A cute item today from Anton Chekhov: " Doctors are the same as lawyers; the only difference is that a lawyer will merely rob you, whereas doctors rob you and kill you too ." 

I've never heard that one before, but since Chekhov was not only a premiere short story writer, the finest of playwrights -- one of my favorites -- but also a physician, he should know.

Thanks for the post Fightingbob.   ---   Another old saying that I remember from years ago had to do with working hard at one's job in order to: " Keep the Wolf away from the door ! " 

   ---   Which one ? The writer or the one from Star Trek   lol.

I do admire people who break ranks to reveal the dark sides of their own professions -- especially the professions that encourage rampant narcissism, like medicine and law.  (Fortunately, we psychologists have no dark sides to reveal -- we're pretty close to "perfect.")

Thanks for all of the posts.

Motherinlaw: Yes I feel that Psychologists have one of the toughest jobs in medicine. Working with the human mind is not easy, if one watches the news it becomes rather obvious that there are quite a lot of people who need treatment all around this planet ( Help ! they have us surrounded ! ). 

Speaking of " mind problems " : Two older men were enjoying a seaside lunch in the sunshine when a seagull that was flying overhead pooped on the bald head of one of the men. " Don't worry " said a nearby waitress, " I'll run and fetch some toilet paper. " As she hurried off one of the men turned to the other and said " How crazy is she ! That bird will be miles away by the time she gets back ! " 

Ah, a seagull.  Now we're back on Anton Chekhov. 

Now it's my turn to say thanks for the post, badenwurtca.  I got a chuckle out of it.

Speaking of birds, this sendup of Ingmar Bergman's films titled De Düva might bring a few smiles.  One actress will be familiar to you, it's Madeline Kahn in her first role.  She died much too young, at 57.  Unfortunately, she didn't win her badminton game.

Thanks for the posts.   ---   Today we have a little item from Baseball executive Branch Rickey: " First you forget names, then you forget faces, then you forget to zip up your fly, and then you forget to unzip your fly. "

And the last stage is when you won't face up to the fact that you've forgotten to face the fact that you forgot to zip up your suitcase when you were flying off to some nameless island, hoping to "forget" ....

Thanks for the post Motherinlaw.   ---   It is rather sad and also somewhat ironic that not only do we know nothing at all when we are born into this world but then many of us return to a similar helpless state before we pass away.

Yes, and no one said it better than The Bard in the character of melancholy Jaques in As You Like it.

    All the world's a stage,
    And all the men and women merely players:
    They have their exits and their entrances;
    And one man in his time plays many parts,
    His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
    Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
    And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
    And shining morning face, creeping like snail
    Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
    Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
    Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
    Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
    Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
    Seeking the bubble reputation
    Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,
    In fair round belly with good capon lined,
    With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
    Full of wise saws and modern instances;
    And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
    Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,
    With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
    His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
    For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
    Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
    And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
    That ends this strange eventful history,
    Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
    Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

My cheery note for the evening.

Thanks for the great Quote Fightingbob.   ---   A bit of humour might be good at this point: Three elderly men were so deep in conversation at a railway station that they didn't hear the guard signal the train's departure. Just as the train began to pull away two of the men managed to scramble aboard but the third man didn't make it. The guard came over to console him and said " Never mind, Two of you made it and there is another train in an hour. " But then the old man replied " No you don't understand, they came here to see ME off ! "

I like that one, badenwurtca, haven't heard it before.

I appreciate the "All the world's a stage" quote, too.  The poignance of the last line is unforgettable. And I think there is an upside to looking at the "dark side."  Being reminded that we're all in this together can be oddly comforting.

I agree, Mil.  That's the profundity of the humanities; we escape our narrow, solipsistic world to understand the universality of the human condition.  In my book that's wisdom, which transcends knowledge.  Unfortunately, wisdom is in short supply today.

Thanks for the posts.   ---   Today I want to post a quote from Isaac Newton: I don't know what I may seem to the world, but, as to myself, I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the sea shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.   

i don't care what anyone else here thinks of you, baddy. i like your knowledge of history.

"those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it"

There is something quite insightful, humble, but also melancholy about Sir Issac's quote, badenwurtca; it is one I will have to remember.