Something odd about this one.
“I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies;
for the hardest victory is the victory over self.” ~ Aristotle
True, but if you don’t overcome your enemies, you won’t be around to conquer anything.
Surely there are more than enough fly fishing related quotes to use. Given the thread about ‘Catching’, how about:
“Bragging may not bring happiness, but no man having caught a large fish goes home through an alley” Anonymous
Allan
In our hedonistic society the quote of the week could easily apply to fly fishing.
nam the hedonist
A more recent quotation, addresses the same statement of Aristotle, in a different light.
We have met the enemy, and it is us", said Pogo the opossum, in one of America’s best-loved comic strips, as he surveyed the American political scene.
Even a 'possum could see that the root of human trouble is almost invariably human beings. If you are looking for enemies, look into a mirror, and you will find one!
~Parnelli
By God Allan, you’re right! That Aristotle guy was such a jerk anyhow.
“I count him the braver, he who overcomes his desires to use bait, than he who angleth with the worm; for the hardest of victories are those over ones ownself.” Castwelleth…
“How long does it take to learn fly-fishing?
No one knows.”
Grand poo-bah
The quote of the week is a very profound, and complete in its intent, statement.
Steve (Rookie)
“Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught”
Asceticism?
That would put fishing in the something necessary for food category using the most lethal/efficent means possible.
Give me asceticism or give me death?
Seems like an easy choice to me.
nam the hedonist
How about this thought from R M Rilke that tangentially relates:
“…If god had only made our hands to be like our eyes - so ready to grasp, so willing to relinquish all things - then we could truly acquire wealth…”
Bob
Flyfisher for men
I suppose it depends on one’s definition of asceticism.
Since I find fly fishing pleasurable as a true ascetic I should deny myself that pleasure.
One thing we could probably agree on though…we’re not on the same page.
nam the hedonist
Hey Swan, RW here
I suppose you’d rather have had god give us paws. It is actually thumbs, and of course or brains, that give (gave) us dominion over all the other animals. Although sometimes I’m not so sure about our brains. I’d like to see anyone tie a nail knot, tie on a size 22 dry fly and make a 60 foot cast with paws.
Later, RW
“Maybe your stature as a fly fisherman isn’t determined by how big a trout you can catch, but by how small a trout you can catch without being disappointed.” <John Gierach>
Does it really have to be FF related? Can’t we all just get along and allow JC and LF to expand our horizons a little?
Paul
Sometime, Just once, I would like to see ‘anything’ that pleased Tyeflies!
He would ‘squack’ if I hung him with a new rope!
And I always did wonder how to spell “squack”. 
I’d rather be in Wyoming!
[This message has been edited by Marco (edited 25 April 2006).]
[This message has been edited by Marco (edited 25 April 2006).]
Is that a hemp rope or a nylon rope ???LOL people are as different as there are different flies … Difference of opinions is the mother of diversity .Imagine if people just went along with everything … we all would be fishing wet flys on bamboo rods with silk lines and gut leaders…Can’t we all get along … LMAO
The more time I spend around people the more I like my dog.
Mike
Hey RW,
If I really wanted god to change anything about me, it wouldn’t be my hands.
Bob
[This message has been edited by BSwan (edited 25 April 2006).]