“It isn't necessary to imagine the world ending in fire or ice — there are two other possibilities: one is paperwork, and the other is nostalgia.”

— Frank Zappa

Source: The Real Frank Zappa Book (1989), p. 203.

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update Sept. 27, 2023. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "It isn't necessary to imagine the world ending in fire or ice — there are two other possibilities: one is paperwork, an…" by Frank Zappa?

Frank Zappa 129

American musician, songwriter, composer, and record and fil… 1940–1993

Related quotes

“Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.”

Robert Frost Fire and Ice

"Fire and Ice" (1923)
General sources
Context: Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

“If possible, try to avoid pushing each other over the edge, as that would cause me extra paperwork.”

Rick Riordan book The Lost Hero

Source: The Lost Hero

“There, Master Niketas," Baudolino said, "when I was not prey to the temptations of this world, I devoted my nights to imagining other worlds. … There is nothing better than imagining other worlds," he said, "to forget the painful one we live in. At least so I thought then. I hadn't yet realized that, imagining other worlds, you end up changing this one.”

Umberto Eco book Baudolino

Baudolino (2000)

“And yet I strove — and I was fire
And ice — and fire and ice were one
In one vast hunger of desire.”

Stephen Vincent Benét (1898–1943) poet, short story writer, novelist

Young Adventure (1918), The Quality of Courage
Context: p>The iron ice stung like a goad,
Slashing the torn shoes from my feet,
And all the air was bitter sleet. And all the land was cramped with snow,
Steel-strong and fierce and glimmering wan,
Like pale plains of obsidian.
— And yet I strove — and I was fire
And ice — and fire and ice were one
In one vast hunger of desire.</p

“I only know two tunes. One is Yankee Doodle, and the other one isn't.”

Ulysses S. Grant (1822–1885) 18th President of the United States

Quoted by Robert C. Winthrop in a letter http://books.google.com/books?id=kSUdAAAAMAAJ&q=%22I+only+know+two+tunes+one+is+yankee+doodle+and+the+other+isn't%22&pg=PA40#v=onepage to George W. Childs (c. 1889).

“I only know two pieces, one is 'Clair de Lune', the other one isn't.”

Victor Borge (1909–2000) Danish and US-American comedian and musician

From the obit in The Independent.
Quotations from Borge's performances
Source: Tom Vallance, "Obituary: Victor Borge", The Independent (London), 26 December 2000