Definition:
Recommending useful precepts or advice to someone else. Compare with dehortatio.
Etymology:
From the Greek, "vivid description; system"Examples and Observations:
- "In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don't try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present."
(Tao Te Ching) - "Think Small."
(advertising slogan of Volkswagen) - "Look up, laugh loud, talk big, keep the color in your cheek and the fire in your eye, adorn your person, maintain your health, your beauty and your animal spirits."
(William Hazlitt) - "Question everything. Every stripe, every star, every word spoken. Everything."
(Ernest Gaines) - "My father gave me these hints on speech-making: 'Be sincere. Be brief. Be seated.'"
(James Roosevelt) - "If you wanna be happy
For the rest of your life,
Never make a pretty woman your wife,
So from my personal point of view,
Get an ugly girl to marry you."
(Jimmy Soul, "If You Wanna be Happy"--based on "Ugly Woman" by Roaring Lion) - "And remember, boys and girls: this is another be-good-to-mother day."
(Bob Keeshan, aka Captain Kangaroo) - "Every single day, every single one of us needs to step outside and take some action to help stop this war. Raise hell. Think of something to make the ridiculous look ridiculous. Make our troops know we’re for them, and that’s why we’re trying to get them out of there. Hit the streets. Bang pots and pans. Demand, ‘Stop it, now!’"
(Molly Ivins, "Stand Up Against the Surge," January 11, 2007) - "Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice: pull down your pants, and slide on the ice."
(Sidney Freedman) - "Expect nothing. Live frugally on surprise."
(Alice Walker, quoted in New York magazine) - "Whenever you fall down, just make sure that on your way back up you pick something up."
(Clotilda Nordquist)
Pronunciation: di-a-ty-PO-sis
