14 September 2007

The Naked Civil Servant


Another Manic Monday rolls around, and crisp is such a nice little word. Synonym for Potato Chips, the nip in the air of an autumn evening, the crunch of a cracker, or celery exercising your teeth. I could have done any of them, but my first reading of the word made me laugh and as a result, you all get:


QUENTIN CRISP
(1908-1999)

Witty, ascerbic, and flamboyant author, bon vivant and reconteur, Quentin Crisp was the author of the classic and eccentric "The Naked Civil Servant". The award-winning film version of the book made him an instant international celebrity. He also wrote numerous books and articles about his life and his opinions on style, fashion, and the movies.

Born Denis Charles Pratt, Crisp was often compared to Oscar Wilde, he was famous for his witty remarks for all occasions as written in articles or performed in his one-man show, "An Evening with Quentin Crisp". He was acclaimed around the world where he spread a unique philosophy by giving advice to the audience members about how to find their individual style and live a happy life.

Crisp charmed everyone and became a symbol for the rebel in society while writing several books and reviews and appearing in many movies (most notably playing Elizabeth I in Sally Ann Potter's "Orlando"). He died on the eve of touring his one-man show in England in November 1999.

Somehow in originality and the ability to make others laugh, he reminds me of our own beloved Mo of Manic Monday.

Some Quotes From Quentin Crisp


There is no need to do any housework at all. After the first four years the dirt doesn't get any worse.

If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style.

Men get laid, but women get screwed.

The British do not expect happiness ... they do not want to be happy; they want to be right.

The trouble with children is that they're not returnable.

The young always have the same problem - how to rebel and conform at the same time. They have now solved this by defying their parents and copying one another.

The woman did not fly to extremes; she lived there.







Sting & Quentin Crisp - Englishman In New York




22 comments:

Anonymous said...

OMG! I thought about writing about Quentin Crisp! I'm so glad I didn't, because you do a much better job. I LOVE the quotes, lol! Thank you.

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

some great quotes!

smiles, bee

Lee said...

Thanks for posting this..somehow I have missed Crisp along the way...I am going to have to go and do some reading now.

Lee

Unknown said...

Excellent MM post! I learned something new from this post as I had never heard of Quentin Crisp before today. I did like the quotes the best...

My MM post took a turn towards our military this week. I hope you will come by and visit.

peace, Villager

Ian said...

I really like those quotes - especially the one about the British wanting to be right. I had a science teacher in Junior High who said something like that: "Don't be sorry, be right."

Ian

Anonymous said...

interesting post! thanks for sharing.

Stine said...

Sounds like my kind of man...
Great quotes

Anonymous said...

Marvelous post, Jamie! Thanks for all the info about an eccentric, really interesting person.

Unknown said...

"There is no need to do any housework at all. After the first four years the dirt doesn't get any worse."

Excellent advice to follow. HA!

Thanks for the good laugh, Jamie!

Happy MM!

Sandee said...

I almost did both of these. This was the toughest MM I've ever done for some reason. Mine is so lame... Great job. Have a great MM. :)

Mary said...

Those quotes were hilarious! Great MM!

TopChamp said...

ha ha. I like this Stink song too.. even if my Dad conditioned me as a child not to be able to call him Sting.

Sarge Charlie said...

Nice take on the theme

Sherry Lewis said...

What a great post! I've missed Crisp along the way, too. I'm going to have to check him out.

bundle-o-contradictions said...

Sounds fascinating. Thanks! :)

Schmoop said...

Great Job Jamie...Hop On!!

Mo and The Purries said...

Well, I've never been compared to Quentin Crisp before! Thanks!

I shall strive to come up with some Mo-quotes for posterity to remember me by...

cheers,
mo

enigma4ever said...

These are wonderful quotes, and some I recognized but didn't know who said them...too funny...and yes, they are perfectly timeless...and what a great write up...see I come here and I always feel a little smarter..

Linda said...

Absolutely love all those quotes. I believe I've heard some of them but never knew who said them, thank you for the enlightenment!

Travis Cody said...

What an interesting person. I watched a couple of the shorter video clips.

Thanks. Happy MM!

Claire said...

I need to get that book now.

The British always want to be right, i 100% concur! and i am always right :)

Anon-Paranoid said...

This is too funny, your cereal box that is.

I had a yearning for some good ole Sugar Crisp cereal and found its not on my store shelf anymore. And know you bring up a person named Crisp and use the cereal box in your post.

God Bless.