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In honor of the 90th anniversary of the birthday of Charles Schulz (1922-2000), creator of the immortal "Peanuts" comic strip, father of Linus, Lucy, Charlie Brown, Sally, Schroeder and, of course, the beagle Snoopy, we explore the Tao of Peanuts.
Lucy: Why do you think we're put here on earth Charlie Brown?
Charlie Brown: To make others happy.
Lucy: I don't think I'm making anyone very happy. Of course nobody's making ME very happy either. SOMEBODY'S NOT DOING HIS JOB!
Charlie Brown: To make others happy.
Lucy: I don't think I'm making anyone very happy. Of course nobody's making ME very happy either. SOMEBODY'S NOT DOING HIS JOB!
Lucy's doing her job! (courtesy Schulz treasury)
Charlie Brown: What can you do when you don't fit in? What can you do when life seems to be passing you by?
Lucy: Follow me. I want to show you something. (They get to the top of a hill.) See the horizon over there? See how big this world is? See how much room there is for everybody? Have you ever seen any other worlds?
Charlie Brown: No.
Lucy: As far as you know, this is the only world there is, right?
Charlie Brown: Right.
Lucy: There are no other worlds for you to live in, right?
Charlie Brown: Right.
Lucy: You were born to live in this world, right?
Charlie Brown: Right.
Lucy: WELL LIVE IN IT THEN! Five cents please.
Lucy: Follow me. I want to show you something. (They get to the top of a hill.) See the horizon over there? See how big this world is? See how much room there is for everybody? Have you ever seen any other worlds?
Charlie Brown: No.
Lucy: As far as you know, this is the only world there is, right?
Charlie Brown: Right.
Lucy: There are no other worlds for you to live in, right?
Charlie Brown: Right.
Lucy: You were born to live in this world, right?
Charlie Brown: Right.
Lucy: WELL LIVE IN IT THEN! Five cents please.
Advice for the neurotic (courtesy Schulz treasury)
Snoopy: My life has no purpose. My life has no direction, no aim, no meaning. And yet I'm happy. I can't figure it out! What am I doing right?
The original happy dance (courtesy Schulz treasury)
Linus: What would you say you want most out of life, Charlie Brown? To be happy?
Charlie Brown: Oh, no. I don't expect that. I really don't. I just don't want to be unhappy!
Charlie Brown: Oh, no. I don't expect that. I really don't. I just don't want to be unhappy!
The once and future philosophers (courtesy of Schulz treasury)
Charlie Brown: I've developed a new philosophy. I only dread one day at a time!
Linus: I don't like to face problems head on. I think the best way to solve problems is to avoid them. This is a distinct philosophy of mine. No problem can be so complicated that it can't be run away from!