Raging bull in victory or retreating mouse in defeat

In Bolt's play "A Man for All Seasons," one of the characters (the "common man") shows his disdain for heroism, saying "Better a live rat than a dead lion."

I couldn't disagree with him more. Dead lion all the way.
 
"The coward believes he will live forever
If he holds back in the battle,
But in old age he shall have no peace
Though spears have spared his limbs"


A man should be humble in victory and resolute in defeat

Sarge
 
Kevin the grey said:
How can I add anything to that ?
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The bit in quotes is from the old Norse text "Havamal". Good stuff in there, some of it would be viewed askance in this "modern" age, but truth is a sword that always cuts, no matter how badly we sometimes allow it to rust.

Sarge
 
Here's a good little story that always makes me smile.

"King Hsuan of Chou heard of Po Kung-i, who was reputed to be the strongest man in his kingdom. The king was dismayed when they met, since Po looked so weak. When the King asked Po how strong he was, Po said mildly, "I can break the leg of a spring grasshopper and withstand the wings of an autumn cicada." Aghast, the King thundered, "I can tear rhinoceros leather and drag nine buffaloes by the tail, yet I am shamed by my weakness. How can you be famous?" Po smiled and answered quietly, "My teacher was Tzu Shang-chi'ui, whose strength was without peer in the world, but even his relatives never knew it because he never used it."
-Anonymous [from Hyams, Joe. Zen in the Martial Arts. New York: Bantam Books, 1979]
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I would rather be a sniper than a Rambo.

I heard that a sniper was interviewed and asked what he felt when he shot a terrorist. He replied simply, "Recoil."
 
Astrodada said:
Raging bull in victory or retreating mouse in defeat

Which of you'd rather be. Or which of you'd be prefered in God's eyes?
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I'd rather be a Raging Mouse in victory than a retreating bull in defeat.:thumbup: ;) :D
 
Can you imagine a world with no rhetorical questions? :o

Good to see you back, AstroD. You were gone for a while.


Mike
 
Astrodada said:
Which of you'd rather be. Or which of you'd be prefered in God's eyes?
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I think that God loves both. Just be true to what you are and do your best to love back.
 
I wanna be Samwise Gamgee, or...

Bob Costas, or...

Michael Jordan in just one of the Championship games, or...

that old guy you see in the north woods communities, holding hands with his wife of 40 years and laughing about stuff, with a bouncy dog checking things out and then swinging back to know they are still there.
 
If you ever tried to put me into words it would have to be "berserker" I tend to go nut's when I'm pushed to the wall.

And my answer to that old song "Live by the sword,die by the sword" to which I say "then I shall die with a sword in my hand and standing on my two feet" :thumbup:
 
Krull said:
...And my answer to that old song "Live by the sword,die by the sword" to which I say "then I shall die with a sword in my hand and standing on my two feet" :thumbup:
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Song? Unless Iv hit my head one too many times, I believe that quote is from the Bible and was used to infer something similar to "What goes around comes around" and "do unto others...". But maybee you were being sarcastic? I cant tell anymore :D .

In answering the topic at hand, im rather confused. I dont think either are good things to be. A bull, while powefull, is blinded by his own rage and as such is fairly useless. The mouse, while focused, is not capable of much beyond chewing holes in things and as such is also fairly useless.

The short answer is taht i wouldnt want to be either. :D
 
After hours,
close the store,
kill the lights,
lock the door.

The walls and floors all come alive
as mice and rats and roaches thrive,
hunting for a midnight snack,
knowing no one's coming back.

Running over shelf and table,
as only tiny feet are able,
sink and counter marked with tracks
as they leap from bakery racks.

In the morning, not a trace
of vermin all around the place.
 
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