Thursday, October 31, 2013

FRANZ SCHUBERT 1797-1828

Austrian classical composer

Let us take men as they are, not as they ought to be. 

-o0o- 

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.39
bassoon player = FAGOTTIST

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

LOUISA MAY ALCOTT 1832-88

American novelist, author of "Little Women."

Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.

-o0o-

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.38
a photograph of clouds = NEPHOGRAM
 

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

ANON

Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.

-o0o-

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.37
fear of mice = MURIPHOBIA

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Monday, October 28, 2013

THOMAS A. EDISON 1847-1931

American inventor and businessman

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.

-o0o-

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.36
 a grotesque face on a wall or on a door-knocker = MASCARON

Sunday, October 27, 2013

C.S. LEWIS 1898-1963

Novelist and poet, author of "The Chronicles of Narnia"

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.

-o0o-

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.35
     the study of butterflies and moths = LEPIDOPTEROLOGY
 

Saturday, October 26, 2013

JACQUELINE ONASSIS 1929-94

the widow of USA President John F. Kennedy

Our dreams and goals are never completely realised. They are always there before our eyes, but always just slightly out of our reach. And so, as we strive to fulfil our vision, we must make the most of every living moment.

 THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.34
     sleep-walking = NOCTAMBULATION
 
 

Friday, October 25, 2013

MARK TWAIN 1835-1910

American author and humourist

 Old habits can't be thrown out the upstairs window. They have to be coaxed down the stairs, one step at a time.

-o0o-

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.33
     collecting beer bottle labels = LABEORPHILY
 

Thursday, October 24, 2013

SAMUEL JOHNSON 1709-84

English poet and essayist

Almost every man wastes part of his life in attempts to display qualities which he does not possess, and to gain applause which he cannot keep.

-o0o-

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.32
knowledge of plants = PHYTOSOPHY

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW 1856-1950

Irish playwright and co-founder of the London School of Economics

The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them; that's the essence of inhumanity.

-o0o-

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.31
Someone who keeps entering competitions in newspapers etc. = COMPER

the new blog IN THE CHOCOLATE BOX STYLE has been updated today

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE 1820-1910

British social reformer and founder of modern nursing

No man, not even a doctor, ever gives any other definition of what a nurse should be than this - "devoted and obedient." This definition would do just as well for a porter. It might even do for a horse.

-o0o-

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.30
Someone who loves dogs = CYNOPHILIST



Monday, October 21, 2013

GAUTAMA BUDDHA c.563 BC-c.483 BC

Through zeal knowledge is gotten; through lack of zeal knowledge is lost.

-o0o- 

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.29
a new word formed by joining two others and combining their meanings  = PORTMANTEAU e.g. smog, motel, brunch

Have you visited the new blog IN THE CHOCOLATE BOX STYLE yet?

Sunday, October 20, 2013

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT 1884-1962

The First Lady of the USA 1933-45 

A woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.

 -o0o- 
 
 THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.28
The doctrine that self-denial of the body permits spiritual enlightenment =  ASCETICISM

The new blog is now online - IN THE CHOCOLATE BOX STYLE

Saturday, October 19, 2013

ANON

Discretion is being able to raise your eyebrow instead of your voice.

-o0o-

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.27
 one who writes epic poetry = EPOPOEIST

NEW - starting today - NEW
IN THE CHOCOLATE BOX STYLE
The term, usually derogatory, describes idealistic, sentimental paintings. Artists like Renoir were often derided for producing such works. The genre was particularly loved by the Victorians and my selection will appeal to many today.

Friday, October 18, 2013

ALBERT EINSTEIN 1879-1955

German-born theoretical physicist who developed the general theory of relativity

Imagination is more important than knowledge.

-o0o- 

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.26
abnormal fear of failure = KAKORRHAPHIOPHOBIA



Thursday, October 17, 2013

WALT DISNEY 1901-66

American animator, producer and director

All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.

-o0o-

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.25
knowledge of palm-reading = CHIROSOPHY
 


Wednesday, October 16, 2013

NANCY ASTOR 1879-1964

Viscountess Astor, the first woman Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons

Real education should educate us out of self into something far finer - into a selflessness which links us with all humanity.

-o0o-

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.24
a confused sound of voices = BABELDOM
 

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

FRANCIS of ASSISSI 1182-1226

Italian Catholic friar and preacher

Remember, we learn nothing by speaking.

-o0o-

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.23
a word having the same derivation or form as another = ISONYM

 

Monday, October 14, 2013

MARIE BEYNON RAY 1919-????

American author and columnist

Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand and melting like a snowflake.

-o0o-

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.22
gossipy or flighty person = FLIBBERTIGIBBET

Sunday, October 13, 2013

RON WILD

Seek the wisdom of the ages, but look at the world through the eyes of a child. 

-o0o-

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.21
a verse or poem of eight lines = OCTASTICH
 

Saturday, October 12, 2013

AESOP c.620-564 BC

Ancient Greek story-teller

No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.

-o0o-

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.20
A fingerprint - DACTYLOGRAM

Friday, October 11, 2013

BILL COSBY b.1937

American actor, author and television producer

I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is to try to please everyone.

-o0o- 

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.19
Someone who studies crop circles - CEREOLOGIST

Thursday, October 10, 2013

HELEN KELLER 1880-1968

American deafblind author and political activist

No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted island, or opened a new heaven in the human spirit.

-o0o-

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.18
To kiss warmly - DEOSCULAT

Wednesday, October 09, 2013

Danish Proverb

A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains.

-o0o- 

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.17
the study of snakes - OPHIOLOGY

Tuesday, October 08, 2013

C.S. LEWIS 1898-1963

Belfast-born novelist, poet, academic and Christian apologist 

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.

-o0o-

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.16
To wet or moisten - IMBRUE
 

Monday, October 07, 2013

IVAN PANIN 1855-1942

Russian-born American numerologist. 

For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it. For every truth there is an ear somewhere to hear it. For every love there is a heart somewhere to receive it.
-o0o-

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.15
To interlock, like the fingers of clasped hands - INTERDIGITATE

Sunday, October 06, 2013

MARIE CURIE 1867-1934

French-Polish physicist and chemist

We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained. 

-o0o-

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - No.14
Fear of thunder and lightning = BRONTOPHOBIA

Saturday, October 05, 2013

RICHARD PRYOR 1940-2005

American comedian and actor

Two things people throughout history have had in common are hatred and humour. I am proud that I have been able to use humour to lessen people's hatred.



THERE'S A WORD FOR IT  No.13
fear of certain places or situations - TOPOPHOBIA

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Friday, October 04, 2013

CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI 1830-94

English poet

Better by far that you should forget and smile, than that you should remember and be sad.

-o0o-

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT - NO.12
    one who wastes his energy on trifles = QUIDDLE

Thursday, October 03, 2013

RANDY PAUSCH 1960-2008

American professor of computer science

We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.

-o0o-

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT No.11
   humorous theory that inanimate objects display spiteful behaviour towards humans - RESISTENTIALISM

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Wednesday, October 02, 2013

BERTRAND RUSSELL 1872-1970

British philosopher, mathematician, historian and social critic

No rules however wise, are a substitute for affection and tact.

-o0o-

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT No. 10

a newborn child - A NEONATE

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Tuesday, October 01, 2013

ANN BRASHARES b.1967

American writer of young adult fiction

Maybe the truth is, there's a little bit of a loser in all of us. Being happy isn't having everything in your life perfect. Maybe it's about stringing together all the little things.

-o0o-

THERE'S A WORD FOR IT  No.9
speaking learnedly, e.g. an expert on a particular subject  - DOCTILOQUENT
 
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