William Shakespeare - Kurt Vonnegut - Benjamin Disraeli - Numbers 11:1 - William Temple - Kurt Cobain - Bertie O’Hearne - Henry David Thoreau - Blood Simple 1984 - Benjamin Franklin - Edmund Burke - Tonight TV -
A wretched soul, bruised with adversity
We bid be quiet when we hear it cry.
But were we burdened with like weight of pain,
As much or more we should ourselves complain. William Shakespeare, The Comedy of Errors II i 34-37
To whom should I complain? William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure II iv 171, Isabela
Sometimes I think it is a great mistake to have matter that can think and feel. It complains so. By the same token, though, I suppose that boulders and mountains and moons could be accused of being a little too phlegmatic. Kurt Vonnegut
Never complain and never explain. Benjamin Disraeli
And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. Numbers 11:1
Our present time is indeed a criticizing and critical time, hovering between the wish, and the inability to believe. Our complaints are like arrows shot up into the air at no target: and with no purpose they only fall back upon our own heads and destroy ourselves. William Temple
I like to complain and do nothing to make things better. Kurt Cobain
Cribbing and moaning is a lost opportunity. In fact I don’t know how people who engage in that don’t commit suicide. Bertie O’Hearne, 4th July 2007
This life is not for complaint, but for satisfaction. Henry David Thoreau
The world is full of complainers. But the fact is nothing comes with a guarantee. Blood Simple 1984 starring John Getz & Frances McDormand & Dan Hedaya & M Emmet Walsh & Samm-Art Williams & Deborah Neumann & Raquel Gavia & Van Brooks & Senor Marco & William Creamer et al, director Joel Coen, opening commentary
Any fool can criticise, condemn and complain and most fools do. Benjamin Franklin
It is a general popular error to imagine the loudest complainers for the public to be the most anxious for its welfare. Edmund Burke
Customers: Are we being served? What about the companies we’re dealing with? So how do you complain successfully? And are we at the end of the line with being put on hold? Tonight: Are We Being Served? ITV 2023
Customer complaints are said to have risen to their highest level for ten years with poor customer service estimated to cost UK businesses billions of pounds every month. ibid.