Never ascribe to an opponent motives meaner than your own.
quote by John M. Barrie

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Related quotes
Before impugning an opponent's motives, even when they legitimately may be impugned, answer his arguments.
quote by Sidney Hook

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I am an opponent of Saddam Hussein, but an opponent also, of the sanctions that have killed a million Iraqi children and an opponent of the United States' apparent desire to plunge the Middle East into a new and devastating war.
quote by George Galloway

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Opponent Chosen
It has to come as a disappointment,
To carefully pick an opponent...
Who is perceived to be unaware of it.
But proves more than worthy,
For any challenge presented.
To then expose capabilities unknown.
And...
Without hesitation,
The opponent chosen...
Reveals with acknowledgement,
Of having a desire to be the one picked.
This has to come as a disappointment?
'For who?
The opponent chosen,
Who sat and waited patiently?
Or the one believing the task to be easy? '
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Any Other Time
I remember there was a time,
I found it easy to do things controversial.
With a doing to offend those...
Politically correct and doing their best,
To have themselves perceived...
As having proper etiquette.
Upholding standards that were then valued.
Today my maverick ways are so passe they bore.
Even today a great leader can pretend to debate,
But then again appear to snore.
While he lets his opponent win,
When any other time this same opponent...
Would find himself ignored.
'Why do you think he allowed that to happen? '
People are already aware of his skills and abilities.
I think he made it understood by all...
Just how effective his opponent will be as a leader.
'Do you think it was a new strategy? '
No, not really.
I just think the President felt he would use the time,
To get some sleep!
'Do you think the next debate will be any different? '
Well, that depends.
'On what? '
If the opponent decides to appear,
Without the need to play charades.
Or disguise in yet another masquerade.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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Men are more accountable for their motives, than for anything else; and primarily, morality consists in the motives, that is in the affections.
quote by Archibald Alexander

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Well first of all it's a business and it's a tough business, and you have to have the strength to survive all the set backs all the failures that make this a mean business, that's getting meaner and meaner every year in my opinion.
quote by Robert Redford

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Am Curious
(carole pope / kevan staples)
Im curious, I wanna know
Im an idealist, Ill let it show
Im curious with myself
Im delirious from wanting
The noise that announces a seduction
Im a volcano
In a state of eruption
I live life with a wild intensity
Need to be aroused
To the point of intimacy
What are your motives?
I got to know
Im doing research
I got to know
What are your motives?
I got to know
Tell me your motives, oh, oh
cause Im curious, I wanna know
Im an idealist, Ill let it show
Im curious with myself
Im delirious from wanting
The fusing, the melting of two bodies
Im addicted to lethal sexuality
I live life on the edge of ecstasy
Need to be desired
Nothing else fulfils me
What are your motives?
I got to know
Im doing research
I got to know
What are your motives?
I got to know
Tell me your motives, ooh, ooh
Im curious, I wanna know
Im an idealist, Ill let it show
Im curious with myself
Im delirious from wanting
Im curious, I wanna know
Im an idealist, Ill let it show
Im curious with myself
Im delirious from wanting
Yes, Im curious, I wanna know
Im an idealist, Ill let it show
I am curious with myself
Too delirious from singing
cause Im curious, I wanna know
Im an idealist, Ill let it show
Im curious with myself
Im delirious from wanting
song performed by by Dusty Springfield

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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That Would Be Devastating
How is he preparing for the next debate?
'That's hard for us to determine,
As of this date.'
Why?
'Well...
He's great during our practice sessions.
To make sure the public is informed.
But somehow he is still not convinced,
That eliminating the facts to use against his opponent...
Is not the way to win.'
What do you think is behind his strategy?
'We have no clue.
But hopefully he will realize...
The people have become fantasized,
By the image his opponent presents.
And using the facts as truth to prove,
To the people they have been duped...
Is what he has to do! '
I wonder if it would be to his benefit,
If he chose to expose to the people...
He was fluent in the speaking of Chinese?
And if he is not re-elected...
The Chinese will demand immediate payment,
Of those trillions of dollars...
They have invested in keeping us all delusioned.
'We have already suggested that.
But during the last conference we had with Big Bird,
A different tactic is guaranteed to awaken all the people.
You see...
The opponent has no idea,
How powerful Sesame Street really is.'
You don't think he is prepared to use Big Bird's recommendations,
As his secret weapon?
'Not only do I think he is going to use Big Bird.
But the entire cast of Sesame Street.'
That would be devastating for any opponent,
If he decided to do so.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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There is a quality even meaner than outright ugliness or disorder, and this meaner quality is the dishonest mask of pretended order, achieved by ignoring or suppressing the real order that is struggling to exist and to be served.
quote by Jane Jacobs

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Weakness makes strength.
A batsman shines against weak bowlers;
A bowler shines against weak batsmen.
One's weakness is the opponent's strength.
One's meekness is opponent's might.
29.09.2012
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

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Difference in War (In English)
When, I was so calm and silent,
You invited me, in land of love-war,
By blowing mature love conch.
Love-war was getting, when its par,
You got to go, so far and far.
How much is difference there?
In-between, other war and love-war.
Alike, pain arises in heart so far.
When, opponent wins in other war,
And opponent escapes in love-war.
poem by R.A. Chaudhary

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The Battle
I've entered the ring and I'm ready to fight
I'll need all my strength, and I'll need all my might.
The opponent is big, and so very strong.
To win seems impossible. This may not last long.
In a tension filled room the bell rang aloud.
My family was yelling; "Win. Make us proud."
My opponent came quickly over to me.
He was big and strong, and I wanted to flee.
He hit me so hard that I fell to the floor.
I lay hearing the count, … 1….2….3….4.
Should I try to get up, or stay down and wait?
The count kept on going, 23256 5….6….7….8.
Then piercing my soul came a voice to my ear;
"Son, reach out to me. We can win. I am here.
It hurts Me to see you in such agony.
You are my child, and are precious to me."
Tears came to my eyes, and new strength to each glove.
I knew that the voice was my God, from above.
I jumped to my feet just before the count ten,
Committed to never be knocked down again.
With the Lord in my corner, the opponent looked small,
My opponent's not man, but drugs and alcohol.
Though he's determined, defeat is my vow,
He trembles with fear, because God's with me now.
The fight is not over, but my foe's on the run.
A fight that seemed hopeless is soon to be won.
With the Lord on our side every battle we'll win
With victory assured when we turn to Him.
poem by Ron Tranmer

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Best Among The Best
I laid down upon the shore of my bed,
and dreamed of a world i set ablazed.
I heard the great shouting and roaring of my name,
as i kept playing the beautiful round leather game.
The electrifying emotion on the pitch,
and the extraordinary feeling off the pitch,
Made me the best.
Even when faced with a hard test,
i had no option than victory,
cos wen am on the pitch, i cause my opponent misery.
The smooth texture of the grasses,
brought me happiness from the masses.
The joy of winning every match,
brought even more tougher opponent attach.
Every game had something to play for,
and when i don't get a chance to play, makes me bore.
Hearing the screeming of my name from the fans,
only makes my opponent feel banes.
I just want to tell the whole world,
that i am the best in everything i does in the world.
poem by Stanley Oguh

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Hence that general is skilful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skilful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.
Chosen Motives to Deceive
Ulterior motives,
Not realized exposed
On one's exterior to be seen,
Is expected from a child
Trying to hide a discovery,
Beginning to take a pride
In aspects of manipulation.
But an immature adult,
Unrehearsed
Offends,
Without knowing
Their chosen motives to deceive,
Lacks practice and experience.
And this when witnessed is disrespectful.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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Let Me Play Football
Let me run on the field
Of a crowded football stadium,
The ball is sticky to my leg,
Let the opponent’s defenders to come.
Let me head the ball with full force,
When my team player does a corner kick,
I want to place the ball in opponent’s net,
That’s an honour more than climbing Everest’s pick.
Let my team’s footballers hug me,
When I score a world class goal,
And I shall preserve my supporters’ celebration
Forever in my golden soul.
poem by Biswajit Ganguly

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I don't know why it is that the religious never ascribe common sense to God.
quote by W. Somerset Maugham

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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lazy thinkers
get away with short cuts:
they ascribe everything to God
haiku by Raj Arumugam

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Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence.
quote by Napoleon Bonaparte

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Helena: Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie, which we ascribe to heaven.
line from All's Well That Ends Well, Act I, Scene 1, script by William Shakespeare (1605)

Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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