Alpha Annus Mirabilis, on Dispatch from the Razor's Edge

Excerpts from Tony Parsons' 2012 Man-ifesto in Vanity Fair

Pleasingly reminiscent of the Notebooks of Lazarus Long.

The man who strays eventually gets caught. The woman who strays eventually falls in love.
When you get back from the gym, you must immediately pack your kitbag for the next time. Because it doesn't end. It never ends.
Our greatest illusion is that happiness will come if only we can get that woman, that job, that house, that car, that prize. But true happiness always resides in the quest.
When you feel nostalgic for an old lover, always remember they do not look as hot as that any more.
Everything counts – the hours in the gym, the food delivered to your door, the empty calories of alcohol, the sit-ups and the snacks. Putting on a kilo a year makes you old.
The worst thing about having children is that you are never truly free again. The best thing about having children is that you will never have a better reason to be alive.
The only success that matters is being able to live the life that you want. This does not mean that there will never be failure, disappointment or more work than you can handle.
Eye contact. Eye contact with everyone. Eye contact and a big smile. These small, good things will transform your world.
Men fear commitment because we think if we do not give our hearts away, then we will stay free. But if he forever walks alone, a man does not become free. He becomes lost. This does not mean that you shouldn't shop around. Women rarely understand that you can't commit to all of them.
Money buys you the one thing that is really worth buying – time. Poverty makes a prisoner of every man. But if you love money too much, you're worse than a prisoner, you're a slave.
Don't worry – you will get a second chance to get everything right. Even if it all goes wrong – the marriage, the career, the life – you get a chance to try again. But you don't get a third chance.
Today could be the day you meet the love of your life. She is out there. You just haven't met her yet. The chances are, you never will. But there are millions of fabulous women in the world who you could love. Even if they will never be her.
You decide if you are going to succeed or fail. It is a personal decision. Luck does not come into it. Believe in yourself. Be your own greatest ally. Do not let negative thoughts into your mind. There will be enough people in your life who will be only too eager to underestimate you, to denigrate you, to put you down. Never do it to yourself.
Always treat your parents as if they are close friends who are soon to move to a distant land from where it will be impossible ever to return.
Everyone makes stupid mistakes. Laugh about them.
A little of what you fancy will always do you good – unless what you fancy is crack.
Prepare yourself for every task you face. Really prepare – you're too old to be doing your homework on the bus. When the time comes, be ready.
If you knew how long you were going to live, you would take better care of yourself.
Pay your way. Buy your round. Be generous to the point of absurdity.
Never bicker with your neighbours, your work colleagues or your girlfriend. Leave if you want. Go somewhere else. Find a new neighbour, job or girl. But never bicker.
The big lie: everything happens for a reason.

life choices philosophy quotes women

Dispatch from the Razor's Edge is owned and operated by novelist, technologist, vegan, exercise junkie, classical liberal, rambler, and Londoner Michael Stephen Fuchs.

Fuchs is the author of the novels The Manuscript and Pandora's Sisters, both published worldwide by Macmillan in hardback, paperback and all e-book formats (and in translation); the D-Boys series of high-tech, high-concept, spec-ops military adventure novels – D-Boys, Counter-Assault, and Close Quarters Battle (coming in 2016); and is co-author, with Glynn James, of the bestselling Arisen series of special-operations military ZA novels. The second nicest thing anyone has ever said about his work was: "Fuchs seems to operate on the narrative principle of 'when in doubt put in a firefight'." (Kirkus Reviews, more here.)

Fuchs was born in New York; schooled in Virginia (UVa); and later emigrated to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he lived through the dot-com boom. Subsequently he decamped for an extended period of tramping before finally rocking up in London, where he now makes his home. He does a lot of travel blogging, most recently of some very long walks around the British Isles. He's been writing and developing for the web since 1994 and shows no particularly hopeful signs of stopping.

You can reach him on .

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Dispatch from the Razor's Edge is owned and operated by novelist, technologist, vegan, exercise junkie, classical liberal, rambler, and Londoner Michael Stephen Fuchs.


2023 >> 2022 >> 2021 >> 2020 >> 2019 >> 2018 >> 2017 >> 2016 >> 2015 >> 2014 >> 2013 >> 2012-12-25 2012-12-20 2012-12-18 2012-12-16 2012-12-14 2012-12-10 2012-11-11 2012-10-25 2012-10-15 2012-10-06 2012-10-01 2012-09-30 2012-09-28 2012-09-27 2012-08-13 2012-08-07 2012-08-06 2012-08-04 2012-08-03 2012-08-01 2012-07-31 2012-07-30 2012-07-27 2012-07-07 2012-07-04 2012-06-24 2012-06-23 2012-06-22 2012-06-21 2012-06-20 2012-06-19 2012-06-18 2012-06-17 2012-06-16 2012-06-15 2012-06-14 2012-06-13 2012-05-23 2012-05-01 2012-04-01 2012-03-18 2012-02-04 2012-01-27 2012-01-10 2011 >> 2010 >> 2009 >> 2008 >> 2007 >> 2006 >> 2005 >> 2004 >> 2003 >> 2002 >>	Alpha Annus Mirabilis Excerpts from Tony Parsons' 2012 Man-ifesto in Vanity Fair Pleasingly reminiscent of the Notebooks of Lazarus Long. The man who strays eventually gets caught. The woman who strays eventually falls in love. When you get back from the gym, you must immediately pack your kitbag for the next time. Because it doesn't end. It never ends. Our greatest illusion is that happiness will come if only we can get that woman, that job, that house, that car, that prize. But true happiness always resides in the quest. When you feel nostalgic for an old lover, always remember they do not look as hot as that any more. Everything counts – the hours in the gym, the food delivered to your door, the empty calories of alcohol, the sit-ups and the snacks. Putting on a kilo a year makes you old. The worst thing about having children is that you are never truly free again. The best thing about having children is that you will never have a better reason to be alive. The only success that matters is being able to live the life that you want. This does not mean that there will never be failure, disappointment or more work than you can handle. Eye contact. Eye contact with everyone. Eye contact and a big smile. These small, good things will transform your world. Men fear commitment because we think if we do not give our hearts away, then we will stay free. But if he forever walks alone, a man does not become free. He becomes lost. This does not mean that you shouldn't shop around. Women rarely understand that you can't commit to all of them. Money buys you the one thing that is really worth buying – time. Poverty makes a prisoner of every man. But if you love money too much, you're worse than a prisoner, you're a slave. Don't worry – you will get a second chance to get everything right. Even if it all goes wrong – the marriage, the career, the life – you get a chance to try again. But you don't get a third chance. Today could be the day you meet the love of your life. She is out there. You just haven't met her yet. The chances are, you never will. But there are millions of fabulous women in the world who you could love. Even if they will never be her. You decide if you are going to succeed or fail. It is a personal decision. Luck does not come into it. Believe in yourself. Be your own greatest ally. Do not let negative thoughts into your mind. There will be enough people in your life who will be only too eager to underestimate you, to denigrate you, to put you down. Never do it to yourself. Always treat your parents as if they are close friends who are soon to move to a distant land from where it will be impossible ever to return. Everyone makes stupid mistakes. Laugh about them. A little of what you fancy will always do you good – unless what you fancy is crack. Prepare yourself for every task you face. Really prepare – you're too old to be doing your homework on the bus. When the time comes, be ready. If you knew how long you were going to live, you would take better care of yourself. Pay your way. Buy your round. Be generous to the point of absurdity. Never bicker with your neighbours, your work colleagues or your girlfriend. Leave if you want. Go somewhere else. Find a new neighbour, job or girl. But never bicker. The big lie: everything happens for a reason. Tweet life choices philosophy quotes women ← before \| contribute comment ↓ \| after →