(i)
Take away illusions and you take away happiness.
(ii)
Democracy is a system where pious words are more important
than honest actions.
(iii)
May you die in bed at 95, shot by a jealous spouse.
Irish blessing
(iv)
You can’t expect a boy to be depraved
until he has been to a good school.
Saki
(v)
If you have a taste for abstractions you’re Continental;
the English are interested in flowers and dogs.
(vi)
To a man with an empty stomach food is God.
Gandhi
(vii)
The truthmongers are closing in but we’ll continue to deny.
We’ve never had contact with aliens and there are no UFOs,
only weather balloons.
We can’t afford to admit because all the myths
we’ve spun for centuries would go down the drain
and the truth is not in your best interest.
(viii)
If i’m annoyed because i’m in pain
why not be annoyed with annoyance that limits freedom?
(ix)
hari hujan, tidur sedap
rainy day, sweet sleep
(x)
I’m an enclave person.
The country to the west rejects me, the country to the east ignores me.
When i’m sick the hospital won’t treat me
and i can’t get a school to take my kids.
When my house is broken into the police do nothing.
I have no status, no rights, no papers.
johnpoetflanagan 
You can’t expect a boy to be depraved
until he has been to a good school.
Saki
True
These are so brilliant and so true…
Thank You, Rajiv, very much
Best to You
john
Good ones. My favorite is, “Rainy day, sweet sleep.” What language was that in?
Thank You, Bruce
it’s Malay and is literally:
day rainy, sleep sweet
Best Always
john
I say the Irish blessing tops them all but, hey, that’s just me 😀
Thought you might like that one, Ina.
Thank You
Big hugs
john
😀
The truthmongers and may you die are my favorites. Oh, sweet words, thank you Uncle John 💙
You’re most welcome
Dear Laura
Big hugs
john
A charming, yet challenging, mix. Are they your
originals? Did you create them over years or did you have an epiphany where they all just floated up at once? (I had one of those once, never knew why and it never happened again.)
Confess I’m partial to the Irish Blessing. 🙂
Thank You
Eileen.
Those without acknowledgements are mine or are anonymous.
I’ve been collecting and compiling a few months.
Much love
john
Excellent – I do love something to still the old grey cells! Thank you for these.
Thank You, Chris, very much
Ever
john
A very good compilation…nicely done and though they are not attached to each other, somewhere, together they do ring a bell… 🙂 Loved it… and I’m inspired, maybe I’ll be trying my hands with something like it…. 😀
Thank You
Maniparna
and happy you enjoyed them
Big hugs
john
(vi) Gandhi:
To a man with an empty stomach food is God.
A genius that understood the soul of a man – Gandhi’s line hits it for me. A wonderful post Uncle John – have a beautiful week my friend.
Miss Mary
Thank You so much
Big hugs
uncle john
Words of wisdom that need sharing. Too bad we don’t listen.
Myra
Thank you very much;
really like your comment
Big hugs
john
Rainy day wisdom is blanketed with provocative unconventionality. And damned it refreshes my thirst for arenas that invite possibility. Interesting work that I thoroughly enjoyed John. Ever your friend, Jon Michael
Thank You
Jon, My Friend
for this fine comment
Ever Your Friend
john
Sound bites for the soul. I like the jealous spouse one.
Thank you
Dear Gina
Much love
john
Lovely John, especially No 1
Thank You, Nimi
thank you very much
Big Hugs
john
Just beautiful – please follow and like my new piano page, I appreciate it
https://mihranpiano.wordpress.com
Thank you, Mihran
and my pleasure to follow
Best Always
john
@”I’m an enclave person.” – love this statement… 🙂 as I’m also “une enclave”, like Andorra… 🙂
* * *
have a great week and lots of inspiration, Sir! cheers, Mélanie
Thank You
Dear Melanie
Thank you very much
Big hugs
john
“Take away illusions and you take away happiness.”
This is my favorite. Literature, poetry, drama, religion and philosophy are wonderful stories which we tell about ourselves. These stories are mostly illusions, but they are the best thing about us.
Malcolm
Thank You very much for reading and responding
Best Always to You
john
(i) and (x) and all in-between, so relevant but need to be presented to us by a person of your insight and perspicacity.
Thank You, Angela, Friend
Thank You very much
Big hugs
john
Irish blessings called my name in a manner of speaking John! That infinitesimal moment of excruciating penetration to end it all would surely have been the climax of living in the moments preceding…
The sheepish grin that would linger was worthy notice of secrets contained in the moment of passing.
Beautifully expressed, Don,
beautifully
Thank you for these excellent words
Ever
john