1
knowledge is a polite word for dead but not buried imagination
2
everything near water looks better
3
it takes three to make a child
4
only as long as we can laugh at ourselves are we nobody else
5
the expression of a clown is mostly in his knees
6
private property began the instant somebody had a mind of his own
7
don’t stand under whispers
8
brother, that’s not a buck to you: that’s a century to me
9
ends are beginnings with their hats on
10
never put off till today what you can do yesterday
11
a poet is a penguin—his wings are to swim with
12
nothing recedes like progress
of course Bacon wrote Shakespeare; but so did everybody else, including (luckily) Shakespeare
14
not that she wasn’t a faithful husband
15
a chain is no weaker than its missing link
16
many parents wouldn’t exist if their children had been a little more careful
17
let rolling stones lie
18
great men burn bridges before they come to them
19
when Americans stop being themselves they start behaving each other
20
you can’t ef the statue of liberty
21
false is alike. False teeth
22
enter labor, with an itching heart and a palm of gold: leading (by the nose) humanity, in a unionsuit
23
the pigpen is mightier than the sword
24
item: our unworld has just heaved a sigh of belief
25
people who live in steel houses should pull down the lightning
26
hatred bounces
27
il faut de l’espace pour être un homme
most people are perfectly afraid of silence
29
think twice before you think
30
an intelligent person fights for lost causes, realizing that others are merely effects
31
equality is what does not exist among equals
32
it may be dreadful to be old but it’s worse not to be young
33
sleep is the mother of courage
From Wake No. 10, 1951.