nobody asked…

The Center for Artificial Indifference

Breathless…

Funny… I already had this quote found, thot upon, keyed inta, and ready to post. My WordPress Writing section typically has a few quick and easy items ready to fill the gaps when I get too busy to think or too tired to type. The attribution on this one-liner was my personal prophet, the high priest of whatthefuck, George Carlin. I thought nothing of it as I keyed his name in a few days ago. Until yesterday…

While taking a break from installing and configuring a couple of workstations on a customer’s network, I made a stand-up visit to the necessary room. There, above the mirror, were these very same words:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. — Author Unknown

This was a church, mind you. Their version had no attribution at all. I chuckled and wondered if they knew the source — the very same mouth that proclaimed the 7 Dirty Words.  Nah… if they had a clue they would not have hung that sign.

Today, with temperatures in the teens and unable to do much else, I got to thinking about it. Then I remembered that on Carlin’s site there are several long postings of things wrongly attributed to him. So I checked it out. This one was not listed there, but several other sites and quotation references show it as unknown. So, I’ll label it as such and hope that George doesn’t get too pissed if it really is his work.

6 Comments so far

  1. John B. January 19th, 2008 10:34 pm

    Sorry, but this is the first thing I thought of as I read your post:

    Yogi Berra: “I really didn’t say everything I said.”

  2. Eric January 20th, 2008 7:33 am

    …. I love that quote…. if Mr. Carlin did say it, then he is one wise, wise sumbitch…..

  3. Joy January 20th, 2008 8:43 am

    George….one of my ‘all time’ favorite guys….EVER. I wouldn’t be surprised if that quote was his with all the countless ‘gems’ that he has uttered. Love it. Thanks Winston.

  4. Liz January 20th, 2008 1:39 pm

    I never heard of George Carlin - oh look I am talking like an American (but not you, Winston)! I mean - I’ve never heard of George Carlin.

    But it’s a wonderful quote from whomsoever’s mouth it came. Come to think of it, I’ve read it in religious contexts before.

  5. Jean January 20th, 2008 1:54 pm

    heh… George Carlin should have his own museum/library.
    l.o.v.e. h.i.m.

  6. twomartini January 20th, 2008 2:07 pm

    Carlin’s vulgarity is somewhat offensive.