Interesting, Recent Tastes

There's an old story about Vladimir Nabokov. He gave a reading and at the end, a middle-aged woman came up and said, with great shock and umbrage, "Sir, did you know that during the entire reading, a young couple was sitting in back of me just spooning, spooning, I tell you." To which he answered, "Madame, be happy they weren't forking."
 
Frederic the Great thinks he has Voltaire trapped and asks him, "would you like to have dinner tonight?" Voulez-vous souper -- get it sous "P," under "P" -- tonight?

Voltaire comes back: "Yes, sire; I'm famished." Capital "G," G-grand = J'ai grand, a ... petit.

The students don't think it's funny, either.
 
I don't feel so bad about not getting that; thanks for explaining.

For some reason this tale brings to mind the completely unrelated chestnut about the philosopher (also Voltaire?) who dined with Louis the XIV. When the Sun King asked him 'What separates the philosopher from the sot,' he replied 'the dining room table.'

Ha.

Well, thanks again.
 
No, Johannes Scotus Eriugena; and Charles the Bald rather than Louis XIV:

-- Quid distat inter sottum et Scottum?
-- Mensa tantum
 
My daughter really knows how to throw a birthday party - she delvered my 9 lb. 2 oz. grandson this morning. Mom and boy are well.
Best, Jim
 
originally posted by Florida Jim:
My daughter really knows how to throw a birthday party - she delvered my 9 lb. 2 oz. grandson this morning. Mom and boy are well.
Best, Jim
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When it rains, Jim... Hearty congrats on both counts. Open something nice already (as if you wouldn't).

Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
originally posted by Cliff:
also Voltaire?No, Johannes Scotus Eriugena; and Charles the Bald rather than Louis XIV:

-- Quid distat inter sottum et Scottum?
-- Mensa tantum
Click to expand...
Was Eriugena killed for that?
Click to expand...

Nope, he outlived Charles the Bald according to most sources.

Mark Lipton
 
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