From Deseret News archives:
Some words of wisdom from movies
There's a line spoken by Steve Martin in the 1991 film "Grand Canyon" that has always amused me: "All of life's riddles are answered in the movies."
Well, I don't know about that. But there is occasional wisdom offered by movies that goes beyond the simplistic "Star Wars" and "Spider-Man" musings you know, Yoda's "Do or do not; there is no try" and Uncle Ben's "With great power comes great responsibility."
So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving (yes, it's next week, folks), when we traditionally become a bit more thoughtful as well as thankful, here are some of my favorite words of wisdom from the movies ... some of which are remarkably applicable to current world conditions.
"Never do nothing you wouldn't want printed on the front page of The New York Times." Judy Holliday, "Born Yesterday" (1950)
"Everything our parents said was good is bad: sun, milk, red meat, college." Woody Allen, "Annie Hall" (1977)
"She's television generation. ... The only reality she knows comes to her over the TV set." William Holden, "Network" (1976)
"There's nothing tragic about being 50. Not unless you're trying to be 25." Holden, "Sunset Blvd." (1950)
"You pile up enough tomorrows and you'll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays." Robert Preston, "The Music Man" (1962)
"I started thinking about Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence and the part about our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And I remember thinking, how did he know to put the 'pursuit' part in there? That maybe happiness is something that we can only pursue and maybe we can actually never have it." Will Smith, "The Pursuit of Happyness" (2006)
"Most people nowadays are run by fear fear of what they eat, fear of what they drink, fear of their jobs, their future, fear of their health. They're scared to save money and scared to spend it." Jean Arthur, "You Can't Take It With You" (1938)
"Money's just paper if you don't spend it." Virginia Mayo, "White Heat" (1949)
Recent comments
"The time is coming when we will have to choose between what is...
Harry Potter | Jan. 4, 2009 at 10:08 p.m.
"All you need to start an asylum is an empty room and the right kind...
From My Man Godfrey: | Nov. 21, 2008 at 6:54 p.m.
from Life of Brian:
All right, but apart from the sanitation,...
Monty Python fan | Nov. 21, 2008 at 6:51 p.m.
- Alta rejects canyon subdivision 3:33 p.m.
- Adult sports leagues offered 3:19 p.m.
- Oil prices spike 3:06 p.m.
- Stocks turn higher 3:03 p.m.
- Nature's Way leaving Utah County 3:02 p.m.
- Notre Dame fires Weis 2:52 p.m.
- Daughter: Mitchell fed me my pet 2:51 p.m.
- Mansion tours begin Tuesday 2:48 p.m.
- Chaffetz: Leave Afghanistan 2:37 p.m.
- Mitchell's 'books' are coherent 2:24 p.m.
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
892 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
481 - Max Hall issues apology
359 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
254 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
219 - Utes won't respond to Hall
146 - BYU is champion of the state
140 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
121 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
118 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
91
The Wall Street Journal has reported that the holiday retail season...
When "Dancing With The Stars" began more than two months ago, 16 couples...
Comedian Brian Regan, who is scheduled to perform at Abravanel Hall on...
and I think Riley should play in the bowl. Max hasn't being doing well in...
so long to max as you leave your byu career as a donkey. win or lose you will...
Excellent that we have some good choices running! Lets all get behind any...
I love the trailers. To me, they are like looking at a big glossy chocolate...
The rivalry is not fun anymore. Both sides are at fault.
I agree with Mr. Chaffetz desire to obtain some definition about the U.S....
["If the gay movement only wanted their "civil rights," then a "civil union"...
There is a 6' 11 senior and two 7 plus freshman who will continue to improve...
Maybe the "Holy War" should take a two year break to let things calm down a...
Sports is the "controlled" flow of testosterone (even female sports with the...

