Commonplace – Quotes

the territory of grief

the territory of grief … is both cruel and commonplace. Gail Caldwell

It is rather astonishing how little practical value scientific knowledge has for ordinary men, how dull and commonplace such of it as has value is, and how its value seems almost to vary inversely to its reputed utility. G. H. Hardy

A science or an

A science or an art may be said to be useful if its development increases, even indirectly, the material well-being and comfort of men, it promotes happiness, using that word in a crude and commonplace way. G. H. Hardy

Commonplace people have an

Commonplace people have an answer for everything and nothing ever surprises them. They try to look as though they knew what you were about to say better than you did yourself, and when it is their turn to speak, they repeat with great assurance something that they have heard other people say, as though it … Read more

Reddit names are unconnected

Reddit names are unconnected to real-world identities and it’s commonplace for users to create ‘throwaway’ accounts to reveal sensitive information. Ethan Zuckerman

Where everything is possible

Where everything is possible miracles become commonplaces, but the familiar ceases to be self-evident. Eric Hoffer

You cannot gauge the

You cannot gauge the intelligence of an American by talking with him; you must work with him. The American polishes and refines his way of doing things-even the most commonplace-the way the French of the 17th century polished their maxims. Eric Hoffer

Publishers, theatrical managers, and

Publishers, theatrical managers, and critics ask not for the quality inherent in creative art, but will it meet with a good sale, will it suit the palate of the people? Alas, this palate is like a dumping ground; it relishes anything that needs no mental mastication. As a result, the mediocre, the ordinary, the commonplace … Read more

The concrete is better

The concrete is better than the abstract. The detail is better than the commonplace. The sensual [through the senses] is better than the intellectual. The visual is better than the mental. Ellen Hunnicutt

… beauty, like ecstasy,

… beauty, like ecstasy, has always been hostile to the commonplace. And the commonplace, under its popular label of the normal,has been the supreme authority for Homo sapiens since the days when he was probably arboreal. Ellen Glasgow