There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know.
quote by Donald Rumsfeld
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Related quotes
Reports that say that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns - - the ones we don't know we don't know. And if one looks throughout the history of our country and other free countries, it is the latter category that tend to be the difficult ones.
quote by Donald H. Rumsfeld
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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0151 Donald Rumsfeldt's Guide to Love
As we know
(or like to think we do)
There are known knowns
(we all need more love)
There are things we know we know
(we’re not getting enough of it)
We also know
(like I know I love you)
There are known unknowns
(but will it last?)
That is to say
(according to me, anyway)
There are some things
(especially about love)
we do not know
(is there someone better around the corner?)
But there are also unknown unknowns
(scary but exciting – flip those sex-tech tomes)
The ones we don’t know
(and hey, who cares?)
we don’t know
(and, will we love it when it comes?)
poem by Michael Shepherd
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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I Want to Know
There is too much I can not ignore.
Too much beyond my open door,
I explore to have those unknowns shown.
I can not sit...
Just to imagine what exists.
Or to hear from others...
From their point of view.
As they experience what it is,
I too wish to do!
There is too much I can not ignore.
Too much beyond my open door,
I explore to have those unknowns shown.
And my mind will not leave me alone...
Until my curiosity satisfies that quest in me.
There is too much I can not ignore.
Too much beyond my open door,
I explore to have those unknowns shown.
I want to know...
More of this life God has gifted.
I want to know...
And not inflict upon myself limits!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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The algebra of poetry. For Jim as if.
OK you’ve written 2000 crap poems you say.
Now pack up this arithmetical stuff:
there’s an algebra to poetry:
equations full of unknowns:
for a start, the 2001th poem that you write
will contain 2000 times the…
well it’s a complicated equation:
it starts with the familiar
x for the expression which has improved
a thousandfold since you began;
y stands for the hundreds of times more wise
you’ve since become, by just writing poetry;
zzz is the way, that half-asleep,
an unforgettable word or line can slip into your head;
z too, for zeal and zest, that Muses love
and fly a little closer while you write..
then, it wouldn’t be a real equation without
‘squares’: for all that’s squared within your mind as poetry takes shape;
and brackets: for that intrusive, brilliant phrase
that slips between the wagons of your train of thought,
sometimes so surprising that you’re not too sure
it’s true; but trust it; tomorrow, know it’s right;
and oh so much more to this equation
of knowns equalling unknowns, spelling out a poem;
mass, energy, and the speed of light
writing themselves into some new formula
which only humility may harness;
a light to light the world with words.
poem by Michael Shepherd
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A Birthday Poem
lone traveller
from kuala lumpur to tokyo to china
cold places, strange people warm and cold
so many unknowns that became knowns
that resulted in an occasional shopping tete-a-tete
and at those fortunate birthday celebrations
thrown by foreign friends
met at school, work place
we uttered words usually made between
friends of mere days
a coldness in between
as we sung and tried to break the ice
between the candles
lighted and blown
and they were usually in the nights
when lonely hearts sought out avenues
to brighten things up
for themselves and their newly acquired friend
and also workplace friends
who try to punctuate the life of a foreign soul
with things famliar, to light up the candles of his life journey
inspired by:
A Birthday Poem
Just past dawn, the sun stands
with its heavy red head
in a black stanchion of trees,
waiting for someone to come
with his bucket
for the foamy white light,
and then a long day in the pasture.
I too spend my days grazing,
feasting on every green moment
till darkness calls,
and with the others
I walk away into the night,
swinging the little tin bell
of my name.
Ted Kooser
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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Smoke, Mist and Nebulous Things
Tell me then your perceptions of the past
Tell me why hard facts are hard today
Facts tomorrow, then gone away
Do facts, then, rarely last?
Watching the march of time, the artefacts
The ruins they continue to dig up day by day
What remains of those wonderful beings
Who peopled our fables and myths
Smoke, mist and other nebulous things
Spirited them away
Tiptoe in history’s corridors
Crowns, coins and chariots
People, peasants, and simple folk
Just spirited clean away
Where do they lie now?
Unknowns jostling in history’s corridors.
Queens, courtesans, mothers of kings
Toys and things, necklaces and dreams
Smoke, mist and other nebulous things
Spirited them away
Tiptoe in history’s corridors
The modified history of the world
Domination, nomination, abomination
Smoke and mist and nebulous things
Have spirited everyone away.
poem by Rani Turton
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Things Are Getting Better
Well I worked for a week and I got no pay.
(things getting better.)
Well my babys coming back home to stay
(things getting better.)
Well shes coming back home, but I havent got a dime
(things getting better.)
But Ive got my love to keep me fine[? ].
(things getting better.)
Oh-oh
Things getting better.
Things getting better.
Well since my babys been away,
(things getting better.)
Well things got worse from day to day.
(things getting better.)
Well now my babys come back to me.
(things getting better.)
Yeah, itll get better, wait and see.
(things getting better.)
Oh-oh
Things getting better.
Things getting better.
Oh-oh
Things getting better.
Things getting better.
Well I pawned my watch and I sold my car.
(things getting better.)
The money Ive got wouldnt get me far.
(things getting better.)
But I dont mind now that youve packed.
(things getting better.)
Its a fact, that
Things getting better.
Things getting better.
Oh-oh
Things getting better.
Things getting better.
song performed by by Kinks
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Interrupted Thoughts
Curiosity feels like a blooming flower
as so many emotions do
Where their beauty eeks out the scourge of our soul
so the blossom of discovery unfolds and reveals...
We are happy today, and wonder why
the grand scheme of things is ours to meddle with
The mortals that we pretend to be
are finally in tune with all the wonders of...
The universe lifts us up and carries us fearfully astray
because there are so many unknowns
Why do we think we have so much
and cannot give away the little that we have for...
Others are the inspiration for our humility
and grant us insight
because it is in the blessings of others
that we reach our own enlightenment...
poem by Poet Dragon
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Birth and death; we all move between these two unknowns.
quote by Bryant H. McGill
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Quieting Their Egos and Putting Out Their 'Lights
It takes more than a winning attitude,
To actually produce a win.
Some believe it is owed to them.
Those accustomed to adulation.
And no one wins alone!
Some 'superstars' have found this out.
After unknowns have captured their throwns.
It takes more than a winning attitude,
To actually produce a win.
Some believe it is owed to them.
Those accustomed to adulation.
And overpaid folks,
Often provoked jokes...
When their talents and skills,
From them take a hike.
Overnight they might rise,
To heights of fame and glory.
But at a blink of an eye...
Their blessed gifts have been diminished.
And no one wins alone!
Some 'superstars' have found this out.
After unknowns have captured their throwns.
Quieting their egos and putting out their 'lights'.
'Where is that championship you promised us? '
~Well, I...er...um...uh.
Well...
Uh...oh...uh...er ...~
'You can always blame it on the 'bling'.
And not the 'brawn' you didn't bring.
It doesn't pay to believe one's own hype.'
~Well, I...er...um...uh,
Right. Right! ~
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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The world is divided into two categories: failures and unknowns.
quote by Francis Picabia
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Two Things
Two things that come and go—
Happiness and Sadness
Two things that will never leave us—
Fame and Stigma
Two things that will not come back—
Prestige and Life
Two things that come on their own—
Youth and Age
Two things that follow us—
Virtue and Sin
Two things that cannot be contained—
Grief and Desire
Two things that cannot be avoided—
Hunger and Thirst
Two things that bring about a downfall—
Anger and Jealously
Two things that are common to all—
Birth and Death.
poem by Chandra Thiagarajan
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I Move Around The Bends
i change my mind
now i move around the bends
wriggle my waist in every curve
hop and hop on the humps
beat the bushes and climb some trees
up there i look on the ground
and see how small things are
how seemingly the clouds have
turned to nothing but mist and air
i change my mind
i go upstairs and view the windows
opening to a path
leading to a beautiful garden
towards the sea
i change my mind
the rules need not be that strict
we make them
i move around now
in circles drunk to repetitions
unwinding relaxing a bit
embracing too kindly
some unknowns
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Special
I been trying for so long
To get you where I stand
Feel like I been climbing all my life
Everybody told me
I'd never ever get this far
I know I can make it if I try
There's the special things that come your way
?I'll be praying? no matter what they say
Special things that somehow come to you
(come to you, you too, to you, do to, be do, you)
Special things come to you
There's no sense in trying to fight it
When I want something so bad
No, it's not as easy as it seems
Simple things are the hardest
Of the things we do for love
And I won't give up cause I'm not just what it means
The special things you dream about
And the special things you're all about
Special things that somehow come to you
And it's the simple things to just believe
And the special things that you want to see
Special things somehow come to you
(come to you, doo doo doo, to you, doo doo doo)
Special things (doo, doo ahh, you doo)
Do do doo, on you, do do doo, to you
Do doo, ahh, do do doo, too
There's the special things that come your way
?I'll be praying? no matter what they say
Special things that somehow come to you
The special things you dream about
And the special things you're all about
Special things that somehow come to you
There's the special things that come your way
?I'll be praying? no matter what they say
Special things that somehow come to you
And it's the simple things to just believe
And the special things that you want to see
Special things somehow come to you
song performed by by Vitamin C
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Only A Downstat
Only a downstat
Personality problem
He would say things like i love you
And cry real tears
Met him in some place
Like a home for old mothers
Where the cure is always death
But no-one ever leaves
He wore a number 7
Badge on his collar
He would show it with pride
And say it means I can feel
Hed bribe the warders
To send letters to someone
Who didnt even know his name
But said shed read them anyway
And in the evening (? ? )
He writes poetry for people
Who deny hes alive
And say Ill mention that name
A violator of the law of no feelings
They should be put in the chair
Until their eyes come in (? ? )
If you have reasons
I might sell you my time
Ill leave it under the stairs
In a body of mine
Old memories are slowly fading out of me
We are the unknowns, we are all you need
song performed by by Gary Numan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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An Emptiness Collected (Things)
Things,
People pray for.
Things,
People have.
Things,
All around the people.
And things they have make them sad.
Things,
They ask of God to give.
Things,
They get don't please.
And when they realize it's not things they need...
That touch that is desired and wanted,
Has come to leave...
Them!
With their things!
And a generous offering,
Felt...
Of an emptiness collected!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Doin' The Things That We Want To
The other night we went to see Sam's play
doin' the things that we want to
It was very physical it held you to the stage
doin' the things that he wants to
Doin' the things that he wants to
The guy's a cowboy from some rodeo
doin' the things that he wants to
The girl had once loved him, but now she want to go
doin' the things that she wants to
Doin' the things that she wants to
The man was bullish, the woman was a tease
doin' the things that they want to
They fought with their words, their bodies and their deeds
doin' the things that they want to
When they finished fighting, they exited the stage
doin' the things that they want to
I was firmly struck by the way they had behaved
doin' the things that they want to
Doin' the things that they want to
hey
It reminds me of the movies Marty made about New York
(doin' the things that he wants to)
Those frank and brutal movies that are so brilliant
(doin' the things that he wants to)
";True Love"; meet ";The Raging Bull";
(doin' the things that he wants to)
They're very inspirational, I love the things they do
(doin' the things that he wants to)
Doin' the things that I want to
There's not much you hear on the radio today
(doin' the things that we want to)
But you could still see a movie or a play
(doin' the things that we want to)
Here's to ";Travis Bickle"; and here's ";Johnny Boy";
(doin' the things that we want to)
Growing up in the Mean Streets of New York
(doin' the things that we want to)
I wrote this song 'cause I'd like to shake your hand
(doin' the things that we want to)
song performed by by Lou Reed
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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These Things
I have this smile to hide me
And I have this cross to bear
I have your picture that still haunts me like your memory
These things have I
I have these words to lie to me
These stupid songs to share
I have these countless hours to fill the void you left me
These things have I
For all those things I've done
Let you down I apologize
But sorry's hard somehow
Seems so strange it'd be so easy now
But I've got this faith to blind me
And I've got these dreams we shared
And I have the fear that dreams are all I'll have that's
left to me
These things all these things
These things have I
These things all these things
There things have I
song performed by by Fuel
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Life is a boundary between two unknowns. People pass by here, are registered, controlled, stamped, vaccinated, and then expelled ...
quote by Octav Bibere
Submitted by Kitzy Bush
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The Things That Dreams Are Made Of
Take time to see the wonders of the world
To see the things youve only ever heard of
Dream life the way you think it ought to be
See things you thought youd never ever see
Take a cruise to china
Or a train to spain
Go round the world
Again and again
Meet a girl on a boat
Meet a boy on a train
And fall in love
Without the pain
Everybody needs love and adventure
Everybody needs cash to spend
Everybody needs love and affection
Everybody needs 2 or 3 friends
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
Take a lift to the top of the empire state
Take a drive across the golden gate
March, march, march across red square
Do all the things youve ever dared
Everybody needs love and adventure
Everybody needs cash to spend
Everybody needs love and affection
Everybody needs 2 or 3 friends
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
Like fun and money and food and love
And things you never thought of
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
New york, ice cream, tv, travel, good times
Norman wisdom, johnny, joey, dee dee, good times
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
song performed by by Human League
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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