K Todd Ramer

“In writing, you must kill all your darlings.”
― William Faulkner

“You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence. You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.”
― William J. H. Boetcker

“At the evident risk of seeming ridiculous, I want to begin by saying that I have tried for much of my life to write as if I was composing my sentences to be read posthumously. I hope this isn't too melodramatic or self-centred a way of saying that I attempt to write as if I did not care what reviewers said, what peers thought, or what prevailing opinions may be.”
― Christopher Hitchens, A Long Short War: The Postponed Liberation of Iraq

“If You're Gonna Be Dumb, You Gotta Be Tough"

If your gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough

When you get knocked down you gotta get back up,
If your gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough

When you get knocked down you gotta get back up,

I ain't the sharpest knife in the drawer but I know enough, to know,

If your gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough



I lit my brain with Rot-Gut whiskey

'Till all my pain was chicken fried

And I had dudes with badges frisk me

Teach me how to swallow pride



I took advice no fool would take

I got some habits I can't shake

I ain't the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I know enough to know

If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough





If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough

When you get knocked down, you gotta get back up

That's the way it is in life and love

If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough





I've been up and down and down and out

I've been left and right and wrong

Well I've walked the walk and I've run my mouth

I've been on the short end for too long



But if they gave medals for honky tonk wars

Hell, I'd keep mine in my chest of drawers

With my IRS bills and divorce papers and all that stuff

If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough





If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough

When you get knocked down, you gotta get back up

I ain't the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I know enough to know

If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough



If you're gonna be dumb you gotta be tough”
― Karen O