The Economist published its new book of business quotations, among the words of wisdom from leading investors and gurus were lines from fictional characters such as Don Draper, the super-smooth advertising executive in Mad Men, Sgt Bilko and even Homer Simpson. This is not necessarily proof that we’re dumbing down. As any lover of The Simpsons knows, Homer can be as profound – and is eminently more quotable – than Hamlet. In fact, anyone wanting a sound moral, intellectual, philosophical and psychological guide to life could do worse than follow these words of advice, culled from the great media slew of popular culture:
Homer Simpson: “Marge, you can’t keep blaming yourself. Just blame yourself once, then move on.”
Peter Griffin, ‘Family Guy’: “I had such a crush on her until I met you, Lois. You’re my silver medal.”
Snoopy, ‘Peanuts’: “My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, and yet I’m happy. I can’t figure it out. What am I doing right?”
Lisa Simpson: “I’m so angry.”
Marge Simpson: “You’re a woman. You can hold onto it forever.”
Capt Mainwaring, ‘Dad’s Army’: “Early to bed, early to rise, no jolly good if you don’t advertise.”
Chandler Bing, ‘Friends’: “All right, look if you absolutely have to tell her the truth, at least wait until the timing’s right – and that’s what deathbeds are for.”
Sally Webster, ‘Coronation Street’: “Just because somebody’s dead, doesn’t automatically make them a nice person”
‘Annie Hall’: “(Life is) full of loneliness, and misery, and suffering and unhappiness, and it’s all over much too quickly.”
‘The Godfather’: “Women are more dangerous than shotguns.”