After a quick business-related trip to Philadelphia and Atlantic City, I’ve been plagued with writer’s block. I’ve got a couple of posts brewing about the City of Brotherly Love and environs, but neither is quite ready for prime time.
“Face it,” I thought to myself this morning, “if you can’t do a good job of writing about other topics before those posts are ready, you’d best not post altogether.” “But it bugs me not to post!” responded Miss Opposite Shoulder. Then, the voice of my departed mother was heard to settle the issue: “Any job, if big or small, do it right or not at all.” The problem has been that I haven’t been able to quite tap into the flow.
Thence cometh my husband – ever the surprising one as I hadn’t mentioned my lack of inspiration – to the rescue with an email entitled “Great Quote.” Now, I can only suppose what he might have been thinking with it. True to type, Pete saw fit not to comment. I love this about him! His tendency usually frees me to assign whatever context I please! And it keeps me guessing, too. A little bit of mystery is good for a relationship, no? 
I suspect Pete’s prism was the current political landscape, for which Orwell’s quote portends a scathing dénouement. But, the mark of a truly great quotation is its universality to the overall condition. So, as my prism today is lack of inspiration, my husband’s genius is assured. At the very least, I was sent hunting. Admit it, you want to know what a cuttlefish is, too, don’t you?
The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between one’s real and one’s declared aims, one turns as it were instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like a cuttlefish spurting out ink. – George Orwell
Email readers click into the post for the video:
So, the cuttlefish is among the most intelligent of spineless invertebrates. It is an underwater chameleon, changing itself as to blend with the landscape. When cornered, it raises dangerous-looking tentacles and sprays foul ink against a predator. Such a delicious analogy, dear husband and Mr. Orwell, on so many levels. I can go happily off to my day, now, knowing a cuttlefish is what I never wish to be.
Why, I’d say calling someone out, or perhaps even thinking of oneself, as a cuttlefish would be the height of loathing.
What say you?
Related:
- Who Are These Fools, and Why Should You Care? (tor.com)
- George Orwell would be Impressed with Barack Obama (chronwatch-america.com)
- Why I Write (tareandshare.com)
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
“The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between one’s real and one’s declared aims, one turns as it were instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms.”
Yup. That’s what lawyers do.
Hi Betsy. I hate to “not” post too! But then I hate to post just for the sake of posting. Argggh! This was one sexy cuttlefish. That music woke me up.
I understand about insincerity being the enemy to clear language. I find it a huge challenge to draw the line as to what to share and what not to share on the blog. It is easy for me to pour it all out and yet we have to be careful what we expose to the world. It’s a catch22.
Davina´s last blog post..Positively Breathing — A Series Intro
Hi Vered – I was wondering if you’d weigh in on this one! It seems to me a lawyer would have to be a cynic in that respect in order to keep practicing. Thank you.
Hi Davina – So true – and I always regret a job done half-way, as I know you do. That being said, I think there are plenty of topics with which we can lay ourselves bare; they’re just elusive for me this week. And that’s okay. They’ll make their appearance. Thanks.
Oh Betsy! What a wonderful post! And here I’ve been calling people crabs! And – spineless invertebrates that they are – I should have called them cuttlefish! Who knew! Wonderful! Thank you! lol!!!!
Becky Blanton´s last blog post..Swine flu is bogus panic
Hi Becky – I am lol-ing with you! Yes, a spineless invertebrate is a far better term than mere crustacean or mollusk. LOL It reminds me of Andy (from CommentLuv)’s Shakespearean and Pirate insult generator: Thou spineless invertebrate, thou wart-lipped ratsbane, thou peg-legged knave!
I guess we all worry about not posting, even though I’m often happy when my reader shows only a few new posts to read. But I worry I’ll lose readers.
I saw a special on TV about cuttlefish and one species of them because the creepiest animal I’ve ever seen. I’ve searched the Internet for a photo without success. You’ve already seen their creepy eyes in the video here. The cuttlefish on TV, when threatened, changed into a triangular shape and had a bar of light that traveled back and forth on two of its sides. It looked so alien I was actually frightened, even though it was only a TV show.
Always a good day when you can add new knowledge to the base and when it might be a good insult to boot…well, just sublime
…and so much better when the whole affair boils into a free form laugh..
Thank you
Patricia´s last blog post..anniversary
You can find EVERYTHING in video on You Tube, can’t you? While I knew intellectually what a cuttlefish is – it’s quite another thing to “see” one in “action”.
As I watched and waited for the “cuttlefish ink squirt” payoff in the video – I couldn’t help but notice how most of the time, the cuttlefish is just drifting along – carried by the current. Of course, that’s the whole point of the quote AND the post – but watching the video really drove that point home. (I’m sitting here thinking “come on – DO something you little cuttlefish!!!)
I guess the video just helped to illustrate how LAZY the cuttlefish is. He may be “intelligent” but he’s definitely not “diligent”. Ah, yet another delicious analogy begging to be pursued!
Kathy | Virtual Impax´s last blog post..Social Media: Same Shit-Different Day
That’s one of the things I like about having such a hodgepodge blog, even if I don’t feel much like writing, I might feel like opening up a bag of dried cuttlefish shreds, take a few pictures and call it good.
Which I have done.
And I’m not embarrassed to admit fully 3% of my blog’s search traffic comes from people looking for the caloric value of dried cuttlefish shreds.
Tracy´s last blog post..How Life Coaching Helped My Blog
There is a quote in a frame in the hallway at my daughter’s school, something about innocence and sincerity. (Im not very observant with it, am I.)
But innocence and sincerity, what more do you need?
As to cuttlefish, I had no idea about their wicked ways!
Jannie Funster´s last blog post..The CDs Have Landed!
Hi Betsy,
Thank for introducing me to the cuttlefish. I had never seen one before, but I’m with you, I certainly wouldn’t want to be one.
Isn’t it amazing how on days we aren’t motivated to write, our mind takes over and the end result becomes a real surprise.
Hi Dot – And I worry about not responding to comments, too. Here I am late to the table. You’re right, the cuttlefish is actually a horrifying little thing. One more dimension to the analogy! Thanks.
Hi Patricia – I know! Isn’t it just funnier the more you think about it! Just the best. Thank you.
Hi Kathy – Yes! Lazy, too! Entirely too comfortable, no? Hilarious! Thanks.
Hi Tracy – Welcome to PassingThru! I’m imagining dried cuttlefish to be something like pork rind. It’s a good kind of fat, necessary for proper digestion! Thanks.
Hi Jannie – Yes, I’d think insincerity would do away with innocence right quick! Thank you.
Hi Barbara – I’m very thankful for a wandering mind! If it weren’t for that, there’d be much less PassingThru. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks.