.....no matter that so many great quotes are each credited to literally thousands of different people.
The first personally original quote that simply jackboxed out of me was during a friendly but excited discussion among relatives as a teenager.
"Only offensive people take offense."
It was suggested that my remarks were assuming an offense against a cousin. I chipped back that no, he would not be offended because only offensive people take offense. Did not think about, it was suddenly just there.
Since then I've came to love it, and repeat it often as I possibly can. Who knows? Maybe I heard it before and could not remember it? Always seemed unlikely to me because it reflects an outlook I was born with since I can recall much earlier, in the fourth grade, a childhood acquaintance saying to me that, don't you know I am calling your mother a dog? To which I responded, so what? your saying it does not make it so.
I always wondered why anyone could become so animated by anyone else just saying such and so. Honor? How did anyone assume they had control of my respect? I do not need anyone's respect. I respect myself. I never felt responsible for what others said, about me or not about me. I am not going to waste time denying speech I do not seek to control, cannot control, or more likely never even hear.
But, forgetting all that, quotes are wonderful because they are so brief, so concise, and the best ones so darned true. The more words one employs explaining anything is just so much accumulation of muddy water. It specifically means to me that one is not clear of what they are talking about.
By virtue of taking an offense,
Exposes ones' offensiveness
Taking an offense indicates a weakening, having taken it. It advertises ones' resulting vulnerability. Like anger, it tells everyone they are wounded. This highlights them as a perfectly clear target for attack. The sense of blood in the air tells all rivals, instinctive among males, this weakened state is a good time to strike. 😋
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