Oxymoronica: Paradoxical Wit and Wisdom

Oxymoronica: Paradoxical Wit and Wisdom

Grothe. Dr Mardy

Collins

ox-y-mor-on-i-ca (OK-se-mor-ON-uh-ca) noun, plural: Any variety of tantalizing, self-contradictory statements or observations that on the surface appear false or illogical, but at a deeper level are true, often profoundly true. See also oxymoron, paradox.
examples:
"Melancholy is the pleasure of being sad." Victor Hugo
"To lead the people, walk behind them." Lao-tzu
"You'd be surprised how much it coststo look this cheap." Dolly Parton
You won't find the word "oxymoronica" in any dictionary (at least not yet) because Dr. Mardy Grothe introduces it to readers in this delightful collection of 1,400 of the most provocative quotations of all time. From ancient thinkers like Confucius, Aristotle, and Saint Augustine to great writers like Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, and G. B. Shaw to modern social observers like Woody Allen and Lily Tomlin, Oxymoronica celebrates the power and beauty of paradoxical thinking. All areas of human activity are explored, including love, sex and romance, politics, the arts, the literary life, and, of course, marriage and family life. The wise and witty observations in this book are as highly entertaining as they are intellectually nourishing and are sure to grab the attention of language lovers everywhere.

Oxymoronica: Paradoxical Wit and Wisdom from History's Greatest Wordsmiths

Literature & Fiction

Dramas & Plays

Harper

For most of us, that perfect retort or witty reply often escapes us when we need it most, only to come to mind with perfect clarity when it's too late to be useful. The twentieth-century writer Heywood Broun described this all-too-common phenomenon when he wrote "Repartee is what we wish we'd said."
In Viva la Repartee, Dr. Mardy Grothe, author of Oxymoronica, has lovingly assembled a collection of masterfully composed -- and perfectly timed -- replies that have turned the tables on opponents and adversaries. This delightful volume is a celebration of the most impressive retorts, ripostes, rejoinders, comebacks, quips, ad-libs, bon mots, off-the-cuff comments, wisecracks, and other clever remarks ever to come out of the mouths -- and from the pens -- of people throughout history. Touching on all areas of human endeavor, including politics, the arts, literature, sports, relationships, and even the risqué, the book features contributions from Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain, Dorothy Parker, Mae West, Groucho Marx, Winston Churchill, Dolly Parton, and scores more.
As entertaining as it is intellectually enriching, Viva la Repartee is sure to capture the attention of language lovers and is the perfect antidote for anyone who's ever thought I wish I'd said that!

Viva la Repartee: Clever Comebacks and Witty Retorts from History's Great Wits and Wordsmiths

Humor & Entertainment

Humor

The murals in restaurants are on a par with the food in museums.
America is an enormous frosted cupcake in the middle of millions of starving people.
Critics are like pigs at the pastry cart.
Describing something by relating it to another thing is the essence of metaphorical thought. It is one of the oldest activities of humankind—and one of the most impressive when done skillfully. Throughout history, many masters of metaphor have crafted observations that are so spectacular they have taken up a permanent residence in our minds. 
In I Never Metaphor I Didn't Like, quotation maven Dr. Mardy Grothe fixes his attention on the three superstars of figurative language—analogies, metaphors, and similes. The result is an extraordinary compilation of nearly 2,000 feats of association that will entertain, educate, and occasionally inspire quotation lovers everywhere.
In this intellectual smorgasbord, the author of Oxymoronica and Viva la Repartee explains figurative language in a refreshingly down-to-earth way before taking readers on a tour of history's greatest word pictures. In chapters on wit, love, sex, stage and screen, insults, politics, sports, and more, you will find quotations from Aristotle and Maya Angelou to George Washington and Oprah Winfrey.

I Never Metaphor I Didn't Like: A Comprehensive Compilation of History's Greatest Analogies, Metaphors, and Similes

Arts & Photography

History & Criticism

Perfect for linguaphiles and lovers of quotes, Ifferisms is a lively compendium of wit, wisdom, and wordplay from Dr. Mardy Grothe, author of I Never Metaphor I Didn’t Like, Viva La Repartee, and Oxymoronica. A collection of aphorisms—pithy observations that communicate some kind of truth about the human experience—Ifferisms contains those that begin with “if.” From “If life hands you lemons, make lemonade” to “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” the sayings in Ifferisms demonstrate how hypothetical thinking helps people contemplate their lives.

Ifferisms: An Anthology of Aphorisms That Begin with the Word "IF"

Puzzles & Games

Collins Reference

From Mardy Grothe, the author of Ifferisms,Oxymoronica,and I Never Met a Metaphor IDidn’t Like, comes a new collection of witty and wise quotations about what never to do in life. Remember, “never let the fear of striking out get in your way” (BabeRuth), "never hit anyone if you can help it, but never hit soft"(Theodore Roosevelt); "never be afraid tosit awhile and think" (Lorraine Hansberry); and, of course, neverleave home without the perfect quote for any occasion from Dr. Mardy’s Neverisms.

Neverisms: A Quotation Lover's Guide to Things You Should Never Do, Never Say, or Never Forget

"An idea is a feat of association, and the height of it is a good metaphor." — Robert Frost
For 3,000 years, great thinkers and writers have relied on the device of metaphor to articulate profound thoughts, give voice to powerful emotions, and creatively explain complex ideas. But metaphorical language is not the sole province of poets, philosophers, and playwrights. If you’ve ever tried to describe a broken heart, a thankless child, or a glorious triumph, you know how valuable—and compelling—the perfect metaphor can be. 
In Metaphors Be With You, respected quotation anthologist Dr. Mardy Grothe has created the definitive collection of history’s greatest metaphorical quotations. While crafting his lists of “The Ten Best Things Ever Said” on 250 topics of deep human interest, Dr. Mardy examined more than five million metaphorical observations from literature, politics, philosophy, religion, history, pop culture, and more.
Essential for writers, readers, and language aficionados, this remarkable sourcebook breaks new ground by using QR Codes to digitally integrate it with “Dr. Mardy’s Dictionary of Metaphorical Quotations” (DMDMQ), the world’s largest online database of metaphorical quotations. The elegant synergy between print and technology provides curious readers with detailed source information for all quotations, innumerable “Error Alerts,” countless quotation backstories, and a wealth of other quotations to further their knowledge and deepen their understanding of favorite quotations. 
Whether you’re crafting a speech, writing a novel, or simply searching for new ways to express yourself, this meticulously curated compendium is as delightful to read as it is invaluable to own—and sure to inspire with the perfect metaphor every time.

Metaphors Be With You: An A to Z Dictionary of History's Greatest Metaphorical Quotations

Reference

Dictionaries & Thesauruses

Respected quotation anthologist and author of Oxymoronica and Viva la Repartee Dr. Mardy Grothe is at his best in Metaphors Be with You, an A to Z dictionary of 2,750 of history’s greatest metaphorical quotations, meticulously curated for writers, readers, and quotation lovers everywhere.
In Metaphors Be with You, Dr. Mardy Grothe has created the definitive reference on English’s finest metaphors, sourced from literature, politics, philosophy, Hollywood, religion, sports, comedy, history, religion, pop culture, and more. Arranged into two sections—"The Ten Best Things Ever Said" and "The Single Best Thing Ever Said"—Metaphors Be with You includes quotations on five hundred human interest topics and an introduction to the nature, importance, and sheer joy of metaphorical language.
Essential for writers, readers, and language aficionados, this breathtaking, beautifully designed sourcebook also contains elegantly integrated digital access to Dr. Mardy’s Dictionary of Metaphorical Quotations, the world’s largest online database of quotations containing metaphors, similes, and analogies. This one-of-a-kind synergy between print and technology offers a comprehensive look at the diversity of words and phrases we use to relate to, understand, and describe our world by providing access to detailed source information, innumerable "Error Alerts," and fascinating quotation backstories that will engage readers as they delve into metaphorical language and discover their own favorites.
Whether you’re crafting a speech, writing a novel, or simply searching for new ways to express yourself, this remarkable compendium is sure to inspire you with the perfect metaphor every time.

Metaphors Be with You: An A to Z Dictionary of History's Greatest Metaphorical Quotations

Harper Paperbacks

Describes a variety of difficult bosses, suggests survival strategies, and shares actual case histories

Problem Bosses: Who They Are and How to Deal With Them

Business & Money

Management & Leadership

Fawcett

If history’s greatest thinkers, writers, and political leaders were around today, what would they say about Donald Trump? Happily for us, they’ve said amazing things on this very subject, often in prescient and compelling ways. In the fourth century B.C., for example, Plato described Trump perfectly in his Laws:
"There is simple ignorance, which is the source of lighter offenses, and double ignorance, which is accompanied by a conceit of wisdom; and he who is under the influence of the latter fancies that he knows all about matters of which he knows nothing."
Is it a mere coincidence that someone writing 2,500 years ago was able to capture the essence of the current U. S. President? Hardly. In Henry V (1599), Shakespeare did it as well:
"I did never know so full a voice issue from so empty a heart."
And, in his 1798 Farewell Address, George Washington followed suit by saying:
"Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism."
In 2015, not long after Trump declared John McCain a “loser” for becoming a Vietnam War POW, quotation maven Mardy Grothe accidentally stumbled upon a 350-year-old Molière quotation that got him thinking, “Wow! That sounds a lot like Donald Trump.” Over the next several months, after finding similar Trump-illuminating quotations from past thinkers, Grothe launched a quotation-seeking, self-help effort in order to help him cope more effectively with the disturbing reality of a Trump Presidency.
That self-help project ultimately evolved into this remarkable anthology of 1,000 quotations, all of which were written decades—or, more typically, centuries—before Trump arrived on the political scene. This book attempts to deconstruct The Trump Phenomenon. It has been prepared exclusively for those who’ve been alarmed, troubled, upset, embarrassed, bewildered, disgusted, or otherwise distressed by the whole idea of Donald J. Trump as President of the United States of America.

Deconstructing Trump: The Trump Phenomenon Through the Lens of Quotation History

Quotations

Quoterie Press

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Grothe. Dr Mardy. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Grothe. Dr Mardy

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Grothe. Dr Mardy. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Oxymoronica: Paradoxical Wit and Wisdom

Oxymoronica: Paradoxical Wit and Wisdom from History's Greatest Wordsmiths

Viva la Repartee: Clever Comebacks and Witty Retorts from History's Great Wits and Wordsmiths

I Never Metaphor I Didn't Like: A Comprehensive Compilation of History's Greatest Analogies, Metaphors, and Similes

Ifferisms: An Anthology of Aphorisms That Begin with the Word "IF"

Neverisms: A Quotation Lover's Guide to Things You Should Never Do, Never Say, or Never Forget

Metaphors Be With You: An A to Z Dictionary of History's Greatest Metaphorical Quotations

Metaphors Be with You: An A to Z Dictionary of History's Greatest Metaphorical Quotations

Problem Bosses: Who They Are and How to Deal With Them

Deconstructing Trump: The Trump Phenomenon Through the Lens of Quotation History