Winning Ways -- Hillcrest Baptist Church

Gaining from Brilliant Thoughts
by Tom Goodman
April 22, 2009

Exactly how many brilliant thoughts are there in the world?

Over 10,000. And according to the Wall Street Journal, you have to pay to use them. Such as:

"No man is an island, but some of us are long peninsulas."

"Before I knew the best part of my life had come, it had gone."

"Doing it wrong fast is at least better than doing it wrong slowly."

"I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once."

"If you want a kind answer, you should ask a kind question."

Those are from Ashleigh Brilliant, who lays claim to being history's only full time, professional published epigrammatist.

To qualify as a Brilliant Thought (his label), the Santa Barbara resident says an epigram must conform to a rigid code: It can only be 17 words -- a tribute to the number of syllables in Japanese haiku. Also, to ensure that an epigram will make the transfer across time, he makes no reference to fads or fashion, and he avoids rhymes and puns.

Reader's Digest has paid him $50 each time they have used a Brilliant Thought in their "Quotable Quotes." But there's more money in selling merchandise with his epigrams and threatening lawsuits against those who use the sayings without permission. By the time the Wall Street Journal wrote about him, he had written more than 350 threatening letters to alleged infringers, and had filed and won a half dozen copyright cases. At the time of the article, his business was generating about $100,000 a year.

I like a lot of Mr. Brilliant's epigrams, and I'm impressed that he's made a successful business from his work. But I've been studying another set of brilliant thoughts -- and they are absolutely free to use.

Under divine inspiration, ancient wise men collected pithy sayings into the Old Testament book we call "Proverbs." At Hillcrest, we've started a study through this ancient book in a Sunday morning series called "Bumper-Sticker Wisdom." You can catch up with the series at our website, and then join us at 10am this Sunday for the next installment: "How to Keep Your Mouth From Getting You Into Trouble."

Invite someone! We've created an "e-vite" on our website for you to send to your friends. Or you can just forward this email to your friends.

--Tom

Weblog: Check out my blog, "Get Anchored." Some things to look for...

Song of the Week, posted every Sunday.
Links to Your World, interesting and informative links, posted every Tuesday.

Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them!

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Gaining from Brilliant Thoughts by Tom Goodman April 22, 2009 Exactly how many brilliant thoughts are there in the world? Over 10,000. And according to the Wall Street Journal, you have to pay to use them. Such as: "No man is an island, but some of us are long peninsulas." "Before I knew the best part of my life had come, it had gone." "Doing it wrong fast is at least better than doing it wrong slowly." "I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once." "If you want a kind answer, you should ask a kind question." Those are from Ashleigh Brilliant, who lays claim to being history's only full time, professional published epigrammatist. To qualify as a Brilliant Thought (his label), the Santa Barbara resident says an epigram must conform to a rigid code: It can only be 17 words -- a tribute to the number of syllables in Japanese haiku. Also, to ensure that an epigram will make the transfer across time, he makes no reference to fads or fashion, and he avoids rhymes and puns. Reader's Digest has paid him $50 each time they have used a Brilliant Thought in their "Quotable Quotes." But there's more money in selling merchandise with his epigrams and threatening lawsuits against those who use the sayings without permission. By the time the Wall Street Journal wrote about him, he had written more than 350 threatening letters to alleged infringers, and had filed and won a half dozen copyright cases. At the time of the article, his business was generating about $100,000 a year. I like a lot of Mr. Brilliant's epigrams, and I'm impressed that he's made a successful business from his work. But I've been studying another set of brilliant thoughts -- and they are absolutely free to use. Under divine inspiration, ancient wise men collected pithy sayings into the Old Testament book we call "Proverbs." At Hillcrest, we've started a study through this ancient book in a Sunday morning series called "Bumper-Sticker Wisdom." You can catch up with the series at our website, and then join us at 10am this Sunday for the next installment: "How to Keep Your Mouth From Getting You Into Trouble." Invite someone! We've created an "e-vite" on our website for you to send to your friends. Or you can just forward this email to your friends. --Tom Weblog: Check out my blog, "Get Anchored." Some things to look for... Song of the Week, posted every Sunday. Links to Your World, interesting and informative links, posted every Tuesday. Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them! Have you subscribed to Winning Ways? You can subscribe by clicking here and following the instructions. Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail. FRESH NEWS AT HILLCREST UPDATED WEEKLY: www.hillcrestaustin.org LISTEN TO RECENT SERMONS: Click here. MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Click here. If you do not have access to the web, please send a note to newsmaster@hbcaustin.org to tell us of any changes you would like to make.