“Say what you mean and mean what you say.”
If everyone did this, there would be no need to pepper our speech with adjectives that modify a word that already expresses an absolute quality.
I mention this because of the tendency of the population to do exactly that, needlessly emphasize a truism that has already been established. This came to mind when I remembered how O.J. Simpson pleaded at the beginning of his trial for double murder. He pleaded (if memory serves correctly), “Absolutely, 100 percent, not guilty.”
Assuming he was innocent of the crime, I understand why he emphasized his plea so strongly. All around him were irrational, judgmental people who were already so convinced of his guilt, there was little or no hope of persuading their minds into a more open state.
But alas, not everyone is in the habit of saying what they mean and meaning what they say. This sad state of affairs is programmed in our minds since birth. How many times have you experienced a hapless parent trying in vain to verbally control their child. It is as funny as anything coming out of Hollywood. They do everything but what they say they will do. “If you don’t behave, I will spank you.” No spanking occurs. And the threat is repeated with no follow-up. The whole process is repeated past the point of futility. And what does the child learn?
No one says what they mean or means what they say.
And so we have a world of idiots creating a constant state of chaos.
“Say what you mean and mean what you say.”
