Quotations marked.

Winston Churchill once said: “It is a good thing for an uneducated man to read books of quotations. The quotations, when engraved upon the memory, give you good thoughts. They also make you anxious to read the authors and look for more.”

I'd like to say that is why I am drawn to quotes, why I collect quotes, and often speak in quotes, but I don't think it would be true. I think my love comes mostly from that dweeby little gumboot-wearing Monty Python nerd that lurks down inside me. The 'Constitutional Peasant' from Monty Python and the Holy Grail is the first slab of text I remember intentionally committing to memory; listening over and over to my audio cassette version of 'The final rip-off.' I'm not sure if that's quite what Churchill had in mind, but close enough. The movies and TV shows of today may not be as venerable as the works of Wordsworth or Keats, but they can bring great pleasure nonetheless.

As near as I can tell, people who engage in verbatim regurgitation (if it’s not against their principles) do so for one of three reasons:

Out of insecurity. If you've got nothing worthwhile of your own to say, referencing the wit and wisdom of others can be a great shortcut to appearing both wise and witty yourself. Unless of course you're sprung reading from a list of quotes and trying to pass them off as your own.

Out of a desire to belong. Rattling off some obscure line from some obscure source and having someone follow up with the next line is like some sort of secret handshake, a sign that you're like-minded and in the know.

Out of a love for simple pleasures. Reciting your favourite quotes is like humming a favourite tune. It's a simple way of enjoying the form the words create, and recalling the pleasure they brought the first time you met.

I put myself squarely in the third category. During any activity where the mind can wander, I like to amble through my favourite scenes, seeing how far I can get before my memory fails. I also fall a fair bit into the second group, too, I must say. Especially when JJ is around, as it's a rare ball I can throw up that he can't knock down, which I do greatly enjoy. And, if I'm being completely honest, I'd have to say that I am not and nor have I ever been a member the first group. Definitely not. No.

Compulsive quoting, while generally harmless and safe for children, can lead to troubles. The line between your thoughts and the thoughts of others can begin to blur, and it's never a good thing to reveal to a loved one that that well-received expression of love and devotion you just delivered was actually a quote from The Simpsons. Too much quoting can also lead to a Crying Wolf type situation where people assume everything you say is just a quote, which is particularly frustrating on those (admittedly rare) occasions when I happen to craft a diamond of my own: “What’s that from?” they'll ask. "From me! Glory be! Credit where credit's due, please." And of course there's the problem of quoting in mixed company, when some people might know what you're getting at, but others don't, which can be quite excluding. I do try to be careful and select my audience, but sometimes I just can't help it. It's a reflex, like swatting at a fly. Someone on the teev says, "Come with me," and I'll say "If you want to live." Stimulus, response. I'll even put on the Schwarzenegger voice.

Anyway, the point of all this is if you think I'm annoying, I'm here to tell you things could be a whole lot worse. I've just learned of Danielle Freakley, The Quote Generator. As a part of her PhD thesis apparently, she will spend the next three years conversing in nothing but quotes. Three years. Did I mention three years? There are a few barley zones (at home, during work, etc), but otherwise her side of every conversation will be composed entirely of referenced quotes. I heard her interviewed by Triple J (the radio station, not the big guy who comments on this blog), with the conversation running along these lines:

Robbie Buck: Why are you doing this?
Danielle Freakly: You met me at a very strange time in my life. Fight Club, 1999.
RB: And do you get negative reactions when people discover what you're doing?
DF: Yes. Optus, 1999.
RB: And does that discourage you, make you want to stop?
DF: I don't think so, Tim. Home Improvement, 1991-1999.

Etc, etc. It was strange, but quite fun... and she's got three years to go. I wonder if the novelty will have worn off by then? She seemed to converse quite easily, with only the odd hesitation while she tried to dredge up an appropriate quote, and her range was quite impressive. Although if she does get stuck or finds herself at a loss, she could always take a leaf out of George Bernard Shaw's book, who said: "I often quote myself; it adds spice to my conversation." Nice.

It occurs to me however that even though it's a no-holds-barred quotefest for three years, three years will at least come to an end. Whereas I, presumably, will continue to make references to dead people getting better, objects being in the third drawer down, and any number of Orange Whips for many years to come. So maybe I am more annoying, after all?