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;void(0)) . . . CLARITY see "COMMUNICATION" for related links When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence. --Ansel Easton Adams (1902—1984) American photographer. In James R. Miller _Visions from Earth_, p. 10 [2004]. The chief merit of language is clearness, and we know that nothing detracts so much from this as do unfamiliar terms. --Galen (129—199) Greek physician, anatomist, and writer on medicine and philosophy. _On the Natural Faculties_ Those who know they are profound strive for clarity. Those who would like to seem profound strive for obscurity. For the crowd believes that if it cannot see to the bottom of something it must be profound. It is timid and dislikes going into the water. --Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844—1900) German classical scholar, philosopher, and critic of culture. _Die fröhilche Wissenschaft_ [1882] Plain as a nose in a man's face. --François Rabelais (c. 1494—c. 1553] French humanist, satirist, and physician. _Gargantua and Pantagruel_ [1552] bk. 5 - Everything that can be thought at all can be thought clearly. Everything that can be said at all can be said clearly. But not everything that can be thought can be said. --Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889—1951) Austrian philosopher. In Susan Sontag _Styles of Radical Will_, p. 18 "The Aesthetics of Silence" [2002]. What can be said at all can be said clearly; and whereof one cannot speak thereof one must be silent. --Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889—1951) Austrian philosopher. _Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [1922] - ----- clarion [KLAIR-ee-uhn], noun: 1. A kind of trumpet having a clear and shrill note. 2. The sound of this instrument or a sound similar to it. 3. Sounding like the clarion; loud and clear. elucidate (verb) [ê-'lu-sê-deyt] Make clear, clarify. explicate (transitive verb) To make clear or explain completely. Cr.Syn.: show, explain, get across, expound, illuminate, exhibit Related: review, construe, analyze, demonstrate, reason, clarify, define, interpret, articulate. explicator: noun limpid [LIM-pid], adjective: 1. Characterized by clearness or transparency; 2. Calm; untroubled; serene. 3. Clear in style; easily understandable. Synonyms: clear, crystalline, lucid, transparent. Ex.: Lying on the sand one limpid afternoon, Margarita-drowsed, gazing out at the turquoise water through half-closed eyes, following the seaweed swaying back and forth just beneath the surface, I fancied (as any self-respecting writer must do) that it would be my turn to write a book about Mexico some day. --Neil Baldwln, _Legends of the Plumed Serpent_ turbid [TUR-bid], adjective: 1. Muddy; thick with or as if with roiled sediment; not clear; -- used of liquids of any kind. 2. Thick; dense; dark; -- used of clouds, air, fog, smoke, etc. 3. Disturbed; confused; disordered. Ex.: Rough or smooth, the Irish Sea at Blackpool is always turbid. Beneath the murk float unspeakable things. --David Walker, "Is Labour right to end its affair with Blackpool? YES says David," _Independent_, [26 March 1998]  ;void(0)) CLASS . . see "CHARACTER" for related links O let us love our occupations, Bless the squire and his relations, Live upon our daily rations, And always know our proper stations. --Charles Dickens (1812—1870) English novelist. _The Chimes_ [1844] "The Second Quarter" Styles, like everything else, change. Style doesn't. --Linda Ellerbee (1944— ) American journalist. Sir, your levellers wish to level down as far as themselves: but they cannot bear levelling up to themselves. They would all have some people under them; why not then have some people above them? --Samuel Johnson (1709—1784) English poet, critic, and lexicographer. In James Boswell _The Life of Samuel Johnson_ [1791]. Pay no attention to what Burke's Peerage says about Princess Diana's lineage. Any woman who goes on television and discusses her affairs, betrayals, suicide attempts, and vomiting habits, and then says "I'm a very strong person," is an American. --Florence King (1936— ) American journalist, essayist, and novelist. There are those who think that Britain is a class-ridden society, and those who think it doesn't matter either way as long as you know your place in the set-up. --Miles Kington (1941—2008) English humorist. _Welcome to Kington_ [1989] Throughout recorded time, and probably since the end of the Neolithic Age, there have been three kinds of people in the world, the High, the Middle, and the Low. They have been subdivided in many ways, they have borne countless different names, and their relative numbers, as well as their attitude toward one another, have varied from age to age; but the essential structure of society has never altered. Even after enormous upheavals and seemingly irrevocable changes, the same pattern has always reasserted itself, just as a gyroscope will always return to equilibrium, however far it is pushed one way or the other. The aims of these three groups are entirely irreconcilable. The aim of the High is to remain where they are. The aim of the Middle is to change places with the High. The aim of the Low, when they have an aim — for it is an abiding characteristic of the Low that they are too much crushed by drudgery to be more than intermittently conscious of anything outside their daily lives — is to abolish all distinctions and create a society in which all men shall be equal. Thus throughout history a struggle which is the same in its main outlines recurs over and over again. For long periods the High seem to be securely in power, but sooner or later there always comes a moment when they lose either their belief in themselves, or their capacity to govern efficiently, or both. They are then overthrown by the Middle, who enlist the Low on their side by pretending to them that they are fighting for liberty and justice. As soon as they have reached their objective, the Middle thrust the Low back into their old position of servitude, and themselves become the High. Presently a new Middle group splits off from one of the other groups, or from both of them, and the struggle begins over again. Of the three groups, only the Low are never even temporarily successful in achieving their aims. It would be an exaggeration to say that throughout history there has been no progress of a material kind. Even today, in a period of decline, the average human being is physically better off than he was a few centuries ago. But no advance in wealth, no softening of manners, no reform or revolution has ever brought human equality a millimeter nearer. From the point of view of the law, no historic change has ever meant much more than a change in the name of the masters. --George Orwell [Eric Blair] (1903—1950) English novelist. _Nineteen Eighty-Four_ [1949], pt. 2, ch. 9 Class is a communist concept. It groups people in bundles, and sets them against one another. --Margaret Thatcher (1925— ) British conservative stateswoman and Prime Minister [1979—1990]. In Brenda Maddox, _Maggie the First Lady_. -- In a series named 'The Frost Report', John Cleese was recruited to write and perform. His height and manner were used to great effect in a sketch by John Law and Marty Feldman on class distinction. The point was rammed home by the fact that John Cleese, at six foot five inches, towered over Ronnie Barker's five foot nine inches, and Ronnie Corbett's five foot one inch. Cleese: I look down on him (indicating Barker) because I am upper class. Barker: I look up to him (indicating Cleese) because he is upper class, but I look down on him (indicating Corbett) because he is lower class. I am middle class. Corbett: I know my place. I look up to them both. But I don't look up to him (Barker) as much as I look up to him (Cleese), because he has got innate breeding. Cleese: I have got innate breeding, but I have not got any money. So sometimes I look up (bending knees and doing so) to him (Barker). Barker: I still look up to him (Cleese) because although I have money, I am vulgar. But I am not as vulgar as him (Corbett), so I still look down on him (Corbett). Corbett: I know my place. I look up to them both; but while I am poor, I am honest, industrious and trustworthy. Had I the inclination, I could look down on them. But I don't. Barker: We all know our place, but what do we get out of it? Cleese: I get a feeling of superiority over them. Barker: I get a feeling of inferiority from him (Cleese) but a feeling of superiority over him (Corbett). Corbett: I get a pain in the back of my neck. ----- clerisy [KLER-uh-see], noun: The well educated class; the intelligentsia. Ex.: Our academic clerisy, I'm sure, could point out factual inadequacies, along with examples of cultural bias. Robert D. Kaplan, "And Now for the News" _The Atlantic_ [March 1997] lumpen [LUHM-puhn; LUM-puhn], adjective; 1. Of or relating to dispossessed and displaced individuals, especially those who have lost social status. 2. Common; vulgar. 3. A member the underclass, especially the lowest social stratum. parvenu [PAR-vuh-noo; -nyoo], noun: One that has recently or suddenly risen to a higher social or economic class but has not gained social acceptance of others in that class; an upstart. adjective: Being a parvenu; also, like or having the characteristics of a parvenu. Ex.: "But the favourite's power and influence provoke intense ill-feeling among other courtiers, who regard him as a sinister usurping parvenu with ideas above his station, or perhaps even a sorcerer." --Francis Wheen, "The whole truth about Peter's friends," _The Guardian_ [31 January 2001] plebeian [plih-BEE-uhn], adjective: 1. Of or pertaining to the Roman plebs, or common people. 2. Of or pertaining to the common people. 3. Vulgar; common; crude or coarse in nature or manner. noun: 1. One of the plebs, or common people of ancient Rome; opposed to patrician. 2. One of the common people or lower classes. 3. A coarse, crude, or vulgar person. Ex.: "During the Soviet era, anyone of any ethnic background who did the dirty deeds demanded of them to get ahead was rewarded with a crummy but better-than-average apartment, a steady supply of cheap sausage and low-grade vodka, and a host of other plebeian amenities too dull to talk about here." --Jeffrey Tayler, "Russia's Other World," interview by Toby Lester, _The Atlantic_ [10 March 1999] Synonyms: coarse, common, low, lowborn, unwashed, vulgar. . . see "MUSIC" for related links Midi of Pachelbel's Canon - I prefer Offenbach to Bach often. --Sir Thomas Beecham (1879—1961) English conductor. ^ George II (1683-1760), king of Great Britain and Ireland (1727-1760). George II was invited to the first preformance of Handel's "Messiah" in London in 1743. The audience was extremely moved by the music, as was the king. When the words "And he shall reign for ever and ever" were sung in the "Hallelujah Chorus," he leaped to his feet, believing, because of his poor command of English, that this was a personal tribute to him from his protégé. The audience, seeing the king on his feet but perhaps not understanding his motive, also rose to their feet. It is still the custom for the audience to stand during this part of the performance, although not everyone knows why. --_Bartlett's Book of Anecdotes_ edited by Clifton Fadiman and André Bernard [2000 ed.] ^ Hats off, gentlemen — a genius! --Robert Schumann (1810—1856) German composer. On first hearing Frédéric Chopin's music [1831].  CLEAN LIVING . . see "CHARACTER" for related links Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip. --Will Rogers [William Penn Adair Rogers] (1879—1935) American humorist and actor. Always do right; this will gratify some people and astonish the rest. --Mark Twain [Samuel Langhorne Clemens] (1835—1910) American humorist, novelist, journalist, and river pilot. . . see "RELIGION" for related links I never saw, heard, nor read, that the clergy were beloved in any nation where Christianity was the religion of the country. --Jonathan Swift (1667—1745) Anglo-Irish poet and satirist. I asked why he was a priest, and he said that if you have to work for anybody an absentee boss is best. --Jeanette Winterson (1959— ) English novelist and critic. _The Passion_ [1987] . . see: "ABILITY" see: "DECEPTION" see: "INTELLIGENCE" see: "TALENT" see: "UNDERSTANDING" Too clever by half. --Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 5th Marquess of Salisbury (1893—1972) British Tory politician. ^ My favorite story is about Lyndon B. Johnson going to visit Harry Truman in the waning days of Johnson's presidency. He met with Truman in Independence, Missouri, and said to him, 'Harry, you and Bess are living in this old house here in Independence. You're getting on in years. You may become ill. You ought to have an army medical corpsman living here at the house with you.' Truman was supposed to have replied, 'Really, Lyndon! Can I have that?' Johnson supposedly said, 'Of course, Harry. My God, man, you're an ex-president of the United States. I'll arrange it. About six months after Johnson got out of the White House, a reporter caught up with him one day at the ranch and said, 'Mr President, is it true that you've got an army medical corpsman living here on the ranch with you?' Johnson said, 'Of course it's true, Harry Truman has one.' --Robert Dallek (1934— ) American historian. In Brian Lamb _Booknotes: Stories From American History_ [2001]. ^ ^^ A historian named Herodotus, tells of a thief who was to be executed. As he was taken away he made a bargain with the king: in one year he would teach the king's favorite horse to sing hymns. The other prisoners watched the thief singing to the horse and laughed. "You will not succeed," they told him. "No one can." To which the thief replied, "I have a year, and who knows what might happen in that time. The king might die. The horse might die. I might die. And perhaps the horse will learn to sing." ^^ The silliest woman can manage a clever man; but it needs a very clever woman to manage a fool! --Rudyard Kipling (1865—1936) English writer and poet. _Plain Tales from the Hills_ [1888] - We can be more clever than one, but not more clever than all. --François de La Rochefoucauld (1613—1680) French classical author. The true way to be deceived is to think oneself more clever than others. --François de La Rochefoucauld (1613—1680) French classical author. _Reflections; or, Sentences and Moral Maxims_ [1678], Maxim 127 - ^ Abraham Lincoln (1809—1865) American statesman; 16th President of the United States [1861—1865] In his legal practice Lincoln was never greedy for fees and discouraged unnecessary litigation. A man came to him in a passion, asking him to bring a suit for $2.50 against an impoverished debtor. Lincoln tried to dissuade him, but the man was determined upon revenge. When he saw that the creditor was not to be put off, Lincoln asked for and got $10 as his legal fee. He gave half of this to the defendant, who thereupon willingly confessed to the debt and paid up the $2.50, thus settling the matter to the entire satisfaction of the irate plaintiff. --_Bartlett's Book of Anecdotes_ edited by Clifton Fadiman and André Bernard [2000 ed.] ^ Here's a good rule of thumb: Too clever is dumb. --Ogden Nash (1902—1971) American writer of humorous poetry. _Reflection on Ingenuity_ [1945] "But that's okay, right? 'Cuz ye have a Plan!" "I hope I've got it right, though, said Roland. "My aunts say I'm too clever by half." "Glad tae hear it," said Rob Anybody, "'cuz that's much better than bein' too stupid by three quarters!" --Terry Pratchett (1948— ) English science fiction writer. _Wintersmith_ [2006] Bait the hook well! This fish will bite. --William Shakespeare (1564—1616) English dramatist. _Much Ado About Nothing_ [1598—1599], II, iii I am sick to death of cleverness. Everybody is clever nowadays. You can't go anywhere without meeting clever people. The thing has become an absolute public nuisance. I wish to goodness we had a few fools left. --Oscar Wilde (1854—1900) Anglo-Irish dramatist and poet. _The Importance of Being Earnest_ [1895], Act I ----- adroit (adj.) [ê-'droyt] Dexterous, clever, deft. noun: adroitness maladroit : clumsy, awkward. artifice [AR-tuh-fis], noun: 1. Cleverness or skill; ingenuity; inventiveness. 2. An ingenious or artful device or expedient. 3. An artful trick or stratagem. 4. Trickery; craftiness; insincere or deceptive behavior. legerdemain (noun) [le-jr-dê-'meyn] Sleight of hand, deceitful cleverness.  CLICHES . . see "LANGUAGE" for related links - Not to split hairs or yank your chain and, oh, maybe I'm grasping at straws that'll break the camel's back as it's passing through the eye of a needle, but I wonder — before the wisdom comes — whether the fact that the word cliché (from French printer's jargon for "stereotype,") did not come into widespread use in English until the mid-19th century, means that it was at this point in time that we ran out of new and original ideas. Ask anyone what they think of your new idea, and they'll tell you it's been done like dinner. But can nothing good be said of clichés? Are they not the glue that binds us, confirmation of the common elements of human existence? Some might say that so trite a claim is itself clichéd, water into wine. Water under the bridge that you burned before crossing. Bridge over fish in troubled waters. A small fish in a big pond, and you've got bigger ones to fry. Better you should cut bait and put away that barrel and shotgun. The goal here of course is not to flog a dead horse, which you should never change in midstream, even if it is stubborn as a mule — like that time you led it to water but could not make it drink like a fish. Again with the fine kettle of fish calling the pot black as the ace of spades (referred to henceforth as "a spade"). (Well, actually, you probably shouldn't be riding that horse in a stream anyway, what with it being dead and all.) Fact of the matter is, the universally acknowledged truth of clichés unites us. And united we stand and the truth, as we all know, is what's going to set us free. Like the best things in life. Free as birds of a feather that flock together. And better you should have one of those in the hand than two terms of Bush. But that's a whole other can of worms that not even a ten-foot pole would induce me to touch. That said, clichés in book reviews really get my goat. --Openbrackets [6 December 2004] - end page | CALAMITIES - CALM | CALUMNY - CAMPAIGN FINANCING | CAMPAIGNS & CANADA | CANCER - CAN'T WIN | CAPITALISM | CAREFREE - CARPE DIEM | CARTER (JIMMY) - CATS & DOGS | CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES - CENSORSHIP | CERTAINTY - CHANGE | CHANGING (ONE'S MIND) & CHANGING TIMES | CHARACTER | CHARACTER ASSASINATION - CHEERFULNESS | CHEER UP! - CHILDHOOD | CHILDREN | CHILDREN'S RHYME | CHILE & CHINA | CHOCOLATE - CHRISTIANITY | CHRISTMAS | CHURCH - CIGARS | CIRCUMSTANCES & CITIES | CIVILITY - CIVIL RIGHTS | CLARITY - CLICHES | CLOTHES - COFFEE | COLD - COLORS | COMEDY | COMFORT - COMMON SENSE | COMMUNICATION | COMMUNISM | COMPANIONSHIP - COMPASSION | COMPETITION - COMPLIMENTS | COMPOSERS - CONDUCTORS | CONFESSION - CONQUEST | CONSCIENCE - CONTENTED | CONTEXT - CONVENTIONAL WISDOM | CONVERSATION | CONVICTION & COOKING | COOLIDGE - CORPORATIONS | CORRECTING - COURAGE | COURT - COWS | CREATIVITY - CRIME | CRIME & PUNISHMENT - CROOKS | CRITICISM & CRITICS | CROWD (THE) - CUBA | CULTURE - CYNICS | | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | | Return Home | The Credits | The Cast | Act 1 | Act 2 | Act 3 | The End | The Reviews | Photos | |
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