Cenk Quote of the Day -- April 24, 2008

Email Print posted by Cenk 04/25/2008 01:53:44 AM EST

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I've decided to blog it out more on the website. That is to talk about my life, my non-political views and my trifling musings more here. You gotta website, why not use it? Why not have fun?

In honor of this "epiphany," I will start by going back to the idea of Cenk quotes. So, here is my quote of the day (I really hope Ben and Jill see this at some point):

"If you ask the world for something, it usually, eventually gives it to you."

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Cenk Quote of the Day -- April 24, 2008 | 18 comments (18 topical, 0 hidden)
Cenk Reveals His Spiritual Side (none / 0)

"If you ask the world for something, it usually, eventually gives it to you."

We always knew it - sounds like faith to me.

God Bless - Go Forward.

by Verified1 on 04/25/2008 04:27:32 AM EST

Cenk now channels Oprah (none / 0)

Cenk, so you are now listening to Oprah's soul series?

 Or did you get that from the great philosopher Scott Adams.

 Pretty lame

by thompjs on 04/25/2008 09:00:02 AM EST

[ Parent ]
I suspect (none / 0)

People who come from crushing poverty don't embrace this belief system.  It seems to be primarily people from relative privilege like Cenk, myself and that majority of us posters.

I just can't see a lot of typical Africans or Asians finding this philosophy so easy to embrace. 

by ProfRich on 04/25/2008 09:38:41 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Keep It Up Cenk (none / 0)
I agree I'm not 100% on that particular quote, but I know you'll give us some gems.

ProfRich makes a good point about the context of this quote, so I'd add that you have to ask and *then* bust your ass, unless you were born on 3rd base (or 2nd base).

by ihavenobias on 04/25/2008 11:37:23 AM EST

There is an assumption that you bust your ass ... (none / 0)
... to make this happen. No, the world doesn't magically give you shit.

On the other hand, if you're stuck in a village in  a place like China or Kenya or Turkey, then it's different because you have no chance ... wait a minute, I do know this one guy. I think his name was Dogan Uygur.

by Cenk on 04/25/2008 11:46:47 AM EST

Hey Cenk! (none / 0)

Does your dad believe that if you want something bad enough the universe will provide it because if so Jessica Alba is in for a rude surprise from ProfRich.

Does he think most of the other people in his village believe that?  I am not arguing you are wrong and I am certainly not arguing that people cannot get or achieve what they want I just think that philosophy is a lot more prevalent among people who start out with more than those who start with nothing.  Maybe I am wrong.  I have tended to get what I want in life (Alba aside) but I think my belief that I would has as much to do with my middle class America background and my parents and grandparents hard work as anything I or the universe has done.  I am not looking to pick a fight here and I am not sure there is a disagreement I am just saying this seems to be an insular perspective.  

by ProfRich on 04/25/2008 11:55:52 AM EST

[ Parent ]
It's nice to see you weigh on on a thread (none / 0)
It almost never happens, so it's a special treat. 

It's like eating at some famous person's restaurant and they actually stop by your table and ask how the meal is. Although in this case you overheard us saying "yeah, I don't know, the steak is a little overcooked and could use more seasoning" and you stopped by to defend your chef.   ;)

by ihavenobias on 04/25/2008 11:56:02 AM EST

[ Parent ]
That would be nice (none / 0)

It would be supercool if Cenk, Jayar, Anna, Jesus, Wes etc. posted down here in the TYT slums.

I applaud Dave for slumming with us and Cenk today. Oh and Anna posted on the travel thread so yay Anna. 

by ProfRich on 04/25/2008 12:04:57 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Dave is good about that (none / 0)
And all TYT fans appreciate it. 

Cenk (and Ana) should do it 25.3% more often, not so much where we take it for granted, but often enough to keep forum excitment high.

Which reminds me, Jayar and Jesus never weigh in!

by ihavenobias on 04/25/2008 12:19:01 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Jayar (none / 0)

They don't.  And I called Jayar out on some USC stuff the other day.  No response.  He just quivered in the corner.

Jayar, thoughts? 

by ProfRich on 04/25/2008 12:29:43 PM EST

[ Parent ]
yes, come on down! eom (none / 0)

by desertpear on 04/25/2008 05:30:42 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Faith and Ass Busting (none / 0)

Cenk I agree the world doesn't automatically give you shit. Neither does faith. It's what a lot of people (like televangelist groupies or Hagee spiral-eyed supporters) assume when they don religious garb - everything will be magically great - all I need is faith.

In fact, faith opens up a world of ass-busting work. Faith just gives us the strength to accomplish it.

by Verified1 on 04/25/2008 02:55:58 PM EST

[ Parent ]
quote of the day (none / 0)
cenk - you make fun of people like deepak chopra and wayne dyer... but this is pretty much their whole philosophy... i agree with it 100%...

by musicinmouth on 04/25/2008 12:47:10 PM EST

way to blog it out! (none / 0)
I love epiphanies even when they're not mine, but a little iffy about this quote.  Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the existence of a magic, world-wish giver with a little determination to boot, though even the most honest and good people somet imes have the worst, unimaginable things happen to them and sometimes despite their efforts nothing gets better.  The classic example might be asking for a sick loved one to get better and then watching their fragile life wither away into the ground.  Maybe I'm just bitter because the one thing I asked for I never got, but then again overtime I learned that I never really wanted it in the first place. 

One last thing - I take it, this is the way an agnostic prays or are you going all Anthony Robbins on us?

by rev24 on 04/25/2008 12:58:49 PM EST

Ha, ha... (none / 0)
Cenk totally regrets this now. 

Not that he should, because this is entertaining. Plus he's got the fire under his ass to make damn sure his next quote is beyond criticism.

by ihavenobias on 04/25/2008 01:23:34 PM EST

[ Parent ]
This is what marraige and engagement does to Men (none / 0)
It makes them "Philosophizers".

Good Luck Old Man, you're gonna need it!!!!!

:)

by bobo1 on 04/25/2008 02:08:23 PM EST

quote (none / 0)
My trust fund girlfriend seems to go by this philosophy, and it always raises my hackles when she mentions it and forgets that her money got her everything she has.  Much as I would like to really bash the sentiment behind the quote, it is sometimes hard to account for the amazing opportunities that occasionally open up at the right place at the right time. I like to believe there is some mystery left in the world, even as I ridicule those with faith. ;)

by desertpear on 04/25/2008 05:36:17 PM EST

What Do You Ask The World For? (none / 0)
There seems to be an assumption in a lot of the responses to Cenk's quote that one must necessarily be asking the world for something material. I'm particularly surprised by presumptions of what people in Africa or Asia would think about this quote. That seems like a stretch for a westerner to make. I'd think that in the vast majority of cases, lack of choice is a more impoverished state than lack of goods.

by Verified1 on 04/28/2008 03:14:11 AM EST

Cenk Quote of the Day -- April 24, 2008 | 18 comments (18 topical, 0 hidden)
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