One man’s – or woman’s – trash is another’s treasure...

THE TRASH TO TREASURE RULE: “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”         A popular proverbial saying in America since the late 20th century. Its basic meaning is that something which seems worthless to one person is often deemed valuable by another. This modern proverb is, of course, a variation of the much older English proverb “One man's meat is another man's poison,” which dates back to sometime before 1709, when it was recorded by language scholar Oswald Dykes in his book English Proverbs.

THE TRASHY MEN RULE: “One woman’s trash is another woman’s boyfriend.”          Laura Ruby         American novelist        Quip made by a character in Ruby’s novel I’m Not Julia Roberts (2007)

THE TRAMP STAMP VARIATION: “One woman’s tramp stamp is another woman’s declaration of undying love — until she dumps the lying SOB and is stuck with his name forever.”          Alexis Munier        American-born writer currently living in Switzerland        From her entry about the term “tramp stamp” in The Little Red Book of Very Dirty Words (2009)

THE FAMOUS COHEN V. CALIFORNIA FREE SPEECH DECISION: “One man’s vulgarity is another man’s lyric.”        U.S. Supreme Court Justice John M. Harlan II (1899-1971)        In majority opinion he wrote for the Supreme Court’s decision on Cohen v. California (1971)        The case involved an anti-Vietnam War activist named Paul Cohen, who had been convicted of “offensive conduct” and sentenced to 30 days in jail for publicly wearing a jacket that had “FUCK THE DRAFT” printed on it. The Court reversed Cohen’s conviction, finding that it violated his Constitutional right to free speech under the First Amendment.

THE OGDEN NASH QUIP: “One man’s remorse is another man’s reminiscence.”               Ogden Nash (1902-1971)         American poet and humorist         From his poem “A Clean Conscience Never Relaxes” (1936), included in his book I’m a Stranger Here Myself (1938)

THE BOOB JOB QUIP: “One woman’s self-objectifying excess is another woman’s décolletage.”        Ann Scales (1952-2012)        American law professor and author         In her book Legal Feminism (2006)

THE CHARLIE SHEEN SPIT JOB QUIP: “One man’s saliva is another man’s mousse.”        Charlie Sheen, as the character Charlie Harper        In an episode of his former TV series Two and a Half Men (“Can You Eat Human Flesh with Wooden Teeth?”, first aired February 14, 2005)

NICK MANCUSO’S OBSERVATION ABOUT RELIGION: “One man’s superstition is another man’s religion!”          Nick Mancuso, as the Indian police officer Youngman Duran         One of his lines in the batty horror movie Nightwing (1979)

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

Comments? Questions? Corrections? Post them on the Famous Quotations Facebook page.

Related reading: books about proverbial sayings and idioms...

As American as apple pie, cherry pie – and marijuana...

H. RAP BROWN’S INCENDIARY CHERRY PIE QUOTATION: “Violence…is as American as cherry pie.”        H. Rap Brown (a.k.a. Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin)        A prominent black civil rights activist in the 1960s, currently in prison for killing African-American police officer Ricky Kinchen.        In the 1800s, American-style apple pies became known for their special sweetness and flavor and the term “American apple pie” was used to distinguish them from apple pies made in other countries. The phrase “as American as apple pie” dates back to at least 1920. By the 1940s, it was a common idiomatic expression.        The most famous — and infamous — variation of that expression was created by H. Rap Brown in a press conference he gave on July 27, 1967. Brown told reporters:        “I say violence is necessary. Violence is a part of America’s culture. It is as American as cherry pie.”        It’s not clear why he chose cherry pie instead of apple pie. But in his controversial 1969 autobiography Die Nigger Die!, Brown helped popularize his version of the expression by using it in the pithier form that’s usually cited: “Violence is as American as cherry pie.”         (Read more about this quotation on my ThisDayinQuotes.com site)

THE FOOTBALL HATER’S APPLICATION: “We live in a culture where bullying is as American as apple pie.”        Tom Reilly         Columnist for the Millbury-Sutton Chronicle (Millbury, Massachusetts)        In an opinion piece published on November 27, 2013        (The cartoon lampooning Miami Dolphins football bully Richie Incognito was done by Nate Beeler, cartoonist for the Columbus Dispatch.)

THE YANKEES HATERS APPLICATION: “Hating the Yankees is as American as pizza pie, unwed mothers, and cheating on your income tax.”        Mike Royko (1932-1997)        Legendary Chicago sportswriter        One of his most widely-cited zingers (though I couldn’t find a specific date or source for when he said it)

THE DEEP-FRIED FOOD LOVERS VERSION: “Today, deep-fried food is almost as American as apple pie—which, incidentally, can be dunked into a vat of oil and emerge with a greasy, crunchy coating, along with almost any kind of food.”        Marina Koren        Staff correspondent at the National Journal        In her November 27, 2013 column on the National Journal website         (Cartoon by James Cahill via the DeviantArt website.)

THE WEED LOVERS VERSION: “SAMHSA [The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration] research determined more than 100 million Americans have consumed marijuana...Marijuana is as American as apple pie - and healthier.”        William Breathes        Writer for the Denver Westworld News        In the November 14, 2013 edition of his "Dear Stoner" column

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *    

Comments? Corrections? Post them on on the Famous Quotations Facebook page.

Related reading and viewing…