Monday, July 27, 2009

Excess

EXCESS, n. In morals, an indulgence that enforces by appropriate penalties the law of moderation.
Hail, high Excess — especially in wine,
To thee in worship do I bend the knee
Who preach abstemiousness unto me —
My skull thy pulpit, as my paunch thy shrine.
Precept on precept, aye, and line on line,
Could ne'er persuade so sweetly to agree
With reason as thy touch, exact and free,
Upon my forehead and along my spine.
At thy command eschewing pleasure's cup,
With the hot grape I warm no more my wit;
When on thy stool of penitence I sit
I'm quite converted, for I can't get up.
Ungrateful he who afterward would falter
To make new sacrifices at thine altar!
2009 Update: A large quantity of something best enjoyed in smaller quantities or not at all. Examples include whiskey by the gallon and temperance by the drop. The threshold of excess increases when the measured substance is quantified in two or more portions and stretches beyond the horizon when gauged locally.

15 comments:

Jim said...

Excess can be more of any item or quality than we either need or can effectively or economically handle. For me, I don't have any excesses. "Buddy, can you spare a dime?"
..
I was first, guys, as I was keying it in. Still first?
..

Karen said...

JIM WINS !!!!

Do you think Ambrose has a hangover, or what?

dr. doo doo said...

An excess of wine is a good idea, especially when you wash down a couple good quality Ludes with it, Man!

Jamie Dawn said...

Excess is in the eye of the indulger.

Pass the vinto tinto, por favor.

:-)

the amoeba said...

EXCESS, n. Too much. EXCESSIVE: a strainer for when too much is not enough.

Tom & Icy said...

Is it a whole lot, or a little in extreme?

Anonymous said...

An excess of wine is a good idea, dr. doo doo, unless you wake up face-down in the forest with a dog licking your face.

pia said...

Excess: show me the way to get home. Oh I am home
My word verification is very apt--dousing--I'm dousing myself in cold water after....

John Keats said...

Veil'd Melancholy has her sovran shrine,
Though seen of none save him whose strenuous tongue
Can burst Joy's grape against his palate fine;
His soul shall taste the sadness of her might,

Anonymous said...

waking up--face down--dog licking face---confused,,,,ludes can do that , someone is showing age

....excess,,available credit on plastic cards
available credit = travels
Peace....................

Minka said...

"whiskey by the gallon and temperance by the drop"
NiCE!!! can't top that....

excess,n. a limitation of the giving spirit in others

TLP said...

Supernumerary. Unless you are talking about shoes, purses, or money. Those items are never in surplus.

cooper said...

Can't beat your definition, but getting a larger glass solves the problem sometimes.

quilly said...

Here's one from my misspent youth:

One tequila,
Two tequila,
Three tequila,
Floor.


EXCESS not stopping but instead, being stopped.

Jose Quervo
You are a friend of mine.
I like to drink you with
A little salt and lime
Did I kiss all the cowboys?
Did I shoot out the lights?
Did I dance on the bar?
Did I start any fights?

Doug The Una said...

Jim, wouldn't a ha'penny do?

Karen, I think he's sleeping pretty good these days.

Dr. Doo-doo, when are you starting your kids' site?

Dos medias vasos, JD?

Amoeba, is excessivest a word?

Icy, you are a philosopher. Good girl.

Half asleep near the stars, Anonymous?

Birthday cake, Pia?

Mr. Keats, I think that happens when you drink the humors.

Sure, does, doesn't it, Bear? Skal!

Nice yourself, Minka. I get it.

Sure, TLP, but when you are talking about word posts, you can do too many.

Excellent advice, Coop.

Quilly, I never thought I'd see the day the Banana Splits song would be profaned.