Pavlo > Recent Status Updates

“The scientific name for swordfish is Xiphias gladius; the first word means "sword" in Greek and the second word means "sword" in Latin. 'The scientist who named it was evidently impressed by the fact that it had a sword,' as one guidebook says.”

«Чи осмілишся проклясти те [найкраще літо, яке взагалі випало тобі на долю в твоїм віці] за те тілько, що воно минуло? А ти ж як хотів? Щоб одно лише твоє щастя зробило виїмок із усього на світі і не минуло ніколи?»

Scientology operates on the logic that because L. Ron Hubbard’s “tech” (belief system) is flawless, if you’re in the church and unhappy, then you clearly did something to “pull it in.” This is a classic Scientology thought-terminating cliché meaning that whatever negative experience you’re having, it’s no one’s responsibility but yours.”

“Having big dreams makes you vulnerable; Scientologists know this, and they claim to hold the keys to help you unlock your potential.”

“If brainwashing were real, says Moore, “we would expect to see many more dangerous people running around, planning to carry out reprehensible schemes.” Simply put, you cannot force someone to believe something they absolutely do not on any level want to believe by using some set of evil techniques to “wash” their brain.”

“I love watching cookery programmes, looking at and learning from culinary cultures from around the world. Let’s not underestimate our Neolithic ancestors – they had their own cuisines. They would have enjoyed working out how to combine different ingredients to make something new and even tastier.”

Rax King: How I Left My Abusive Husband and Found Guy Fieri

“Again, it’s easy to fall into that familiar academic trap of talking about everything in the abstract. People didn’t start to grow and eat rice because it was a good source of calories, protein and other nutrients. Surely they started to eat it because it was tasty.”

"From describing the past, from the present which seized my hand in its excited grasp, here I am, O future, now mounting the crupper of your horse. What new pennants wilt thou unfurl before me from towers of cities not yet founded? What rivers of devastation set flowing over castles and gardens I have loved? What unforeseeable golden ages art thou preparing - [...] my kingdom to be conquered, the future...

"'Tis the Grail in us moving our swords. Love of the universe can take the form of great frenzy and urge us lovingly to pierce our enemies. Our Order is invincible in war just because we fight without making any effort or choice but letting the sacred frenzy flow through our bodies."

- Italo Calvino, "The Men who Stare at Goats"

“Ah, no, I’m not getting caught out again. People are always playing me for a gobshite. Like that time with that woman who said she was a stripper dressed as a guard, but she turned out to be a guard dressed as a guard.”

“During that time Stewart had quoted Danny Glover from Lethal Weapon exactly nine times, none of which the younger fella had spotted. Stewart really was getting too old for this shit.”

“He knew where he came from and so would anyone with ears. Besides, he was a thief-taker at heart. If he’d gone any further up the food chain, he’d be spending his days in strategy meetings thinking outside the box.”

“[W]hether the older Cartwright will be brought to book for his ancient sins, Lamb wastes little time contemplating. He has been a joe most of his working life; is still a joe whenever the lights go out. And one thing joes learn quickly is that those who write the rules rarely suffer their weight.”

“This riverside road was quieter; one lane closed to traffic. Someone was always trying to improve the capital’s roads, and if they ever finished the job, they might turn out to have succeeded.”

Дуже нагадало про інше місто, яке дуже люблю

«Під час війн і переворотів читач залишає вдома цілу бібліотеку. Улюблену книжку бере в мішку в дорогу, але і її мусить невдовзі покинути в придорожній корчмі чи в лісі на роздоріжжі.»

«Читання є для мене явищем складним, неперервним і змінним, як саме життя. Під час війн і переворотів особисті долі, як і читачеві читання, стають тільки більш залежними від випадку. Так теж було й зі мною.»

«Яка з книжок, прочитаних під час війни, справила на мене найбільше враження? На найпростіші питання часто важко знайти відповідь. Читання є «для мене явищем складним, неперервним і змінним, як саме життя. …

“Надія, — продовжував він, — це річ дуже важлива у фінансових справах. Боржник повинен вірити, що зможе сплатити свої зобов'язання. Він може помилятися в цьому, але повинен так думати. Коли він перестане вірити в можливість сплати, то марно загине, а я втрачу гроші. Тому якщо я бачу, що надія в ньому слабшає, моє завдання — прийти до нього і знову запалити в ньому пломінчик надії.”