Happy Thought for 17 April 2026

Have a Happy Thought:

Sometimes you hear a phrase and think it must have come from a philosopher, or famous author…

And then you look it up and find out it has a way more mundane (and possibly therefore more interesting) origin story.

Some of these are amazing no matter their context, sometimes it is the context itself that makes the phrasing so incredible.

Some phrases that have struck me thusly lately:

 

And what is the purpose of a living man if he lives not for the ones he loves?

          ~from a silly youtube skit about playground drama

 

I was happy in the eyes of a drunken owl.

~misheard lyric from Heaven Knows I’m miserable Now by The Smiths

 

The circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant. It is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.

~ Pokemon (cartoon character) Mewtwo.

 

Luck favors the prepared.

~ Edna Mode in The Incredibles (kids movie)

 

This is how liberty dies, with thunderous applause.

~ Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith

 

Nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight. You've got to kick at the darkness till it bleeds daylight.

~ Lovers in a Dangerous Time by Bruce Cockburn

 

There are cathedrals everywhere for those with the eyes to see

~Jordan Peterson in a tweet about a plastic water bottle

 

How well do we use our freedom to choose the illusions we create?

~ Hairstyles And Attitudes by Timbuk 3

 

I will face god and walk backwards into hell

~a Dril tweet about yelling at zoo animals

 

You cannot kill me in a way that matters.

~a Tumblr post about mushrooms

 

Babies are born worshipping unknown gods.

~ A bug report in a computer game (Dwarf Fortress)

 

 

Thanks to the OP and everyone in the replies of this mastodon post and youtube short for most of these:

            https://mastodon.social/@mhoye/115537314289192133

            🎶We Can Cause a Riot in Sunday School🎶

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