dennis scharnberg

What do we call them—those who fear the sound of certain words?

Thaddeus Crewes, The Seven Long Years.

“We should communicate,” she whispered desperately, “only through handwritten words—no talking.”

Clive Ennis, The Case of the Broken Handle.

“Let’s not overlook the good that can be done with a sledgehammer,” implored Nelson.

Burdyce Goode, Philosophy of Vegetables.

Let’s detach everything from the status of (1) a physical presence at (2) a particular place.  In other words, why be real?

Hunter Hogarth, Raised by Wolves.

At some point, the right to the pursuit of happiness was superseded by the right to happiness.

Tyrone Sommer, Mediocre Authority Figures.

It is worth reflecting on G. E. Moore’s quip that “socialism means that one never has to grow up.”

Pamela Hrothgar, No Stone Unturned.

It was stemware, golden retrievers, and smiles.  That’s all Hattie could remember.

Rhonda Carstairs, A Bad Case of the Whim-Whams and Other Stories.

On the road, rolling along in the moonlight, he had worked it all out.  And indeed it had seemed so clear.  “This is compelling!  This must be so!”  he had nearly shouted.  But the next morning, when he actually presented the proposal to old man Godwin, it all fell out as pitiful nonsense.

Quentin Drabb, Ebenezer’s Untold Tales.

Nietzsche was too clever by half.  At times, by more than half.

Daniel Brasso, The Infinite Regress.

—Have these people no sense of irony or self-awareness?

—If that were your self, would you want to be aware of it?

Philip Cavendish, Tilly’s Treasury of Colloquial Bits.