Monday, May 03, 2010

Perfection

PERFECTION, n. An imaginary state of quality distinguished from the actual by an element known as excellence; an attribute of the critic.
The editor of an English magazine having received a letter pointing out the erroneous nature of his views and style, and signed "Perfection," promptly wrote at the foot of the letter: "I don't agree with you," and mailed it to Matthew Arnold.
2010 Update: Anonymity.

18 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:41 AM

    Perfection is being first.

    And...

    perfection is me!

    Perfect.

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  2. Perfection: Anonymity!!! very interesting Doug...hmmmmm!!!

    Leaving that aside as I am reading too much into it...perfection can leave you paralyzed with indecision.

    That is why I became an artist...there is no room for perfection there.

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  3. Perfection is when we don't screw it up.

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  4. Your update is Perfect.

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  5. Mo'a, do you mean that we didn't know how ugly Doug is while he was hiding behind the photo of a perfect dog?

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  6. Anonymous10:29 AM

    perfection :

    see no evil
    speak no evil
    hear no evil

    truly a state of mind
    in definition
    and in being

    may the new week
    bring blessings
    to all

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  7. Tempest comes altogether too close to the 2010 description of perfection. Sigh.

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  8. Anonymous11:42 AM

    PERFECTION, n. - Don't I wish I was. But hey, I'm only human :)

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  9. Tempest, Dahling !!

    Is it tea-time or time for late afternoon Matthew Arnold quotations?

    I say both.

    This strange disease of modern life, with its sick hurry, its divided aims ...

    With close-lipped Patience for our only friend, Sad Patience, too near neighbor to Despair.

    Would you care for lemon or milk with your Earl Grey?

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  10. the amoeba3:36 PM

    PERFECTION, n. Feline lover. Which is how come people are often so catty about it.

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  11. Anonymity - so true this definition of yours.

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  12. PER, –preposition 1.) for each. for every; 2.) in accordance to ...

    FEC, abbrev Federal Election Commission

    TION, suffix denotes action or condition

    PERFECTION, n. Actions that comply with the regulations of the Federal Election Commission.

    aquable one who is eligible for drowning.

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  13. perfection: Waking Ambrose

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  14. What the heck was that Ahnohld Schvahrtzzenneger movie with the cult? Do you want to live forever?? What were they seeking, perfection?

    Or prudence?

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  15. Anonymous9:50 PM

    know of a free
    B and B
    orlando area
    give a call
    if interested

    so my word verf.
    is , verse...
    it is a curse
    to think you must
    have a verse
    to concourse
    this nobel source...
    hey its late,i tried
    peace

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  16. Good enough, Jenn.

    Mo'a, I'm comfortable guessing that you were reading too much into it.

    Oh, right, Ariel. Like that can happen.

    Terry, I shouldn't have signed it.

    Ariel, you don't want to know, but know anyway. You see the point.

    Perfect, anonymous.

    Not to worry, Tempest, one day the lights may yet speak your name.

    That's good enough, too, Thom.

    Karen, that was Matthew Arnold?

    Woof, Amoeba.

    Correction, Cooper- this definition of someone's.

    Quilly, that never would have occurred to me.

    Riiiiight, Poobah.

    A governorship, Sauerkraut?

    And still posted anonymously, Bear. I'll let you know if I'm going to be in Orlando.

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  17. It wouldn't have occurred to me, either, but the dictionary says it's so. Now I understand better why perfection is so hard to achieve. The ambiguity of government regulations make the standards impossible to define.

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  18. Yes, you can believe it was Matthew Arnold -- although it doesn't seem that he's usually quite so dreary. Here's two which are somewhat related to today's word:

    “Culture is properly described as the love of perfection; it is a study of perfection.”

    "The pursuit of perfection, then, is the pursuit of sweetness and light".

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