Redefining misanthropy for a fresh generation. Standard posts begin with a definition from Ambrose Bierce's The Devil's Dictionary followed by a modern adjustment. Miscellany on Wednesday and storytelling on Saturday.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Mercy
Mercy, n. An attribute beloved of detected offenders.
2005 Update: The appreciation of the strong for the simplicity of the eager.
Woo ah, mercy mercy me Ah things ain't what they used to be, no no Where did all the blue skies go? Poison is the wind that blows from the north and south and east Woo mercy, mercy me, mercy father Ah things ain't what they used to be, no no Oil wasted on the ocean and upon our seas, fish full of mercury Ah oh mercy, mercy me Ah things ain't what they used to be, no no Radiation under ground and in the sky Animals and birds who live nearby are dying Oh mercy, mercy me Ah things ain't what they used to be What about this overcrowded land How much more abuse from man can she stand? Oh, na na... My sweet Lord... No My Lord... My sweet Lord - Marvin Gaye
The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown; His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this sceptred sway; It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show likest God's When mercy seasons justice.
Sorry, free association there, but I like Shakey's take on it. Notice that mercy is to SEASON justice, not supercede it.
Have mercy on those that take your catalog order - please remove all screaming children from the room, don't call while driving to work, please take the cordless phone back inside the house for better reception, have your credit card available and have the address ready for that gift order. Also, try to have some idea about what you're going to order before you dial.
That generously demonstrated toward white collar criminals by Republican president, but not by Republican governor toward twenty four years of attempted redemptive acts by black individual on death row. xoxo
Mercy... quality lacking in society... you might say it goes hand in hand with compassion... a wise choice, yet a hard lesson for most of us mere mortals... bohemians included! ;-)
That's all I have man! I'm gonna go sleep off this mood now!
I'm not sure what it means, JD, but you wouldn't use it if it weren't a word.
TLP, Hitonious, adj. Funny beyond the collision of angels.
Well, S, maybe if you didn't misplace my card information...
Sar, the thought of a Jersey girl Southern Belle is kind of funny, "Why, Mr. Poobah I have no idea how to respond to such magnificent kindness ya *&*^in' moron!"
TLP: If you start using "hitonious" in your every day life, you will become a higher life form. I dare say, hitonious is one of the finest words ever spoken. Lord, have mercy on those who do not use the word, hitonious, for they know not what they miss.
That song Sar sang was the first thing that came to mind.
Mercy, n. The act of letting someone in a less powerful position that you off of the proverbial hook. Shooing that daddy long legs out the door when all you really want to do is step on it.
A student saying thank-you in a French class. The accent isn't very good.
ReplyDeleteYippeeee! Second here to go :D
ReplyDeleteMercy: The thing we (Doug and I) will never show Retardo once we carry out our plan (aka the Mojava desert)...
(To know more about Retardo, visit my old blog: http://marwa.blog-city.com)
Mercy Mercy Me
ReplyDeleteWoo ah, mercy mercy me
Ah things ain't what they used to be, no no
Where did all the blue skies go?
Poison is the wind that blows from the north and south and east
Woo mercy, mercy me, mercy father
Ah things ain't what they used to be, no no
Oil wasted on the ocean and upon our seas, fish full of mercury
Ah oh mercy, mercy me
Ah things ain't what they used to be, no no
Radiation under ground and in the sky
Animals and birds who live nearby are dying
Oh mercy, mercy me
Ah things ain't what they used to be
What about this overcrowded land
How much more abuse from man can she stand?
Oh, na na...
My sweet Lord... No
My Lord... My sweet Lord
- Marvin Gaye
Fred, I don't think I can use it but look up Bierce's definition of Dejeuner. You can use the linked "Online Devil's Dictionary.
ReplyDeleteRight you are, Marwa, nothing but death and pain awaits the man who spoke down in the cold, dry desert.
Sar, one of my all-time favorite songs by one of my all-time favorite singers. I pity anyone in traffic next to me this morning.
The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
ReplyDeleteUpon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice.
Sorry, free association there, but I like Shakey's take on it. Notice that mercy is to SEASON justice, not supercede it.
Benz's mini model
ReplyDeletexipxboy: shut up, lad
Mercy,n., sine qua non. Without mercy, one's anger begins with madness and ends in regret.
ReplyDeleteLet's get a new ear worm here! We don't have enough.
"Regrets, I’ve had a few;
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.
I planned each charted course;
Each careful step along the byway,
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way." So,have mercy on me!
I regret this comment. All the good mercy had been given out already.
TLP - lalalalalala *covers ears* I can't hear you! ;)
ReplyDeleteWow, Ariella. You're one well-read dog! I assume Shakey isn't the pizza guy.
ReplyDeleteThat's funny, Karma.
Sugarcornpop, Marwa's referring to her former boss.
TLP, mercy is letting Sinatra go on.
Sar, I'm still with Marvin.
Have mercy on those that take your catalog order - please remove all screaming children from the room, don't call while driving to work, please take the cordless phone back inside the house for better reception, have your credit card available and have the address ready for that gift order. Also, try to have some idea about what you're going to order before you dial.
ReplyDeleteThat generously demonstrated toward white collar criminals by Republican president, but not by Republican governor toward twenty four years of attempted redemptive acts by black individual on death row. xoxo
ReplyDeleteOOOO. I was gonna sing Mercy Mercy Me, but Sar beat me to it. Just as well, she has a much better voice than mine.
ReplyDeleteHow about:
mercy (n) - That for which bad people inevitably beg, rather than thinking about the bad things beforehand and not doing them.
poobah, those that don't do bad things need mercy, too, but those that do appreciate it a lot more. :)
ReplyDeleteDddragon, we all think differently about those that take our orders. I promise to be kind as long as you aren't out of anything.
ReplyDeleteMireille, that xoxo looks just right there.
Lula, clemency granted.
Mercy, Poobah!
Wow, Ariel. Yup.
Mercy, n. A delay of gratification.
ReplyDelete)+(
Mercy... quality lacking in society... you might say it goes hand in hand with compassion... a wise choice, yet a hard lesson for most of us mere mortals... bohemians included! ;-)
ReplyDeleteThat's all I have man! I'm gonna go sleep off this mood now!
another word thought out to solve a bunch of problems....
ReplyDeleteMercy: What I need from my fellow bloggers for posting the smashed doggie cartoon.
ReplyDeleteYou used "hitonious" at my blog. Now I KNOW it's a bonafide word!
So, now we are defining "hitonious?" You first.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Dddragon, amen. And may the Lord grant me the mercy not to bite off the heads of those vacillating creditcardless hellions.
ReplyDeleteLordamercy Poobah, such kind flattery (said with my best transplant-southern belle charm). :)
ReplyDeleteNice, Gabriel.
ReplyDeleteOK, BoHo, feel better in the morning.
I'm not sure what it means, JD, but you wouldn't use it if it weren't a word.
TLP, Hitonious, adj. Funny beyond the collision of angels.
Well, S, maybe if you didn't misplace my card information...
Sar, the thought of a Jersey girl Southern Belle is kind of funny, "Why, Mr. Poobah I have no idea how to respond to such magnificent kindness ya *&*^in' moron!"
TLP: If you start using "hitonious" in your every day life, you will become a higher life form. I dare say, hitonious is one of the finest words ever spoken.
ReplyDeleteLord, have mercy on those who do not use the word, hitonious, for they know not what they miss.
I will impart the meaning of hitonious:
ReplyDeleteHitonious is used when words like hideous and horrendous just don't cut it. Some things are just beyond hideous; they are hitonious.
Oh, man J.D. I thought it meant hilarious. You are the Word Queen, I merely serve you and badly at that.
ReplyDeleteHitonious, adj. Ugly as a train wreck at a Mensa meeting.
That song Sar sang was the first thing that came to mind.
ReplyDeleteMercy, n. The act of letting someone in a less powerful position that you off of the proverbial hook.
Shooing that daddy long legs out the door when all you really want to do is step on it.
In my family, what the tickler never dispenses quickly enough to the ticklee.
ReplyDeleteGreat definition, Alice, and an excellent example.
ReplyDeleteHaha, Belinda. I can imagine.