Space Western - Need Quotes For The Wise Book of Acumen

S

Solomani666

Mongoose
What would a Western be like without some good ol' Bible thumpin' and a preacher spittin' out hellfire and damnation?

Well I did not want to really go into a religion in my Loneseda Western campaign because the full pool of players have like 5 religions among them: A Jew, a JW, a Catholic, a Protestant, and 2 Muslims. A preacher spoutin' Bible verses verses during the game probably would not sit well with 3 of the players, and definitely not with 2 of the players.

I was left with either making up a religion (lite) or dropping it from the campaign entirely.

Fortunately Alex_Greene came to my rescue and suggested a book on 'philosophy', with quotes from famous people in past history. He even suggested that Spock be quoted and that there might be some debate as to whether he was a living person or not. I intend to exploit this debate and have a philosophical confrontation during some point in the campaign.


Acumenites follow the "Wise Book of Acumen" or "The Acumen" for short.
The Acumen is a collection of wise saying from all over known space, with some quotes said to even predate the history of Humaniti.

All Acumenites share the same general philosophical beliefs with the exception on how the Book of Spock is interpreted:

Roddenberryians - Believe that Spock was a pseudonym for several authors.
Nimoydians - Believe that Spock was a pseudonym for a single author.

Both Roddenberryians and Nimodians agree that Spock was almost certainly a fictitious character. The single minor difference between the two usually only comes up between philosophical scholars doing research or between really drunk people talking about philosophy. Both simply call themselves Acumenites.

Vulcanians - Believe that Spock was a real person. Believe that emotions are the only true evil in the world and that all people should follow a path of pure reason and logic. Believe that anything that might stir up ones emotions is evil (most music, movies, a low cut dress, alcohol, etc.) Believe that the Book of Spock is the supreme book of the Acumen and the key to unlocking the secrets of the other books. Believe that humans with naturally pointed ears are further evolved and superior to humans with less pointed ears. Believe that all people and philosophies that doubt the existence of Spock as having been a real person are heretics and will never achieve 'Pure Thought' or 'Clarity of Mind'.

Vulcanians represent less than 1/10000 of Acumenites. And often go on missionary missions in large groups to bring the 'Thoughts of Spock' to the emotional round-eared rabble. I plan to have maybe a group of 50 visit Loneseda sometime in the future.


I can use some help gathering quotes from various people real or fictional or good ones you made up yourself. I need quotes that are:

Wise
Wise and funny
Practical or everyday wisdom.
Fire and brimstone type.
Rhyme

If at all possible, please name the author. I especially need quotes for Spock (Either things he did say or something that sounds like he would say it) and Grandfather



Every adventure will start with quote from the Acumen relating to that adventure.

The Preacher NPC will be all fire and brimstone from the book of Acumen. All about how your evil deeds come back to bite you in the ass and haunt your dreams at night etc.

The Deputy PC-NPC will constantly quote from the book of Acumen.
(Marshal and deputy staring at a dead man in a pit) "Jack 5:12 says look before you leap. I reckin' Marshal, that he leaped first and then looked after."


Thanks for all of your help.





I started to gather some possible quotes for the book:


WISE BOOK OF ACUMEN

Grandfather 1:1

Norris 2:5 “Men are like steel. When they lose their temper, they lose their worth.”

Schwarzenegger 1:5 "Even heroes have limits."
Schwarzenegger 2:12 "Anything that bleeds, can be killed."

Franklin 22:7 "To save a credit is to earn a credit."

Spock 3:5 "Live long and prosper."

King 3:33 "While evil men plot, good men must plan."

King 5:21 "We shall have to repent in this generation , not so much for the evil deeds of the wicked people, but for the appalling silence of the good people."

Allen 1:7 "I don't want to achieve immortality through my work... I want to achieve it through not dying."

Allen 2:3 "It seemed the world was divided into good and bad people. The good ones slept better... while the bad ones seemed to enjoy the waking hours much more."

Allen 4:8 "You can live to be a two hundred if you give up all the things that make you want to live to be two hundred."

Allen 5:22 "More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly."

Jefferson 1:1
 
Asimov 15:2 "Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent."

Brin 2:12 "A mind that's afraid to toy with the ridiculous will never come up with the brilliantly original."

Clarke 4:17 "Human judges can show mercy. But against the laws of nature, there is no appeal."

Heinlein 6:04 "Age is not an accomplishment, and youth is not a sin."

Piper 5:78 "Keep a goverment poor and weak and it's your servant; when it is rich and powerful it becomes your master."

Vance 12:22 "I challenge Destiny, yes, but I do not leap off cliffs."
 
Select Quotes from the Book of Wayne (John)

1.8 Courage is being scared to death... and saddling up anyway.

1.9 Life is hard; it's harder if you're stupid.

3.3 Talk low, talk slow and don't say too much.

4.1 Tomorrow hopes we have learned something from yesterday.

5.5 If you've got them by the balls their hearts and minds will follow.

5.6 "All battles are fought by scared men who'd rather be some place else."
 
Here is a website of Liberty Quotes (Mainly all American ones)

http://www.isil.org/resources/quotes-liberty.html

Dave Chase
 
You could open it up to include the Prophets of the Ancients in addition to the philosophers others have suggested. Sadly, many of the prophets' verses have been lost to us, but much of their wisdom still remains.

Kansas (as related in tri-syllable by their truest prophet, the Solomani Prophet Ted Theodore Logan):
"Dust.Wind.Dude."

(ed: Logan is traditionally credited with the saying, "Be excellent to each other and party on!", but scholars debate the validity of this attribution.)

Floyd Rosa:
"All you touch and all you see is all your life will ever be."
"When you lose control, you'll reap the harvest you have sown."

(The Solomani prophet Floyd Rosa appears to have been something of a "Renaissance Man" of the day. In addition to manufacturing parts for an ancient musical instrument known as the electric sitar, he produced a great many audio and visual records (some of dubious philosophical significance) and a few allegorical histories of the many fascist and socialist revolutions which were rampant in his time period before settling into writing laments and political satire. Unfortunately, the historical record is far from clear, and many scholars do not accept certain works into the Corpus Rosa.)

Sen Dee Lapiir (believed to have been a Geonee Prophet), translated to Galanglic from the traditional Vilani:
"Dearest Father, your [primacy in all things] is assured
Yet maidens [by their inherent nature] will seek [irresponsible diversions]."
(ed: it's more lyrical in the original Vilani.)
 
Quoted (or misquoted) song lyrics might be an amusing source -

McCartney 3:18 - "There will be an answer, let it be"
 
Longish post, pun intended ... Heinlein gave a lot of time and thought to the aphorisms of one Lazarus Long, in the form of his Notebooks.

Some of his more pertinent ones follow ...

Always store beer in a dark place.

By the data to date, there is only one animal in the Galaxy dangerous to man--man himself. So he must supply his own indispensable competition. He has no enemy to help him.

Certainly the game is rigged. Don’t let that stop you; if you don’t bet, you can’t win.

Always listen to experts. They’ll tell you what can’t be done and why. Then do it!

Get a shot off fast. This upsets him long enough to let you make your second shot perfect.

There is no conclusive evidence of life after death. But there is no evidence of any sort against it. Soon enough you will know. So why fret about it?

A generation which ignores history has no past—and no future.

A poet who reads his verse in public may have other nasty habits.

It’s amazing how much “mature wisdom” resembles being too tired.

If you don’t like yourself, you can’t like other people.

Your enemy is never a villain in his own eyes. Keep this in mind; it may offer a way to make him your friend. If not, you can kill him without hate--and quickly.

A motion to adjourn is always in order.

No state has an inherent right to survive through conscript troops and, in the long run, no state ever has. Roman matrons used to say to their sons: “Come back with your shield, or on it.” Later on this custom declined. So did Rome.

A brute kills for pleasure. A fool kills from hate.

When the need arises--and it does--you must be able too shoot your own dog. Don’t farm it out--that doesn’t make it nicer, it makes it worse.

Never appeal to a man’s “better nature.” He may not have one. Invoking his “self—interest” gives you more leverage.

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don’t ever count on having both at once.

Avoid making irrevocable decisions while tired or hungry. N.B.: Circumstances can force your hand. So think ahead!

Place your clothes and weapons where you can find them in the dark.

When a place gets crowded enough to require ID’s, social collapse is not far away. It is time to go elsewhere. The best thing about space travel is that it made it possible to go elsewhere.

A woman is not property, and husbands who think otherwise are living in a dreamworld.

Courage is the compliment of fear. A man who is fearless cannot be courageous. (He is also a fool.)

The two highest achievements of the human mind are the twin concepts of “loyalty” and “duty.” Whenever these twin concepts fall into disrepute--get out of there fast. You may possibly save yourself, but it is too late to save that society. It is doomed.

People who go broke in a big way never miss any meals. It is the poor jerk who is shy half a slug who must tighten his belt.

The truth of a proposition has nothing to do with its credibility. And vice versa.

Moving parts in rubbing contact require lubrication to avoid excessive wear. Honorifics and formal politeness provide lubrication where people rub together. Often the very young, the untraveled, the naive, the unsophisticated deplore these formalities as “empty,” “meaningless,” or “dishonest,” and scorn to use them. No matter how “pure” their motives, they thereby throw sand into machinery that does not work too well at best.

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects!

Everybody lies about sex.

Taxes are not levied for the benefit of the taxed.

When a ship lifts, all bills are paid. No regrets.

A competent and self confident person is incapable of jealousy in anything. Jealousy is invariably a symptom of neurotic insecurity.

You live and learn. Or you don’t live long.

Peace is an extension of war by political means. Plenty of elbowroom is pleasanter--and much safer.

One man’s “magic” is another man’s engineering. “Supernatural” is a null word.

The phrase “we (I) (you) simply must--”designates something that need not be done. “That goes without saying” is a red warning. “Of course” means you had best check it yourself. These small--change cliches and others like them, when read correctly, are reliable channel markers.

Do not handicap your children by making their lives easy.

Never underestimate the power of human stupidity!

Sovereign ingredient for a happy marriage: Pay cash or do without. Interest charges not only eat up a household budget; awareness of debt eats up domestic felicity.

Another ingredient for a happy marriage: Budget the luxuries first!

And still another-- See to it that she has her own desk--then keep your hands off it!

And another--In a family argument, if it turns out you are right--apologize at once!

To stay young requires unceasing cultivation of the ability to unlearn old falsehoods.

Money is truthful. If a man speaks of his honor, make him pay cash.

Never frighten a little man. He’ll kill you.

Only a sadistic scoundrel--or a fool--tells the bald truth on social occasions.

In handling a stinging insect, move very slowly.

To be “matter of fact” about the world is to blunder into fantasy--and dull fantasy at that, as the real world is strange and wonderful.

Secrecy is the beginning of tyranny.

Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors--and miss.

Yield to temptation; it may not pass your way again

Waking a person unnecessarily should not be considered a capital crime. For a first offense, that is.

Natural laws have no pity.

Freedom begins when you tell Mrs. Grundy to go fly a kite.

If “everybody knows” such-and-such, then it ain’t so, by at least ten thousand to one.

Sin lies only in hurting other people unnecessarily. All other sins are invented nonsense. (Hurting yourself is not sinful--just stupid.)

You can go wrong by being too skeptical as readily as by being too trusting.

Formal courtesy between husband and wife is even more important than it is between strangers.

Anything free is worth what you pay for it.

Don’t store garlic near other victuals.

Climate is what we expect; weather is what we get.

Don’t try to have the last word. You might get it.

As for the Sermons of Spock ... I had an image of the ol' preacher standing at the pulpit, looking down at all these folks in their Sunday best, all the women in their pretty floral bonnets, delivering the benediction.

Cant: "The needs of the many outweigh ..."

Response: "The needs of the few."

Preacher: "Or the one."

Cant: "I have been, and always shall be, your friend."

Response: "Live long and prosper."
 
Acumenites follow the "Wise Book of Acumen" or "The Acumen" for short.
The Acumen is a collection of wise saying from all over known space, with some quotes said to even predate the history of Humaniti.
Click to expand...
So essentially this, then....

From 'the rules of gunfights', attributed to the semi-mythical Doctor Holliday.

The Book of Doc Holliday:

a) Never bring a knife to a gunfight

b) Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Ammo is cheap. Your life is expensive.

c) Someday someone may kill you with your own gun, but they should have to beat you to death with it because it should be empty.

d) Always cheat; always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose

e) Always have a plan.

f) Always have a plan B, because plan A won't work

g) Plan B always sucks. It's the universe's way of reminding you why it wasn't plan A.

g) Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet.
 
Parker 1:17
"No one ever teaches you the really important things in life.
Like how to smoke a cigarette in the rain, or what a woman really means when she says yes.
There are some things you just need to figure out for yourself."
 
For the Marshal's deputy....

Book (Shepherd) 1:15 "True, The Almighty Word says "Thou Shalt not kill"; but its mighty gray on arms and legs though." (after shooting some loudmouth down to earth in the leg)

Cogburn (Rooster) 1: 4-7 As I approached the outlaw party that outnumbered me four to my one, I stated in a loud voice, "I've no quarrel with you (plural), today! You (plural) can all ride on out just easy as you please." When they declined my generous offer of truce and took side with their leader, I stated, "Have it your way." After some belligerence and tall talk from their leader, I drew rifle and pistol and declared they should "Fill (their) hands!"(when facing a hostile bunch that outnumbers the Marshal and himself)

Big Jake 2: 1 "I didn't come here to talk. I came here to get whats mine back." (Any Hostage crises)

Jayne the Misspoken 4: 3 "This place gives me an uncomfortableness." (Any crime scene where there's a lot of blood and hardly a trace of the body)
 
Touching back to Solomani666's original post, there is a minor sect, possibly considered apostate or heretical, that hold, with the Vulcanians, that Spock was a real person, but do not go as far as to say that emotion is evil. Rather, their holding is that emotions are real, and valid, and must be accepted and mastered - acknowledged and used, rather than denied and suppressed - to allow a person to move past them and apply reason and logic to a situation.

Spock 17:4 (possibly apocryphal) "One does not get the elephant out of the room by denying that it is in the room."
 
hdan said:
Floyd Rosa:
"All you touch and all you see is all your life will ever be."
"When you lose control, you'll reap the harvest you have sown."

(The Solomani prophet Floyd Rosa appears to have been something of a "Renaissance Man" of the day. In addition to manufacturing parts for an ancient musical instrument known as the electric sitar, he produced a great many audio and visual records (some of dubious philosophical significance) and a few allegorical histories of the many fascist and socialist revolutions which were rampant in his time period before settling into writing laments and political satire. Unfortunately, the historical record is far from clear, and many scholars do not accept certain works into the Corpus Rosa.)
Click to expand...

I believe there is a long standing schizm between the Waters and Gilmore sects of the Floyd Rosa, stemming from a complex philosophical argument around ones place in society, and if, when all is said and done, one is really just another individual element of a longer, linear barrier.

hdan said:
Sen Dee Lapiir (believed to have been a Geonee Prophet), translated to Galanglic from the traditional Vilani:
"Dearest Father, your [primacy in all things] is assured
Yet maidens [by their inherent nature] will seek [irresponsible diversions]."
(ed: it's more lyrical in the original Vilani.)
Click to expand...

lol - very good.
 
Solomani666 said:
Vulcanians - Believe that Spock was a real person. Believe that emotions are the only true evil in the world and that all people should follow a path of pure reason and logic. Believe that anything that might stir up ones emotions is evil (most music, movies, a low cut dress, alcohol, etc.) Believe that the Book of Spock is the supreme book of the Acumen and the key to unlocking the secrets of the other books. Believe that humans with naturally pointed ears are further evolved and superior to humans with less pointed ears. Believe that all people and philosophies that doubt the existence of Spock as having been a real person are heretics and will never achieve 'Pure Thought' or 'Clarity of Mind'.

Vulcanians represent less than 1/10000 of Acumenites. And often go on missionary missions in large groups to bring the 'Thoughts of Spock' to the emotional round-eared rabble. I plan to have maybe a group of 50 visit Loneseda sometime in the future.
Click to expand...

Lord help the poor Darrian Tourist or Darrian merchanter in port th' day that lot arrives! :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:



:lol:
 
Don't forget the Book of Bubba

Bubba 5:25: And verily I say unto you, I looked upon my brothers face, and did proclaim loudly and with much mirth in a mighty voice "Hold my beer...and watch what I am about to do."
 
The Jackson Bible (selected quotes, I could take all day on this one)

The Book of Flynn "Enough is enough! I have had it with these m*****f*****g snakes on this m*****f*****g plane!"

The Book of Lazarus: "God put you in my path and I aim to cure you of your wicked ways."

The Book of Winfield: "If my answers frighten you then you should cease asking scary questions."

The Book of Winfield: "Giving a girl a foot massage and sticking your tongue in the holiest of holies is not the same thing."

The Book of Ezekiel 25:17 "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee." (aka the Pre-Execution Sermon)

The Book of Windu "You refer to the prophecy of The One, who will bring balance to the Force. You believe it's this boy?"

The Book of Price "Now that we know who you are, I know who I am."

The Book of Price: "One of us has made a gross error, and wasted the other person's valuable time. "

The Book of Price: "Do you know what the scariest thing is? To not know your place in this world, to not know why you're here. "

The Book of Hennesey: "I never did one thing right in my life, you know that? Not one. That takes skill."

The Book of Shaft: "It's my duty to please that booty!"
 
Solomani666 said:
A preacher spoutin' Bible verses verses during the game probably would not sit well with 3 of the players, and definitely not with 2 of the players.
Click to expand...

Why? Are they that intolerant of another belief? Or can they not suspend their belief to enjoy the encounter with the preacher? What will happen, will they argue with the NPC in character? Or refuse to acknowledge that religion exists in the future.

It completely and utterly baffles me, it really does .... :?: :?:
 
Mithras said:
Solomani666 said:
A preacher spoutin' Bible verses verses during the game probably would not sit well with 3 of the players, and definitely not with 2 of the players.
Click to expand...

Why? Are they that intolerant of another belief? Or can they not suspend their belief to enjoy the encounter with the preacher? What will happen, will they argue with the NPC in character? Or refuse to acknowledge that religion exists in the future.

It completely and utterly baffles me, it really does .... :?: :?:
Click to expand...

I get it - Since the NPC isn't a real person with a real faith, and any views "espoused" by the NPC are actually coming from the mind of the GM, one could easily interpret what's going on as the GM mocking preachers.

I would find it amusing, but then again, irreverence doesn't rub me the wrong way. I know it does bother some people though. Obviously you know your friends better than any of us do.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

P
Efficient space only freighter design
7 8 9
Replies
171
Views
4K
Nelphine
N
B
The way the Deep and the Dark was set up
Replies
0
Views
384
Brian
B
V
Origin of Sentience for jump space
2
Replies
36
Views
1K
Condottiere
C
S
The Premises of Traveller: 0. Introduction
Replies
5
Views
502
Geir
Geir
G
Mercenaries in The Deep and the Dark
Replies
0
Views
531
Garnfellow
G
Back
Top