Insults with class?
A friend of mine recently delivered a speech at a public meeting. He was most formally thanked, also for the gravitas of his contribution. When we left the meeting, he remarked to me that he was insulted by the 'low-like, gravel-type' term "gravitas". He has no knowledge of Latin and asked me what this meant.
Luckily I could explain to him how the Roman philosophers, in their definition of quality leadership, referred to gravitas (carrying weight, substance), dignitas (charisma, dignity), pietas (devotion to duty, loyalty) and virtus (excellence, valour). These were also held high in the old British education system. The early life coaches applied the Latin definitions for the moral formation of the "English gentleman" during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Wow, how the best of this may improve our world in South Africa today!
The above, contrastingly and funnily enough, reminded me of a collection which I received from a friend and publisher - "When insults had class". With humour intended up front, I present some of these insults here with recognition to the original formulators. These insults are from an era before the English language got boiled down to four-letter words.
He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire (Winston Churchill).
The well-known exchange between playwright George Bernard Shaw and Churchill as politician. Shaw: I enclose two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend, if you have one. Churchill's response: Cannot possibly attend your first night, will attend second, if there is one.
A parliamentary member to Disraeli: Sir, you will either die on the gallows or of some unspeakable disease. Disraeli: That depends, Sir, whether I embrace your policies or your mistress (Walter Kerr).
I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure (Clarence Darrow).
He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary (William Faulkner, about Ernest Hemingway!).
Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it (Moses Hadas).
He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends (Oscar Wilde).
I feel so miserable without you; it's almost like having you here (Stephen Bishop).
He is a self-made man and worships his creator (John Bright).
He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others (Samuel Johnson).
He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up (Paul Keating).
In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily (Charles Talleyrand).
Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it? (Mark Twain).
His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork (Mae West!).
He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts; for support rather than illumination (Andrew Lang).
Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go (Oscar Wilde).
Time for some to remove themselves? Our World appears every second week