Whilst undertaking my school days I had the luck to come across the
writings of Stephen Potter, who is probably most notable for being the
background behind the classic Terry Thomas film “School for Scoundrels”
which create such classic lines as:
“Hard cheese!”
Anyhow, as soon as I could I sought out the great man’s
original books and now am the owner of the complete set of “Upmanship”
books. I strongly recommend to all of you chaps out there to get a set
and read them, much laughter will ensue…
I find it hard to keep a straight face on the Tube when you read classic exerts such as:
From Lifemanship and the sub paragraph: “How to make People Feel Awkward about Religion”
The man who lets it be known that he is religious is in a strong life position. There is one basic rule. It is: Go one better.
To take the most ordinary instance – the simple Sunday church-goer.
“Are you coming to church with us?” my host says. It is a
little country church and my host, Moulton, who has some claims to be a
local squire, wants me to come, I know because he is going to read the
lesson. He reads it very well. He enjoys reading it. I heard him
practising it to himself immediately after breakfast.
“Yes, why don’t you come to church for once, you old sinner?” Mrs Moulton will say.
Do not mumble in reply to this: “No I’m afraid…..I’m not awfully good at that sort of thing…my letters..catch post”
In the contrary, deepen and intensify your voice, lay your hand
on her shoulder and say, ‘Elsa”(calling her by her Christian name
perhaps for the first time).
“Elsa when the painted glass is scattered from the windows,
and the roof is opened to the sky, and the ordinary simple flowers grow
in the crevises of pew and transept – then and not till then will your
church, as I believe, be fit for our worship”
Not only does this reply completely silence opponent; but it
will be possible to go out and win ten shillings on the golf course,
come back very slightly buzzed from Sunday pre-lunch drinks, and
suggest, by your direct and untroubled look, before which their glance
may actually shift, that by comparison with yourself your host and
hostess, however innocently, have been only playing at religion.
Chaps, I do hope this has wetted your appetite for the great
man’s work. The books Stephen Potter wrote provide us with invaluable
ways to deal with the fools that life chucks your way. As I say search
on Amazon or the like for his books they are cheap as old now but the
lessons they give……invaluable.
Regards
Carl
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