdom-in-pop-culture/164604/50 "2003-03-29T15:28:31Z")
“Another Suitcase in Another Hall” from Evita by Tim Rice: “You’ll get by; you always have before.” Try arguing with that. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-wisdom-in-pop-culture/164604/51 "2003-03-29T16:03:48Z")
I find J. Michael Straszinski’s dialogue in \*_Babylon 5_ to contain a lot of profundity, generally when he’s speaking through G’Kar. > [@](#): > > I used to think it was a terrible thing that life was so unfair. Then I thought, ‘what if life _were_ fair, and all of the terrible things that happen to us came because we really deserved them?’ Now I take great comfort in the general unfairness and hostility of the universe > > When others do a foolish thing, you should tell them it is a foolish thing. They can still continue to do it, but at least the truth is where it needs to be. > > Embrace the moment. In the end, that’s all we have. Trouble will come in its own time, it always does. But that’s tomorrow. Give me today, and I will be happy." ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-wisdom-in-pop-culture/164604/52 "2003-03-29T17:11:52Z")
It was years ago, and I’m ashamed to say I’ve forgotten the name of the book and the name of the author, but it was a pulp novel based on the _ShadowRun_ role-playing game. The book starts with our hero being shot to pieces, all but killed, and wanted by the government. A stranger takes him in, keeps him from dying, and looks after him until he’s healed up. When he’s ready to leave, the hero tells this man there is no way he can pay him back for all he’s done. The stranger tells him, “Pay forward.” Do for others what I have done for you. This was over a decade ago, but it lingers. There are people in my life who’s kindness I can never repay. That silly little pulp novel showed me a new way to look at it. I can’t pay them back, but I can pay others forward. Among other things, I’ve told a friend of mine who writes pulp military and science fiction this story to remind him he does make a difference. CJ ---
**Author:** ![groo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecd19e/32.png) [@groo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groo)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-wisdom-in-pop-culture/164604/53 "2003-03-29T20:05:50Z")
Another fortune cookie: “You can’t kill time without injuring eternity.” ---
**Author:** ![RawkStah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@RawkStah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RawkStah)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-wisdom-in-pop-culture/164604/54 "2003-03-30T01:36:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Simbelmyne \* > \*\*I wish I was like you > easily amused > find my nest of salt > everything’s my fault > I’ll take all the blame > aqua sea foam shame > sunburn with freezerburn > choking on > the ashes of her enemy > > All in all is all we all are > > Sinead does it better. \*\* Sinead covered Nirvana? I was unaware of that. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-wisdom-in-pop-culture/164604/55 "2003-03-30T01:56:35Z")
Probably doesn’t count because it’s not a quote… the other night they re-ran the episode of _Cowboy Bebop_ in which Spike and Jet go searching for a VCR to play the mysterious tape that was sent to Faye. Most of the episode is played for laughs until they show what’s on the tape, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. It’s Faye as a child, making a tape for herself in the future (not knowing that it’d be over a hundred years in the future). She does a cheer saying, “Believe in yourself! Don’t forget me! I’ll always be there rooting for you! Don’t forget me!” And the adult Faye just stares at the tape, finally saying, “I don’t remember.” ---
**Author:** ![CadburyAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@CadburyAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CadburyAngel)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-wisdom-in-pop-culture/164604/56 "2003-03-30T02:21:51Z")
“Forget regret, or life is yours to miss. No other road, no other way, no day but today.” - RENT ---
**Author:** ![RawkStah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@RawkStah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RawkStah)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-wisdom-in-pop-culture/164604/57 "2003-03-30T02:50:43Z")
Paraphrasing Dean Moriarty in “On The Road”: Nothing scares people more than what they want. The last line in “Little Big Man”: Sometimes, the magic doesn’t work. They Might Be Giants, “Everything Right is Wrong Again”: Draw the line dividing laugh and scream. Eric Idle in “Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life”, “The Galaxy Song”: Remember, when you’re feeling very small and insecure, how amazingly unlikely is your birth. And, pray that there’s intelligent life somewhere up in space, 'cuz there’s bugger all down here on Earth. Stevie Wonder, “Heaven Help Us All”: Heaven help the boy who won’t reach 21. Heaven help the man who gave that boy a gun. Tom Waits, “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up”: How in the hell did I get here so soon? ---
**Author:** ![Simbelmyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Simbelmyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simbelmyne)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-wisdom-in-pop-culture/164604/58 "2003-03-30T03:05:35Z")
She covers All Apologies on Universal Mother ---
**Author:** ![RawkStah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@RawkStah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RawkStah)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-wisdom-in-pop-culture/164604/59 "2003-03-30T03:39:59Z")
I should have known that. I heard the album, but don’t own it. Guess it got overshadowed by “Famine”(? the one that’s spoken word, mentions that the US can’t kill more than 10% of a native population…) ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-wisdom-in-pop-culture/164604/60 "2003-03-30T04:06:30Z")
From a _Beavis and Butt-Head_ episode: Beavis: Hey Butt-Head, why is Tom Petty always on TV? Butt-Head: Because he’s famous, Beavis. Beavis: Yeah (heh-heh), but why is he famous? Butt-Head: Because he’s on TV, dumbass! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-wisdom-in-pop-culture/164604.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-wisdom-in-pop-culture/164604.md?page=4)