TOO MUCH OF I remember an expression which used to be in favor with a great many people who where, at times, critical of others who lived a prosperous, active interesting life style yet seemed never to be content or satisfied with their pathway - however splendid it seemed to others.
We used to hear a motherly, loving, generous mother who could be critical of rich relatives or friends as a warning to her children of letting desire become a prime guide to life accomplishments "She, He or They..." "was") ("were") often scorned some what when they seemed to be spending money and time in frivolous living; say, a two-weeks cruise in the Carri bean area, or a longer trip among the Greek Island. They were point out as being someone who was having too much of good thing!
I have heard it used against persons who are, by their inquisitive nature, permanent students - always attending classes of some sort of class in or out of a formal college setting. Many of them had too much of a good thing and it was sure to lead them to utter ruin. I think most of us could cite a situation of that nature where the most learned individual in the community; the richest or the one with too much of anything - such as too many children - was said to be a target of such a critical analysis.
The philosophy kept us, I suppose, from becoming lottery ticket addicts, from chasing the pay-off nags or dogs at the nearby or far away pits, ovals or tracks where super-rich persons are created with reported regularity. Your trips to Las Vegas could cause you to be such a pointed-out person. Just show up and win too many prizes at your local, church Bingo "party for a worthy cause" if you would like to feel a flight of such a flight of darts of damnation. We see and hear the expression in action in political life today - in society in general sense, in religious aspects and in business and industry. Failure seem to stem from Congress people when too many good things come their way .
It is an interesting sidelight on our native culture to see the lesser winners on the "good" selecting "American Idol" become the ones who win out as entertainment worthies. Give even a potentially good talent the glare of too much good publicity and ruin is assured.
Too much of a good thing can prove to be costly.
Andrew McCaskey Sr amccsr@comcast.net 3-3-07 [c432wds]
