Harvey

I stayed home sick from work today. Luckily, I recently got some new DVD's to help wile away the hours. Although I did catch some of the new Let's Make a Deal and The Price is Right. But there was no way I could sit through another judge so-and-so or a soap opera.

Anyway, one of the movies I put in was Harvey, starring Jimmy Stewart. I have to say that in many ways Elwood P Dowd is my hero. One line that has always stuck with me, ever since the first time I watched the movie was about advice that Elwood got from his mother:

'Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, "In this world, Elwood, you must be" - she always called me Elwood - "In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant." Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.' -- Elwood P Dowd (Harvey 1950).

Of course, it is really the entire character that I enjoyed. Perhaps its the naivete that gets to me, the simple natured man who won't see the bad in people. Someone who goes through life being friendly to strangers.

In a former life I collected quotes, that is to say I used to, but have fallen out of the habit. Another quote from Harvey that I found very interesting is when he is explaining what he does. He and Harvey sit at the bar and talk to people:

They tell about the big terrible things they've done and the big wonderful things they'll do. Their hopes, and their regrets, and their loves, and their hates. All very large, because nobody ever brings anything small into a bar.

Of course, there is a lot of philosophy to be found at the bottom of a whiskey glass.