Friday, January 09, 2009

Mind

MIND, n. A mysterious form of matter secreted by the brain. Its chief activity consists in the endeavor to ascertain its own nature, the futility of the attempt being due to the fact that it has nothing but itself to know itself with. From the Latin mens, a fact unknown to that honest shoe-seller, who, observing that his learned competitor over the way had displayed the motto "Mens conscia recti," emblazoned his own front with the words "Men's, women's and children's conscia recti."

2008 Update: The principal evidence for the existence of the soul.

18 comments:

javajazz said...

oh dear,
what if our whole existence
here upon the Earth
has only been
a fabrication of my mind?
(or a pigment of my
infatuation, even?)

which came first,
the mind or the soul?

ps...funny, Ambrose's def...
(the men's women's children's bit!)

TLP said...

I don't mind if you think you have a soul, but personally I think it's all in your mind.

Watch out if a woman ever says to you, "Never mind."

Mutha said...

Good one TLP -- we're tricky that way.

"Mind" is the kind of concept that drives my brainiac kid insane. Lots of things have brains -- but do only humans have minds? Oy. Mind your own business.

Tom & Icy said...

Mind over matter, I pay it no mind because it doesn't matter.

Anonymous said...

So. You're telling us that the mind is a shoe-seller? C'mon, stop floundering around. We're waiting.

Anonymous said...

I like your enigmatic convolution there, RBUD.

Bierce reminds me of the old tailor joke. Maybe I've left it before?
Man goes into tailor shop with a pair of pants needing mending. Tailor says, "Eu rip e des?"
Man says, "Eu menid des?"

Anonymous said...

Of all the things I've lost I miss my .... Oh, crap! I've forgotten again.

Anonymous said...

oh my, another interpretation to decipher,is my mind up to it...what learned and unlearned experiences will i use, will conscious or unconscious prompts,assist in decoding, of yet another stream of constantly observed perspectives......so there,i have shared a piece of my "mind"....Peace Today and Always

tsduff said...

A mind is a terrible thing to waste. This word reminds me of a scary book my Mom once read to us kids called The Mind Thing by Fredric Brown The story has been stuck in my mind ever since - one of the best sci fi stories ever told.

Jamie Dawn said...

Men's, women's, children's, and dogs' conscia recti.

:-)

A mind is a terrible thing to waste, but I do it anyway.

It was so nice to see you again.
Thanks for dinner. We will pay next time around.
I may indulge in those pad thai noodles once more before heading back to AR, and I will most certainly sink my teeth into a double double before going back home.
Take care of that cough!

Jamie Dawn said...

Men's, women's, children's, dogs', and horses' conscia recti.

Minka said...

mind, n. the "tabula rasa" of the pretentious

Doug The Una said...

Well dreamt, JJ.

TLP, I know the procedure for "never mind." 13 coils.

Mutha, I think it's a little presumptuous to assume that human's have minds.

All in your head, dog.

Amoeba, more fish puns? I never thought you'd sink so deep.

Weirsdo, that joke is only a discovery among the very educated.

Pencil, Quilly?

Have a brinnivin, Bear. It helps.

Nice recommendation, Terry. I'll look for it.

Selah, JD. It's always fun visiting with you and J.

Minka, I'm drawing a blank.

Anonymous said...

tsduff took my comment

I mind that I was not at that dinner though.

the theological synonymy not withstanding...
The mind is the part of the soul which does all the work and takes all the blame.

Anonymous said...

You would prefer diet jokes, Doug? We all know the one rule, don't we?

A waist is a terrible thing to mind.

What was that? No I am not bogarting that thing! I don't even inhale, Bill. Sheesh.

Ariel the Thief said...

Mind, what causes the trouble in women's case.

I am not among the very educated. :-(

TLP said...

I don't mind that you're sleeping in. Nope. It's fine.

Doug The Una said...

Wow, Cooper. That's a great definition.

Amoeba, I think you might be channeling the dudes.

Ariel, a woman's mind is contagious.

I waren't, TLP! Honest!