Charlie Chaplin had it nailed 73 years ago.

[British Red]

No worries - its a great speech - but even as an old man Chaplin was driven around in a blue and silver Rolls Royce (with his fourth wife who was 35 years younger than him...although a younger wife never stopped his many mistresses). Its a tough platform to stand on and ask for more fairness, love and equality in the world

I feel sorry for the guy though - when your father dies of alcoholism and your mother dies in an asylum from a "social disease" apparently caught during her time as a lady of negotiable virtue, and you are put in the workhouse as a child, its got to mess with your head

 

[Macaroon]

Sandbender, you're a very lucky man by the sound of it...............atb mac

 

[joejoe]

No worries - its a great speech - but even as an old man Chaplin was driven around in a blue and silver Rolls Royce (with his fourth wife who was 35 years younger than him...although a younger wife never stopped his many mistresses). Its a tough platform to stand on and ask for more fairness, love and equality in the world

I feel sorry for the guy though - when your father dies of alcoholism and your mother dies in an asylum from a "social disease" apparently caught during her time as a lady of negotiable virtue, and you are put in the workhouse as a child, its got to mess with your head

sory to diissagree no it does not have to mess with your head. your childhood might be unbearable but you choose how you live your life and your childrens. agrre though he is a hypocrite

 

[santaman2000]

sory to diissagree no it does not have to mess with your head. your childhood might be unbearable but you choose how you live your life and your childrens. agrre though he is a hypocrite

Your childhood environment certainly influences your character. But generally I agree with you. Chris Gardener comes to mind as one example.

 

[sandbender]

Sandbender, you're a very lucky man by the sound of it...............atb mac

My luck comes an goes, however good times or bad I have always valued the people around me rather than the things around me.

 

[blacktimberwolf]

Can you judge an artist & a genius by an ordinary man's standards ?

 

[blacktimberwolf]

No worries - its a great speech - but even as an old man Chaplin was driven around in a blue and silver Rolls Royce (with his fourth wife who was 35 years younger than him...although a younger wife never stopped his many mistresses).

Jealousy or moralism ?

 

[British Red]

Jealousy or moralism ?

Factual observation - not jealous - already have the beautiful younger wife and no desire for a Rolls Royce. Just always find people who bang on about how the world should be a fairer place, whilst enjoying wealth denied to the majority of the Earth's population to be screaming hypocrites. If they truly believed what they are saying, they would already have shared their own wealth with the less fortunate.

 

[blacktimberwolf]

Just always find people who bang on about how the world should be a fairer place, whilst enjoying wealth denied to the majority of the Earth's population to be screaming hypocrites.

Errrmmm...............it was just a monologue in a movie not a party political rally speech...he wasn't banging on about anything, just giving those that can hear, the chance to ponder how the world might be a better place if there was a little more love & compassion in it.... .....You'll notice he didn't say anything about sharing wealth.

 

[British Red]

Errrmmm...............it was just a monologue in a movie not a party political rally speech...he wasn't banging on about anything, just giving those that can hear, the chance to ponder how the world might be a better place if there was a little more love & compassion in it.... .....You'll notice he didn't say anything about sharing wealth.

He did talk about "Doing away with national barriers and greed" though - quite the speech from the back of a Rolls Royce from a man who fled abroad when disapproved of. You can like it if you choose - I can dislike it too.

It doesn't chime with the words of someone who lived his words "Be the change you want to see in the world"

 

[Christy]

I feel sorry for the guy though - when your father dies of alcoholism and your mother dies in an asylum from a "social disease" apparently caught during her time as a lady of negotiable virtue, and you are put in the workhouse as a child, its got to mess with your head

Whatever you think on how to behave in life, you are formed in childhood. Genetics have a say in things as well.
In Chaplin´s time, the workhouse would have left an everlasting mark.
His display of wealth, womanizing and discrepancy between his roles and personal life most likely stem from that.
It does not detract from his talent. if anything his time in the workhouse shaped him into escapism into theater and film.
Just not think that you can get all that on your plate and not be affected by it.