May, 2008 | The Napkin

Any Mental Activity

by Marty Coleman | May 30, 2008 | Marcel Proust | 2 comments

“Any mental activity is easy if it need not take reality into account.” – Marcel Proust

That is why religions and celebrities are so popular and why science and philosophy are not.

Every Flower is a Soul

by Marty Coleman | May 29, 2008 | Gerard De Nerval, The Soul | 0 comments

“Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature.” – Gerard De Nerval

This might be a little sappy, but if you ever were moved by a beautiful swath of wild flowers on the side of the road you know what this is about. The great thing about flowers, indeed, all of nature, is that there isn’t any ‘trying’ to make something great. There is only what grows naturally and becomes what it is suppose to become. That is what makes it great.

Thinking is More Interesting Than Knowing

by Marty Coleman | May 28, 2008 | Johann Goethe | 0 comments

“Thinking is more interesting than knowing but less interesting than looking.” – Johann Goethe

So, as you look at this quote do you know what you think? 🙂 I like this quote, by the way. I know in my life it is true. Knowing is most interesting when you are taking action or teaching or creating. Thinking is most interesting while doing those things plus most any other situation. But looking, looking (or seeing) is collecting, it’s thinking, it’s knowing, it’s exploring, it’s losing yourself in something and finding more about yourself as a result. I love looking.

None Are So Poor

by Marty Coleman | May 22, 2008 | Pope John Paul II | 0 comments

“None are so poor they have nothing to give and none are so rich they have nothing to receive.” Pope John Paul II

It might be more blessed to give than receive according to the ancient text, but it is impossible to give without a receiver. I often think that people forget that they help the world by receiving graciously. Receiving wisdom from a professor for
example, or receiving guidance from a friend. It isn’t just the value received that counts, it is also the value that the giver feels when they are allowed to give.

Beyond that it is the ‘pay it forward’ idea, that everyone receiving something in turn gives to another farther down the road. That is the quintessential element of having children, realizing you will not get back from them what you gave them, they will give it to their children farther down the road.

How poor you are only impinges on your ability to give when you limit your imagination to the world of money and commerce, buying gifts, etc.

We Do Not Choose the Frame

by Marty Coleman | May 21, 2008 | Anonymous, Art | 0 comments

“We do not choose the frame, only the painting inside.” – Anonymous

The frame is everything surrounding us from birth to death including the time in which we live. We can’t escape or control many elements of the frame. But we can control to a much greater degree two other things. One is what our painting (our self) looks like, and the other is the museum or gallery we are hanging in.

Happiness is Rarely Absent

by Marty Coleman | May 20, 2008 | Maurice Maeterlinck | 0 comments

“Happiness is rarely absent; it is we that know not of its presence.” – Maurice Maeterlinck

I like the idea of happiness being something that exists around you, like air, whether you are aware of it or not. The act of searching out that happiness, looking deep enough or maybe the opposite, shallow enough, to find it is a worthy endeavor if you ask me.

The Ripest Peach

by Marty Coleman | May 19, 2008 | James Whitcomb Riley | 0 comments

“The ripest peach is the highest on the tree.” – James Whitcomb Riley

This obviously means that one must reach high to get the best. But it also means something else. It means that something out there, beyond your grasp, is ready to be for you. And you need to reach not just so you can get your nourishment, but so the peach can be used as it has been prepared to be used.

Take for example you have a job opportunity overseas. You can’t see the people there, you can’t see the apartment you might have or the landlord, or the people in the building you might get to know. You can’t see the co-workers, the people at the cafe you frequent, you can’t see any of the opportunities in detail just as you can’t see the peach’s ripeness in detail when you look at it from the ground.

But what you can know is that it isn’t just an opportunity for you, it is an opportunity for others as well. You are part of a multi-dimensional array of unseen events when you reach for the best, when you reach for what is ready.

I Cannot Know

by Marty Coleman | May 16, 2008 | Arcesilaus | 0 comments

“I cannot know even whether I know or not.” – Arcesilaus

I don’t KNOW if I agree with this. Then again, what do I KNOW.

Body and Spirit are Twins

by Marty Coleman | May 15, 2008 | Algernon Charles Swinburne | 0 comments

I don’t get this one anymore. Anyone care to explain it to me?

“Body and spirit are twins: God only knows which is which.” – Algernon Charles Swinburne

It Is Great Cleverness

by Marty Coleman | May 14, 2008 | Francois de La Rochefoucauld | 0 comments

“It is great cleverness to know how to conceal our cleverness.” – Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The question is, why one must disguise one’s cleverness in the first place?

Art is Choice

by Marty Coleman | May 13, 2008 | Art, Richard Walter | 0 comments

“Art is Choice” – Richard Walter

What does this mean? Is it similar to ‘God is Love’? If that is the case then it can be turned around, yes? Choice is Art. So, maybe what it’s getting at is that all the act of choosing is the act of art. Art is a codified, organized way of developing choices in a particular area. Rules for making choices?

Another question that comes from this is what happens when the artist is no longer making choices but instead is simply repeating him or herself, becoming a schlock artist, a serial artist with the same M.O. for each crime…I mean art piece. And
therein lies the reason someone like Thomas Kinkade long ago stopped being an artist and is now simply a huckster. Watch out for those who don’t use their ability for choice. They are no longer artists.

How Good Bad Music and Bad Reasons Sound

by Marty Coleman | May 12, 2008 | Frederich Nietzsche | 0 comments

“How good bad music and bad reasons sound when we march against an enemy.” – Frederich Nietzsche

This was drawn less than a year after the Iraq war started and I wanted to impress upon my daughter to watch out for the signs of a country being influenced by emotional propaganda of any sort. This quote said it perfectly.

Without Love at the Center of Your Circle

by Marty Coleman | May 9, 2008 | Anonymous | 0 comments

“Without love at the center of your circle you will have disorder at the circumference of your purposes.” Anonymous

This is a wordy one, but it really is true. I basically think that it is like a loop. You want love to come back to you from the outer reaches of your influence and interaction? Then you better have it at the core of your actions. I mean, love does come without our being worthy at times, but the chances are much better if we put it out there!

One Can Acquire Everything in Solitude Except Character

by Marty Coleman | May 8, 2008 | Stendhal | 0 comments

‘One Can Acquire Everything in Solitude Except Character’ – Stendhal

So, that must mean character is a social condition of our selves? What element of character might one gain when in solitude?

People Need Joy More Than Clothing

by Marty Coleman | May 7, 2008 | Anonymous | 1 comment

“People Need Joy More Than Clothing.” – Anonymous

I remember that something had happened in the news about some kid getting in trouble at school for having nudity, or sexually harassing someone, and so I thought I would do my little bit of commentary on it by putting the ‘censored’ banner over her breasts. Plus it seemed funnier that way.

I think it is true though, and I think there are many who actually would probably be more joyful with less clothes on, or in their closets. I personally am a closet nudist. Which means I am most often nude in my closet. Where are you most often nude?

Begin Somewhere; You Cannot Build A Reputation On What You Intend To Do

by Marty Coleman | May 6, 2008 | Liz Smith | 0 comments

‘Begin somewhere; you cannot build a reputation on what you intend to do.’ – Liz Smith

The number one thing I have learned about doing anything of your own accord is you can’t have any excuses. Don’t have a good camera? A lame excuse. Studio too small? That is an excuse. Don’t have good brushes or paints to do your art? A complete excuse. Don’t know where to go to get some information? An excuse. If you wait for things to be perfect, to have enough money, the right equipment, a big enough work space, enough time, then you will wait until you have nothing but regrets. If you have to create your only art by drawing on napkins every day, then do it.

You Can’t Depend On Your Eyes When Your Imagination is Out of Focus

by Marty Coleman | May 5, 2008 | Mark Twain | 0 comments

“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” – Mark Twain

How does an imagination become out of focus anyway? You can think of it as being out of shape in a way, that if the imagination isn’t used, it gets weak and flabby and doesn’t really even like having to be used after a while, just like muscles complain if you use them after a long time of atrophy.

Many are Stubborn in the Pursuit of the Path They Have Chosen

by Marty Coleman | May 3, 2008 | Frederich Nietzsche | 0 comments

‘Many are stubborn in the pursuit of the path they have chosen, few in pursuit of the goal.’ – Frederich Nietzsche

The older I get the more I think this is true. At least I know it is true about me.

There Is No Such Test Of a Person’s Superiority of Character

by Marty Coleman | May 2, 2008 | Henry Taylor | 1 comment

‘There Is no such test of a person’s superiority of character as in the well-conducting of an unavoidable quarrel.’ – Henry Taylor

True, but well-conducting an unavoidable quarrel is SO MUCH WORK. Yelling and screaming and ranting and raving is so much easier. I know, I know, I don’t mean in the long term, but short term ‘well-conducting’ is like doing a run among rocks and boulders, having to look and think and react well and fast and look ahead and be focused. Ranting and raving is like running on an open stretch with no obstacles – you just run as fast and as furious as you can and you can be oblivious to your surroundings if you want. Not necessarily beneficial, but it feels so good!

The Longer You Stay In One Place

by Marty Coleman | May 1, 2008 | Art Spander, Travel | 1 comment

“The longer you stay in one place, the greater your chances of disillusionment.” – Art Spander

I wonder if the author meant staying physically in one place or staying emotionally in one place. I can see both being true, but I can also see staying in one place emotionally increasing the chances of happiness as well. What do you think?

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