Near-wisdom from the ages. Because people never change. Follow @shallowsage var addthis_config = {"data_track_clickback":true}; var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-16706473-5']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Tumblr (3.0; @shallowsage)http://shallowsage.com/<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lywb8kXU3S1qbzunao1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Sometimes it was hard to know.</p> <p><em>Gerard Terborch, 1665</em></p>http://shallowsage.com/post/17281446877http://shallowsage.com/post/17281446877Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:00:05 -0500loud neighborslolcomicartpaintingclassical art<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lywb53DJUm1qbzunao1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Breakfast was such a disappointment.</p> <p><em>Hans Baldung Grien, 1513</em></p>http://shallowsage.com/post/17116911825http://shallowsage.com/post/17116911825Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:08:06 -0500artpaintingclassical artbreakfasthumorcomic<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyw98mVquA1qbzunao1_r2_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>The audience cheered his devotion to his principles.</p> <p><em>Salomon Koninck, 1647-49</em></p>http://shallowsage.com/post/17060541832http://shallowsage.com/post/17060541832Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:26:00 -0500Rick Santorumfree markethealthcarecomichumor<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxx9gj3hUy1qbzunao1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><em>Jacques-Louis David, 1774</em></p>http://shallowsage.com/post/16027201486http://shallowsage.com/post/16027201486Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:50:05 -0500dressfashionJacques-Louis DavidArtcomicsclassical art1700s<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxx8tmGqTK1qbzunao1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>People often found it difficult to understand how impressed they should be.</p> <p><em>Eeckhout, 1652</em></p>http://shallowsage.com/post/15986592862http://shallowsage.com/post/15986592862Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:41:46 -0500bloggingbloggersbad pickup linesartclassical artcomichumor<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxstdjCMSp1qbzunao1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Inconsiderate roommates were always ruining his things.</p> <p>Giuseppe Arcimboldo, 1545</p>http://shallowsage.com/post/15847848279http://shallowsage.com/post/15847848279Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:03:00 -0500roommatesapartmentdormdomestichumorlolclassical artcomics<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxsr83V5Uz1qbzunao1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Unbeknownst to him, the messiness was intended to be part of the charm.</p> <p><em>Domenico Ghirlandaio, 1486-90</em></p>http://shallowsage.com/post/15831070768http://shallowsage.com/post/15831070768Sat, 14 Jan 2012 11:31:14 -0500burritoschipotlefast foodlolhumorcomicartpaintings<a href="http://sagequotes.tumblr.com/">quotes</a>: <p>I’ve been more than a little remiss in posting new work to this site for months and months now.</p> <p>But this week I’ve added a companion site to it, “<a href="http://sagequotes.tumblr.com/">quotes</a>.”</p> <p>I have no idea why. But it was a wise decision, I’m sure.</p> <p>—Shallow Sage</p>http://shallowsage.com/post/15808727749http://shallowsage.com/post/15808727749Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:35:07 -0500quotes<p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://shallowsage.com/post/2186219675/hello-ive-recently-been-cat-sitting-for-my-brother">Anonymous asked: Hello.  I’ve recently been cat-sitting for my brother.  While I’ve always regarded the cat as a jerk and held it in quite low esteem, Lately I’ve had to intentionally incite the cat to anger in order to punish it, and thus get it to leave me alone.  Is there any way I can effectively deal with it, while retaining my sense of moral superiority over the cat?</a></p> <blockquote> <p>Cats were domesticated by the ancient Egyptians, who we can thank for their morally superior attitude. Herodotus tells of an Egyptian crowd so enraged by a Roman chariot running over a cat, that they attacked and killed the driver. Incidents like this likely contributed to its lofty self-image.</p> <p>You are not alone in your dislike of the feline.  For example, the skillful lawmaker Pope Gregory IX also held cats in low esteem. During his papacy he declared that the cat was both a symbol and a form of the devil, setting off a cat-killing frenzy. </p> <p><img height="260" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Gregory_IX_bas-relief_in_the_U.S._House_of_Representatives_chamber.jpg" width="200"/><em>  Relief of Pope Gregory IX, US Congress</em></p> <p><span>On the other hand, we remember him today for the Inquisition, attempts to enslave Jews, and for being called the Antichrist by contemporaries. Also, his extermination of cats is credited for an explosion in the rat population that hastened the spread of the Black Death, killing half the population of Europe.</span></p> <p>We see different lessons in other societies. Similar stories are told of the Chinese Emperor Shih Huang Ti and the prophet Muhammad, who, upon finding a cat sleeping on his robe, went on and did not wake it, demonstrating sympathy even for annoying creatures. In ancient Indian writings, Hindus were expected to care for at least one cat in their lifetime; perhaps this taught patience.</p> <p>It is said that cats are excellent judges of character. Consider this carefully, for it may lead you to the root of your difficulties; your struggles with this cat can teach you patience and understanding.</p> <p>—Shallow Sage</p> <p><em>(<a href="http://shallowsage.tumblr.com/ask">Click the “Ask” button for our Sage Advice</a>)</em></p> </blockquote>http://shallowsage.com/post/15800490798http://shallowsage.com/post/15800490798Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:53:29 -0500Man's Best Friendscatsanimalsfriday the 13thblack cats<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lr0sn8iVqT1qj2iubo1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lr0sn8iVqT1qj2iubo2_400.jpg"/><br/> <br/>http://shallowsage.com/post/10789348018http://shallowsage.com/post/10789348018Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:22:15 -0400<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lqev8bYRBg1qbzunao1_r1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>He was actually running less often now, due to his frustration with the technology.</p> <p><em>Marcantonio Bassetti, c.1620s</em></p>http://shallowsage.com/post/9428674564http://shallowsage.com/post/9428674564Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:14:00 -0400artnike+runningrenaissanceworkoutnano<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpwazg6dwH1qbzunao1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>This was no way to run a coffee shop.</p> <p><em>Pieter Aertsen, 1560s</em></p>http://shallowsage.com/post/9346092465http://shallowsage.com/post/9346092465Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:00:06 -0400artrenaissancecoffeelattestarbucks<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpwb59waIf1qbzunao1_r1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>He never did any work after lunch anyway.</p> <p><em>Andrea da Firenze 1365-68</em></p>http://shallowsage.com/post/9304921022http://shallowsage.com/post/9304921022Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:01:00 -0400artcomichumorlolpaintingworknapmedieval<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lqb3tftZal1qbzunao1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>They always seemed to strike him at the most inopportune times.</p> <p><em>Lazzaro Baldi, 1600s</em></p>http://shallowsage.com/post/9263462522http://shallowsage.com/post/9263462522Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:01:06 -0400crampbedinterruptedartlolcomichumorrenaissance<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpwax7UUnV1qbzunao1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Why couldn’t she just text and drive like everybody else?</p> <p><em>Pieter Aertsen, 1500s</em></p>http://shallowsage.com/post/9214384110http://shallowsage.com/post/9214384110Sun, 21 Aug 2011 14:00:06 -0400textingfirstworldproblemsartrenaissance<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpwb9qoE0Z1qbzunao1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>He was a tough critic, but it was obvious to everyone that she wasn’t putting much effort into it.</p> <p><em>Andrea da Firenze 1365-68</em></p>http://shallowsage.com/post/9172232575http://shallowsage.com/post/9172232575Sat, 20 Aug 2011 14:11:05 -0400artmusicmedievallolcomic<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpwbfoZpPh1qbzunao1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>How many times can one re-read the same magazines?</p> <p><em>Eugène Delacroix, 1839</em></p>http://shallowsage.com/post/9135446932http://shallowsage.com/post/9135446932Fri, 19 Aug 2011 17:01:06 -0400artneo-classicalpaintingslolipodsmartphones<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpwbcoReXj1qbzunao1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>At least that’s what the ladies told him.</p> <p><em>Andrea Appiani, c.1800</em></p>http://shallowsage.com/post/9092809335http://shallowsage.com/post/9092809335Thu, 18 Aug 2011 17:00:05 -0400artneoclassicalpaintingscomiclol“<p>Article XXXI: Whether I stole Laurie’s apple juice during nap time?</p> <p>Objection I: It would seem that I stole Laurie’s apple juice during nap time. For it was said: “Thomas, go sit in the corner. And say you’re sorry to Laurie for drinking her juice” (Miss Ellen).</p> <p>Objection II: Further, once in the corner, I wedgied Billy and made him eat glue.</p> <p>On the contrary, it is written: “Share everything” (that poster on the wall, right above the carpet where Billy puked up the glue).</p> <p>I answer that we all have to share like it says on the poster. Firstly, because Holy Writ says so: “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Also, everyone has to share because sometimes they have lots of something (juice, for example) that they never even drink and that someone else (me, for example) wants. When I play with my blocks, Miss Ellen makes me share with that Greek Orthodox kid, even though they’re my blocks and he picks his nose and smells and is dumb. Hence, I should get to have juice when I’m thirsty. For the best part about school is the juice (except on Fridays when we get chocolate milk).</p> <p>Reply to Objection I: If I have to share my blocks with a smelly nose-picker, then Laurie has to share her juice. I was only sharing her juice, just like the poster says. For the poster says to share everything, and “everything” includes juice. Hence, Miss Ellen shouldn’t have made me sit in the corner.</p> <p>Reply to Objection II: He started it.</p>”<br/><br/> - <em><a href="http://www.thebigjewel.com/thomas-aquinass-childhood-journal-excerpts/">Thomas Aquinas’s Childhood Journal (Excerpts) at The Big Jewel</a> (via <a href="http://ayjay.tumblr.com/">ayjay</a>)</em>http://shallowsage.com/post/9049363979http://shallowsage.com/post/9049363979Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:31:00 -0400thomas aquinaskidslolphilosophy<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpwb1uxwdK1qbzunao1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><em>Albrecht Altdorfer, 1510</em></p>http://shallowsage.com/post/9012031306http://shallowsage.com/post/9012031306Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:00:05 -0400artpaintingfreaky little people