You know what annoys me?

I've always been a fan of the natural wit of others. Dandies such as Oscar Wilde and cynics like Twain left behind multitudes of quick quips and smart sayings that amuse me to read and regurgitate. It's a vice of mine, I know.

It starts to bother me, however, when someone is wholly and obtrusively unnatural with it. Take for example Robert Byrne. Freshman year of high school I picked up a book called the 5000 and some odd number best things ever said, by Robert Byrne. I think you'll be hard pressed to comprehend the excitement this brought me. I experienced the biggest let down, however, when I leafed across page after page of mediocre phrases and observations. The part that REALLY got to me, however, was the fact the Byrne often quoted himself- either directly or by hsi initials (I guess hoping no one would catch on). Maybe it's just me, but I hardly believe that someone composing a book of collected quotes is objective when it comes to including his/her own. Sure, I may have thought it hillarious(!!) when I said something, but I'm not going to lable it as one of the best things ever said, nor publish my own book just so that I can gain publicity for it.

And the last time that I checked, being a "self-quoter" was not an ocupation, moreso when you are far from quotable.

His "best" quotes are compiled here- not by himself, surprisingly.
http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Robert_Byrne

Ironic, I suppose, that my favorite quote speaks of not quoting others, but thinking for oneself. Dostevsky, Crime and Punishment, Chapter 15:

"What do you think?" shouted Razumihin, louder than ever, "you think I am attacking them for talking nonsense? Not a bit! I like them to talk nonsense. That's man's one privilege over all creation. Through error you come to the truth! I am a man because I err! You never reach any truth without making fourteen mistakes and very likely a hundred and fourteen. And a fine thing, too, in its way; but we can't even make mistakes on our own account! Talk nonsense, but talk your own nonsense, and I'll kiss you for it. To go wrong in one's own way is better than to go right in someone else's. In the first case you are a man, in the second you're no better than a bird. Truth won't escape you, but life can be cramped. There have been examples. And what are we doing now? In science, development, thought, invention, ideals, aims, liberalism, judgment, experience and everything, everything, everything, we are still in the preparatory class at school. We prefer to live on other people's ideas, it's what we are used to! Am I right, am I right?"