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March 10, 2006
OFF LEASH: On quotes
"Off Leash" is an occasional column by Fiddler. Past columns can be found here.
I often begin my little columns with a quote. I find that another's words can serve as a useful guide; that, in wrestling with their thoughts, I discover my own.
Of course I don't need to begin with a quote. I am perfectly capable of spinning out a few choice lines without milking the wisdom of the ancients. In this way, I am self-sufficient. In other ways, I am not. For instance, I cannot open my wet-food packets or refill my water bowl. Likewise, I cannot let myself outside, though I can signal my desire with a low whine and some gentle pawing at the door. If need be I can even growl.
The point is, while the quotes are helpful, they are not necessary. They are a tool rather than a crutch. Which puts me in mind of something Samuel Johnson once said: "A man may write at any time, if he will set himself doggedly to it."
Posted by teb at March 10, 2006 10:27 AM