Life, 1905-09-07 · page 25 of 42
Life — September 7, 1905 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents **philosophical quotations about life** rather than political satire. The top section, "What the Immortals Say of Us," collects brief aphorisms from famous historical figures—Johnson, Emerson, Carlyle, Thackeray, Byron, Pope, and others—offering varied perspectives on the nature and value of life itself. The lower section, titled "Repartee," is an essay discussing witty conversation as a social art. It argues that repartee is difficult to master because it depends on spontaneous cleverness rather than preparation. The piece cautions against using sharp wit as a weapon, warning that clever remarks—though applauded—often cause lasting resentment and can damage one's reputation and relationships. The decorative illustration labeled "September" shows a classical female profile, likely representing the month personified. **Context**: This reflects Victorian-era genteel humor and philosophy, emphasizing self-improvement, social etiquette, and the dangers of clever speech—concerns distant from modern sensibilities.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
— WHAT THE IMMORTALS “ Lire, is the best thing we can possibly make of it."” “ im is a progress.” Johnson “Lire is a quarantine for Paradise.” Weber * Live is a rich strain.” Curtis. and would not be worth Emerson. “Lire isa series of surprises if it we' not. or keepi Lire is as the eu nt spark on the miner's wheel of ats; whi there is light; stop it, all is dark- Tupper. + We must extend the area of Lirt, and multiply our re- Emerson. Temple. Aristotle. * Line without laughing isa dreary blank.” Thackeray. ness." lations.” “ Lire is like wine * “Lire is movement." “Live's chief good is for well-mixed people, who can enjoy what they find without question.” Emerson. Carlyle, * Lire is so healthful." Repartee. EPARTEE h much uf s never been an art, b course of training or settled development, as ause it depends not so upon chance. Its only hope is in the nuexpected, and the ly to less one weighs the conseque ces, the more one is Ii succeed, We may all of us be excellent What we mi; van ands at repartee after the ht have said to Smith c, is cruel now to dwell upon, be occasion is over when he placed us at such a use the y the .we look back upon it and marvel, How did we come todo e rare right thin| it? Shall we ever be as clever as that again ? tervals when we do happen to We tremble when we think that we may not be. And yet, after all, the isample compensation in dullness; sothing «dof us We may well afford to commiserate the man who has a reputation for repartee h is expected of him, and if he fail to bring in the returns, it counts against him, Besides, what he says, though eeted with laughter, often rankle His wit, because there has been no time to consider it, is too caustic, And thus while his admir- ers may s i « One n the wrong way, a sharp remark from yourself often has we in m to multiply, his secret enemies increase. has a talent for repartee, it is better to suppr y practice it on oneself to advantage, ss it early When you are ht, albeit, ther respects, you may not be a person whose opinion has much weight with you, But when your repartee is used upon others, keep it well within bounds, ; It is nothing, possibly, that you can help—you were born that way, | But at least do not allow it to betray you into the bands of your enemies * Lirn is to be & * Lire is “Lire, like the y Lire may properly be called an art.” “Lire those who are dee friend." “+ Lire, to be worthy of a I better th or “ Lire’s enchanted cuy Byron. “Sno resting, bu Goethe. “Lire is in the right.” Pope. SAY OF US GW. Curtis. Cicero. dered happy just the stuff." Browning. Jean Paul. Fielding. sues the young like a new acquaintance. To ned in years, Lire appears like an old Goldsmith. ‘ational being, must be always ession; we must always purpose to. de ater of the sea, freshens."* more or nin time aust." Johnson. Urs y spice of Lire.” Con Thra per. ve of Lire increased with years.” 's the C September _4 : ee LF = comicbooks.com