What Eli Khamarov teaches us about truth and the Internet

Eli Khamarov is a very smart person. Wherever you go on the Internet, you’re bound to find at least one of his quotes. One day I needed one to stress the need to always face the unexpected. A few clicks later, here pops up our friend Eli and one of the quotation websites had even gone to the length of building a smart graphic with a Sea turtle on it (no longer available, but I kept a screen grab for you). Here is the quote “ the best things in life are unexpected – because there were no expectation”. That was a brilliant line, I thought. But then I asked myself “who is this Khamarov type?” and “Where is he from?” In what “Worldwide best-selling opus can I find those smart quotes?” Here is what I found, and what Eli Khamarov taught me about knowledge and the Internet.

Eli Khamarov is all over the place. He is a philosopher, a thinker and an authority on almost any subject. Well, at least on the surface of it. Half dozen quotation related websites including Brainyquote (that is to say, until I did something about it and sent them an email) know about him. His quotes are witty, high brow. Very impressive. Here is a sample:

“Poverty is like punishment for a crime you didn’t commit.”
“To admit there is no god(sic! vs. God) is to provide free license to pillage and rape with clear conscience” (Voltaire would have liked that)
“The best things in life are unexpected – because there were no expectations.”
“Poets are soldiers that liberate words from the steadfast possession of definition.” (now, that one is really brilliant)
“Most people are awaiting Virtual Reality; I’m awaiting virtuous reality.” (I told you the guy was witty).