August 2016 – My Geek Wisdom

“Happiness is a warm puppy.”

From: Peanuts

Genre: Comics

Who said it?: Lucy Van Pelt and the rest of the Peanuts gang

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from one of the most celebrated newspaper comics of all time, Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. The strip generally focuses on a neighborhood of kids with very distinct personalities. The strip did evolve quite a bit from being extremely simple gags to having some really long stories.

The quote has actually become a slogan for the entire Peanuts gang. But the first time it was uttered in the strip comes from one particular early comic. Lucy, the neighborhood “crabby” person, sees Snoopy, Charlie Brown’s dog, and pets him. She then bends down to give the dog a hug before delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: Some of the most simple joys in life are free. People tend to forget this and try to fill their lives with material objects that may give them temporary happiness but these things aren’t exactly fulfilling. Try to find something simple and pure that give you joy.

“Puny god.”

From: Marvel’s The Avengers

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: The Incredible Hulk

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the first Avengers movie. The film is the culmination of years of planning on Marvel comics part to create a vast cinematic universe. The film was one of the most anticipated movies of 2012 and was both a critical and financial success as Marvel took the risk of actually assembling all of the superheroes that appeared in their previous films into one film.

The quote comes during the climatic battle scene. Loki (played by Tom Hiddleston), who is leading the alien Chitauri in an invasion of Earth, is attacked by The Hulk (voice acted by Mark Ruffalo, who also portrays The Hulk’s alter ego, Bruce Banner). Loki, incenses by Hulk’s show of brute force against him, yells at the gamma irradiated hero. The god chastises The Hulk for even attacking him as the “creature” is beneath him. However, his speech is cut short as Hulk proceeds to toss him around like a rag doll. After the beating, The Hulk delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: There may be times when you feel like you are untouchable and you are the best in the world. However, this is simply not true as there will always be someone better than you. And even if it is fact that you are the best in the world at something, if you rest on your laurels, there will be always be someone trying to become better than you.

“Now imagine she’s white.”

From: A Time To Kill

Genre: Movies/Books

Who said it?: Jake Brigance

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the film A Time to Kill, which is based on the John Grisham book of the same name. The film and the book is the tale of Jake Brigance, a white attorney who was hired to defend Carl Lee Hailey, a black man who shot and killed two men who raped his daughter.

The quote comes from the very end of the film. Jake Brigance (played by Matthew McConaughey) tells the jury to close their eyes while he narrates the horrors Carl Lee Hailey’s daughter had to endure during her rape. He describes every thing in brutal detail and he asks the jury if they can see the little girl in their minds. This is when the lawyer delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: We tend to have a bias on how similar things are to what we are. This is generally normal but this is also the root of many prejudices around the world. However, when we really get down to things, we are all the same because we are all human beings and should be treated as equals.

Any form of persecution, prejudice and discrimination is wrong.

“There are simply too many notes.”

From: Amadeus

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Emperor Joseph II

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes the Academy Award nominated picture Amadeus. The film is about the life and times of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It is told from the point of view of another composer Antonio Salieri (played by F. Murray Abraham), who after attempting to commit suicide, talks to a priest to “confess” his involvement in Mozart’s death.

The quote comes after Mozart (played by Tom Hulce) plays one of his pieces for Emperor Joseph II (played by Jeffrey Jones), a ruler that prides himself on being a great musician when he really isn’t. While the Emperor is pleased with Mozart’s work, he does have one issue with his composition…

Geek wisdom: There are always going to be people critical of what you do and the results you’ve achieved. However, just because they feel the need to criticize, that doesn’t necessarily mean they know what is actually good and what is bad. There are going to always be people that think they are the authority on a subject when they actually know nothing about it. It can be hard to spot these people but, when you do, you shouldn’t listen to them.

We should be open to criticism. However, he have to make sure we listen to the right kind of criticism (the ones that helps us to improve) and the ones coming from the right kind of people (the ones that actually know what they’re talking about).