I have almost no time this morning. The quotes below are second-hand, taken from chapter-heading quotes found throughout The Infinite Book by John D. Barrow. (I am quoting quotes …)
‘On two occasions I have ben asked, by members of Parliament, “Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?” I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.’
– Charles Babbage‘Instead of being arrested, as we stated, for kicking his wife down a flight of stairs and hurling a lighted kerosene lamp after her, the Rev. James P. Wellman died unmarried four years ago.’
– apology printed in a US newspaperBetween the idea
And the reality
Between the motion
And the act
Falls the shadow
– T.S. Eliot, The Hollow Men
And, because these quotes probably make very little sense to you (though I hope they made you smile), here’s one last one that could be applied to this post:
I am returning this otherwise good typing paper to you because someone has printed gibberish all over it and put your name at the top.
– Professor of English, Ohio University
My name is below, not at the top, but I plead guilty …
-Julie
