Katie Stew

A rich, simmering blend of my favorite things

A Man Without A Country

| 1,015 Comments

“A Man Without A Country” is Kurt Vonnegut’s last book. It is not a story as much as a collection of his thoughts toward the end of his life. And I’ll just say, years of experience made him one pessimistic man, or perhaps he was frightfully realistic. Either way, it has also made him a very eloquent man. Just about every sentence from this book is quotable.

So, instead of my more standard synopsis, I’m going to share some selections with you. I found all of these both insightful and amusing.

On politics:

“But now I am eighty-two… The last thing I ever wanted was to be alive when the three most powerful people on the planet would be named Bush, Dick, and Colon.”

On the environment:

“The biggest truth to face now- what is probably making me unfunny now for the remainder of my life- is that I don’t think people give a damn whether the planet goes on or not. It seems to me as if everyone is living as members of Alcoholics Anonymous do, day by day. And a few more days will be enough. I know of very few people who are dreaming of a world for their grandchildren.”

On religion:

“For some reason, the most vocal Christians among us never mention the Beatitudes. But, often with tears in their eyes, they demand that the Ten Commandments be posted in public buildings. And of course that’s Moses, not Jesus. I haven’t heard one of them demand that the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes be posted anywhere… ‘Blessed are the merciful’ in a courtroom? ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ in the Pentagon? Give me a break!”

On life:

” ‘Welcome to Earth, young man,’ I said. ‘It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It’s round and wet and crowded. At the outside, Joe, you’ve got about a hundred years here. There’s only one rule that I know of: Goddamn it, Joe, you’ve got to be kind!’ ”

I recommend this book. Vonnegut has always been an excellent one with words and it is interesting to read him talk about his process in writing and some of his history. His views on politics and the environment are harsh and charming at the same time. He is terribly amusing and it is often dark. He has always found that balance well. I am a fan of his novels and am happy to have read this very personal, straightforward book.

I’ll end the post with my favorite quote of the book.

“How beautiful it is to get up and go out and do something. We are here on Earth to fart around. Don’t let anybody tell you any different.”

1,015 Comments

  1. We’re a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your website offered us with valuable info to work on. You’ve done a formidable job and our entire community will be thankful to you.

  2. I have read some just right stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how so much attempt you set to make this type of excellent informative website.

  3. Definitely, what a fantastic blog and educative posts, I surely will bookmark your website.Have an awsome day!

  4. As a Newbie, I am permanently searching online for articles that can be of assistance to me. Thank you

  5. I’ve been browsing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content as you did, the net will be much more useful than ever before.

  6. I am really impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Anyway keep up the nice quality writing, it is rare to see a great blog like this one these days..

  7. Great goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you are just too fantastic. I actually like what you’ve acquired here, really like what you are saying and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still take care of to keep it sensible. I cant wait to read much more from you. This is really a terrific site.

  8. Hello. Great job. I did not imagine this. This is a splendid story. Thanks!

  9. Thanks , I have recently been searching for information about this subject for ages and yours is the best I have discovered so far. However, what in regards to the bottom line? Are you sure concerning the source?

  10. I truly wanted to send a small message to be able to thank you for all of the precious advice you are placing at this website. My time consuming internet research has finally been rewarded with useful concept to write about with my family. I ‘d assume that we readers are rather blessed to dwell in a great place with many marvellous people with very beneficial pointers. I feel truly privileged to have discovered the weblog and look forward to plenty of more exciting moments reading here. Thank you once again for a lot of things.

  11. I was just searching for this information for some time. After six hours of continuous Googleing, finally I got it in your site. I wonder what is the lack of Google strategy that do not rank this type of informative web sites in top of the list. Normally the top sites are full of garbage.

  12. I must show my thanks to this writer for rescuing me from this matter. As a result of researching throughout the search engines and obtaining thoughts which are not pleasant, I was thinking my entire life was gone. Living without the presence of approaches to the problems you’ve fixed as a result of the short article is a critical case, as well as the kind which could have negatively affected my career if I hadn’t come across your website. Your good ability and kindness in dealing with almost everything was excellent. I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t come upon such a stuff like this. I can also at this time relish my future. Thank you very much for the impressive and result oriented guide. I will not think twice to endorse the blog to any person who needs tips on this issue.

  13. Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! By the way, how could we communicate?

  14. whoah this weblog is excellent i like studying your articles. Stay up the good work! You recognize, many persons are searching round for this information, you can help them greatly.

  15. I keep listening to the reports speak about getting boundless online grant applications so I have been looking around for the finest site to get one. Could you tell me please, where could i acquire some?

  16. I haven¡¦t checked in here for some time since I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are good quality so I guess I will add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂

  17. It is actually a nice and useful piece of info. I am satisfied that you simply shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.

  18. Wow, superb blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is great, let alone the content!

  19. wonderful issues altogether, you just won a emblem new reader. What might you suggest in regards to your put up that you made a few days ago? Any sure?

  20. Wow, amazing blog format! How long have you been running a blog for? you made blogging glance easy. The total look of your site is fantastic, let alone the content!

  21. I must point out my gratitude for your generosity supporting men and women who should have help on in this question. Your personal dedication to getting the solution all-around ended up being exceptionally functional and has specifically made those just like me to realize their goals. Your entire invaluable report denotes this much a person like me and further more to my office colleagues. Thanks a ton; from each one of us.

  22. Nice blog here! Also your website loads up fast! What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my site loaded up as quickly as yours lol

  23. I do believe all of the concepts you have introduced in your post. They are really convincing and can definitely work. Nonetheless, the posts are too brief for novices. May you please extend them a little from next time? Thanks for the post.

  24. I actually wanted to compose a small note so as to express gratitude to you for all of the wonderful steps you are writing here. My particularly long internet investigation has at the end of the day been compensated with beneficial details to write about with my family members. I would state that that we website visitors are really endowed to live in a really good community with so many marvellous people with very beneficial methods. I feel really lucky to have encountered your entire webpages and look forward to really more cool times reading here. Thanks once again for all the details.

  25. Unquestionably believe that which you stated. Your favorite reason seemed to be on the internet the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get irked while people consider worries that they just do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people can take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks

  26. Thank you, I’ve just been looking for information about this topic for a long time and yours is the best I’ve came upon till now. But, what in regards to the conclusion? Are you certain concerning the source?

  27. Thanks , I have recently been searching for info about this subject for a long time and yours is the greatest I’ve came upon till now. But, what in regards to the bottom line? Are you positive about the source?

  28. Excellent blog here! Also your web site loads up very fast! What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my web site loaded up as quickly as yours lol

  29. I want to get across my respect for your kindness giving support to visitors who have the need for assistance with this particular issue. Your very own commitment to getting the solution all over appeared to be especially advantageous and has continuously made women like me to arrive at their ambitions. This interesting advice signifies this much a person like me and substantially more to my fellow workers. Best wishes; from all of us.

  30. It¡¦s truly a great and helpful piece of info. I am happy that you just shared this useful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.

  31. I simply wished to thank you very much once again. I’m not certain the things I might have achieved in the absence of those pointers shown by you relating to this industry. It was actually a very frustrating difficulty in my position, however , encountering your skilled mode you managed that took me to weep with fulfillment. Now i’m happier for your service and as well , have high hopes you are aware of a great job you have been putting in instructing others via your web site. Probably you’ve never got to know all of us.

  32. Very well written post. It will be beneficial to everyone who employess it, as well as yours truly :). Keep doing what you are doing – can’r wait to read more posts.

  33. Great post. I was checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed! Very useful info specially the last part 🙂 I care for such information much. I was seeking this particular information for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.

  34. Wow, fantastic blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your website is excellent, let alone the content!

  35. You completed a number of nice points there. I did a search on the topic and found mainly persons will go along with with your blog.

  36. Great work! This is the type of information that are meant to be shared around the internet. Disgrace on the seek engines for not positioning this publish upper! Come on over and visit my web site . Thanks =)

  37. Keep functioning ,splendid job!

  38. You can definitely see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to mention how they believe. All the time go after your heart.

  39. I precisely wished to appreciate you again. I do not know what I would’ve worked on without the type of pointers revealed by you directly on my situation. It has been an absolute terrifying crisis in my opinion, but being able to view a expert avenue you managed the issue took me to cry for gladness. I’m just happy for this support and as well , sincerely hope you find out what a powerful job you are putting in instructing people with the aid of your blog. Most likely you’ve never come across any of us.

  40. Great write-up, I¡¦m normal visitor of one¡¦s website, maintain up the excellent operate, and It’s going to be a regular visitor for a long time.

  41. Excellent post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed! Very useful information specially the last part 🙂 I care for such info a lot. I was looking for this certain information for a long time. Thank you and good luck.

  42. What i don’t realize is in reality how you’re now not actually much more smartly-favored than you might be now. You’re very intelligent. You understand thus significantly in relation to this subject, made me for my part believe it from a lot of numerous angles. Its like men and women don’t seem to be fascinated until it is one thing to do with Girl gaga! Your personal stuffs excellent. All the time care for it up!

  43. Hiya very nice site!! Man .. Excellent .. Wonderful .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds additionally¡KI’m glad to find a lot of useful info right here within the put up, we need develop extra strategies in this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .

  44. Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I’ve truly enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. In any case I will be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!

  45. Very efficiently written information. It will be beneficial to anyone who usess it, as well as me. Keep doing what you are doing – can’r wait to read more posts.

  46. Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back and help others like you helped me.

  47. It¡¦s really a great and helpful piece of info. I¡¦m glad that you shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.

  48. Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your website and in accession capital to assert that I get actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently quickly.

  49. Hey there, You’ve done an excellent job. I will definitely digg it and personally suggest to my friends. I am sure they will be benefited from this site.

  50. Keep working ,terrific job!

Leave a Reply