Bright Idea

Consumerism

In 1987, the number of shopping centres in the US surpassed the number of high schools.

Dwindling education budgets have seen advertising introduced into classrooms, exposing 7 million students — a third of them teenagers — to two minutes of commercials every morning on Channel One. The advertisers pay for computers, video monitors and other electronic stuff the government can't afford. Not surprising then that consumerism is ingrained from an early age in a headspace where education should be permitted to prevail.

— Doug Anderson

Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit

Wiseguy

Cleverness is not wisdom.
— Euripides

The Self-Made Man

No man was ever wise by chance.
— Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Rehears All

If you've heard this story before, don't stop me,
because I'd like to hear it again.
— Groucho Marx

Sophilia

By three methods we may learn wisdom:
First, by reflection, which is noblest;
Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and
third by experience, which is the bitterest.
— Confucius

No Tree Is An Island

No Island Is A Tree

Trouble Over Bridged Water

When The Night Is Cold

Double Bind

The only thing that binds me to the turning world below
and to all the people and noise and sounds and shouts.
This tightrope made of sound.
This long thin line made of my own blood.
— Laurie Anderson 'Tightrope'

Counterbalancing Anagram

Hunter-Gatherer Anagram

The Long Day Closes

Open your eyes to another year
— Nick Drake 'Fruit Tree'

My Heart Shies

Long afloat on shipless oceans
I did all my best to smile
'til your singing eyes and fingers
Drew me loving to your isle
And you sang
Sail to me
Sail to me
Let me enfold you
Here I am
Here I am
Waiting to hold you

Did I dream you dreamed about me?
Were you hare when I was fox?
Now my foolish boat is leaning
Broken lovelorn on your rocks,
For you sing, 'touch me not, touch me not, come back tomorrow:
O my heart, o my heart shies from the sorrow'

I am puzzled as the newborn child
I am troubled at the tide:
Should I stand amid the breakers?
Should I lie with death my bride?
Hear me sing, 'swim to me, swim to me, let me enfold you:
Here I am, here I am, waiting to hold you'

— Tim Buckley 'Song To The Siren'

Good Advice

Seek knowledge.
 — Muhammad

Meanwhile…

Star Sign Of Bethlehem

Brian's mother: What star sign is he?
Wise Man 2: Capricorn.
Brian's mother: Capricorn, eh? What are they like?
Wise Man 2: He is the son of God, our Messiah.
Wise Man 1: King of the Jews.
Brian's mother: And that's Capricorn, is it?
Wise Man 3: No, no, that's just him.
Brian's mother: Oh, I was going to say, otherwise there'd be a lot of them.

Darkness

Safe in the womb
Of an everlasting night
You find the darkness can
Give the brightest light …
— Nick Drake 'Fruit Tree'

The Feast Of Stephen

Christmas to a child is the first terrible proof
that to travel hopefully is better than to arrive.
— Stephen Fry

Jungian Anagram

A Lifelong Song

I was born to use my eyes
Dream with the sun and the skies
To float away in a lifelong song
In the mist where melody flies.
— Nick Drake 'I Was Made To Love Magic'

The Lightness Of Being

So come, my friends, be not afraid.
We are so lightly here.
It is in love that we are made;
In love we disappear.
— Leonard Cohen 'Boogie Street'

Imagination

Let it go. Let it out.
Let it all unravel.
Let it free and it can be
A path on which to travel.
— Michæl Leunig

Military Intelligence …

Military justice is to justice what military music is to music.
— Groucho Marx

Last Chance To See

Sassanach Anagram