10 Reasons Snobs Hate Quotes

It’s no secret that I like to drop a pithy quote from time to time in various places. But you may not know why I began to create these little graphic quotes and pass them along their merry way. The reason is neither noble nor altruistic. Plain and simple, it’s because a literary snob got under my skin one day.

I can’t remember who said it and that is probably for the best, but the gist of it went something like this: “People who like to quote others apparently have little of value to say themselves.” This person went on to contend that writers should have enough original ideas that they don’t need crutches  provided by the thoughts of others.

To that person (if for the life of me it had mattered enough to remember his name) I would reply, “consider Charles H. Spurgeon”. At 19 he came to London with no formal education. By the time he died, Spurgeon’s words filled countless volumes. He is remembered as the Prince of Preachers and left behind thousands of volumes in his library. His masterpiece, The Treasury of David, is filled with hundreds of quotes that would have been lost to obscurity were it not for the fact he humbly understood the value of the words and the people that had come before him.

So what are the 10 reasons literary and otherwise snobs don’t like quotes? In truth I have no idea but do know that 10 Reasons is a great way to start a blog post. People love lists for some reason. Even lists of quotes.

So with that in mind, here are some of my favorite quotes from a man who has been quoted more times that most anyone else in the past century:

Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.

Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.

Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.

Everything stinks until it’s finished.

Be who You are and say what You mean. Because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.

It’s opener out there, in the wide open air.

Will you succeed? Yes you will indeed! Nintey-eight and three quarters percent guaranteed.

You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And you are the one who’ll decide where you go.

Anyone care to guess who penned those words? How about sharing one of your own favorite quotes. Surely you don’t want to leave me here all alone with all these non-original thoughts.