Job Discussion Forums

nawlinsgurl · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 7:01 am Post subject: any advice for a "special quote"

Hey everyone! It's me again...well this has almost nothing to do with teaching abroad, but I have noticed that a lot of ya'lls postings have neat quotes at the bottom. I was wondering if anyone had some suggestions for a quote for my upcoming college graduation. My dad suggested "Excelsior" but I'm not even sure what that means. Surely someone out there has an idea. Thanks and sorry that this has nothing to do with teaching, but you all seem so witty.

basiltherat · Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Posts: 952

try this link

http://www.creativewit.com/graduation.html

regards
basil

gugelhupf · Joined: 24 Jan 2004 Posts: 575 Location: Jabotabek

Nil illegitimi carborundum.

cimarch · Joined: 12 Jun 2003 Posts: 358 Location: Dalian

A fool's brain digests philosophy into folly, science into superstition, and art into pedantry. Hence University education.
George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

A mind once stretched by a new idea never regains its original dimensions.
Anonymous

A professor is one who talks in someone else's sleep.
Anonymous

A scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar.
Lao-Tzu (570?-490? B.C.)

A student by definition doesn't know what he or she doesn't know.
Michael Gorman

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell, where his influence stops.
Henry Brooks Adams

A teacher is one who makes himself progressively unnecessary.
Thomas Carruthers

A university is what a college becomes when the faculty loses interest in students.
John Ciardi

Yes, almost all of ours are only slightly modified or outright stolen. I've got books of them. A web search should turn up loads of pages.

Ludwig · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 3:45 pm Post subject:

"A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that 'individuality' is the key to success." (Robert Orben)

khmerhit · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 5:03 pm Post subject:

Ailian · Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Posts: 192 Location: PRC!

johnslat · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 9:19 pm Post subject:

Dear nawlinsgurl,
Here's one I've always liked:

"Because I am human, nothing human can be alien to me." - Terence (Roman playwright (185�159 BC)

And it has, I'd say, a particlar relevance to ESL/EFL teachers.
Regards y'all,
John

nawlinsgurl · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 10:01 pm Post subject: thanks

Thanks again! You guys are the best!! There are so many to choose from but, I think I will go with something Wilde... Thanks!!! Very Happy

khmerhit · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 10:07 pm Post subject:

humanus sum, nihil mihi alienum puto est

johnslat · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 10:11 pm Post subject: Veni, vidi, vici

Dear khmerhit,
Show off - I just posted the English translation.
Regards,
John

khmerhit · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 10:28 pm Post subject:

Hi John,

I wish I could show off correctly. It goes

Homo sum, et humani mihi a me alienum puto.

As you say, definitely a motto for EFL. The renaissance humanistsquoted it a lot, I think. They were travelling teachers too.

Latin has great mottos--(I dont pretend to know many or to know any Latin, as you can see from the flub above.)

I like this one:

Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis.

Times change, and we change and are changed with them.

A good one if you are suffering any culture shock, or you cant get your head around the proliferation of the cellphone and the midriff!

all grooviest
kh