Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Literally vs. Figuratively, Horses

This distinction made popular news during election season this year, thanks to the occasional fuzzy-headedness of some of our candidates. I first became aware of it in this regard when Rick Perry said something along the lines of, "And we're going to be moving, literally, at the speed of light!" And I was like, whoa! Calm down, Rick! No. He has not and never will move literally at the speed of light. I haven't done any Christmas shopping yet, but once I saw this t-shirt I knew what I was going to get for at least a few of the people on my list. Ok, fine, I haven't even made a list yet, but once I do...

 
Thank you, readers, for all of your book suggestions! Once life calms back down, I will find them and read them. I'm moving again this weekend, in search of greener pastures (lower rent). And, since I'm already making excuses, I might as well say that I know that the depth of my recent posts hasn't been what it was, and I doubt that there will be much of substance and real pith until after Christmas.
 
One good quotation to help beautify your day: "What he loved in horses was what he loved in men, the blood and the heat of the blood that ran them. All his reverence and all his fondness and all the leanings of his life were for the ardenthearted and they would always be so and never be otherwise." (Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses, 6)
 
That's a line you have to read out loud, and pulse every time you hit an "and." 
 
 

1 comment:

  1. I know what you mean about the "literally" issue. It irritates me but I have gotten used to it. Although I must say, Perry was a bit over the top even for today's carless use of the word. I believe it speaks to our pathetic inability to allow words to speak for themselves. Which issue is tied to our need to always "out do" the last guy. If Perry had said, "Pretty soon we'll be moving much too quickly..." no one would have paid attention. Never mind that we're not even concerned right now about just what it is that's moving too fast. That in itself is another post.

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