Liberal Arts Blog — Ogden Nash (1902–1971): Master of Light Verse
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Liberal Arts Blog — Tuesday is the Joy of Literature, Language, Religion, and Culture Day
Today’s Topic: Ogden Nash (1902–1971): Master of Light Verse
Do you have a favorite master of light verse? This morning I decided to dig up the best lines I could find by Harvard-drop out Ogden Nash. Experts — please chime in. Correct, elaborate, elucidate.
CHILDREN, MARRIAGE, IMMATURITY
1. “Children aren’t happy with nothing to ignore, And that’s what parents were created for.”
2. “To keep your marriage brimming, with love in the wedding cup, whenever you’re wrong, admit it; whenever you’re right, shut up.”
3. “You are only young once, but you can stay immature indefinitely.”
NB: “Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker.”
PROGRESS, THE BOVINE ILK, PANTHER
1. “Progress is a fine thing but it’s gone on long enough.”
2. “The cow is of the bovine ilk — the one end is moo the other milk.”
3. “If called by a panther, don’t anther.”
NB: “A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of.”
GRANDPARENTS, PARSLEY, MIDDLE AGE. RESPONSIBILITY
1. “When grandparents enter the door, discipline flies out the window.”
2. “Parsley is gharsley.”
3. “Middle age is when you’re sitting at home on a Saturday night and the telephone rings and you hope it isn’t for you.”
NB: “Why. did the Lord give us agility, if not to evade responsibility?”
Ogden Nash Quotes (Author of The Tale of Custard the Dragon)
QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
“You’ve got to continue to grow, or you’re just like last night’s corn bread — stale and dry.” - Loretta Lynn
ATTACHMENTS BELOW:
#1 A graphic guide to justice (9 metaphors on one page).
#2 “39 Songs, Prayers, and Poems: the Keys to the Hearts of Seven Billion People” — Adams House Senior Common Room Presentation, 11/17/20
PDF with headlines — Google Drive
YOUR TURN
Please share the coolest thing you learned this week related to words, language, literature, religion, culture. Or, even better, the coolest or most important thing you learned in your life related to Words, Language, Literature (eg. quotes, poetry, vocabulary) that you have not yet shared.
This is your chance to make someone else’s day. Or to cement in your own mind something that you might otherwise forget. Or to think more deeply than otherwise about something dear to your heart. Continuity is key to depth of thought.
