Reality Is Catching up to My Dreams

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Text on Button REALITY IS CATCHING UP TO MY DREAMS
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White text on a green background

Curl Text I (heart) ORDERS POWERLINE 77920 165
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The message is a cheerful way of saying that “my goals are starting to come true”—acting as a boost of self-motivation or a playful humble-brag. It's a positive statement indicating that a person's ambitions and dreams are becoming achievable. This phrase can inspire hope and motivation, helping maintain an optimistic outlook on life. It also involves releasing old beliefs to make space for new, larger opportunities suited for the current phase of life. Achieving this requires openness to seeing possibilities, taking action, and welcoming new opportunities. 

I (heart) ORDERS POWERLINE likely refers to the slogans and the post-1977 “I ♥ …” style; it appears to be from a late-1970s/1980s catalog or mail-order button house. The maker/distributor was “Powerline,” and “I ♥ ORDERS … 7792” (or “77920 363/364”) was their ordering info/phone number printed on the rim. 

Sources

ElushskaBabushska. (n.d.). Vintage “I LIKE ZAFTIG WOMEN” button [Product listing]. Etsy. Retrieved October 21, 2025, from https://www.etsy.com/listing/606427231/vintage-i-like-zaftig-women-button 

Infinity, Amy. (2020, July 20). Thrill of the chase? 10 steps toward actually catching your wildest dreams. Thrive Global. Retrieved October 21, 2025, from https://community.thriveglobal.com/thrill-of-the-chase-10-steps-toward-actually-catching-your-wildest-dreams/#:~:text=To%20catch%20your%20wildest%20dreams,tight%2C%20because%20it%20IS%20YOU 

Mills, A. (n.d.). Pursuing your dreams: how to get unstuck and achieve your goals. Alden Mills. Retrieved October 21, 2025, from https://www.alden-mills.com/blog/pursuing-your-dreams-how-to-get-unstuck-and-achieve-your-goals#:~:text=Dreams%20Give%20You%20Something%20to,the%20hardest%20days%20more%20bearable

Catalog ID IB0537

People Who Think They Know it all

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Text on Button PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY KNOW IT ALL REALLY ANNOY THOSE OF US WHO DO
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White text on a black background

Curl Text 47868-5 copyright 1985 SKY ENT. VENICE, CA
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Isaac Asimov, renowned science fiction author, gained credit for this statement, "Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do." However, there has been no solid evidence stating Asimov said or wrote this quote. In fact, the earliest reference to this statement was found in a 1961 edition of The Saturday Evening Post, attributed to Harold Coffin a humor columnist for the Associated Press. 

 

Sources


Quote Investigator. (2019, July 13). The fellow who thinks he knows it all is especially annoying to those of us who do. https://quoteinvestigator.com/2019/07/13/know-all/

Catalog ID IB0538

Nothing was Ever Accomplished

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Text on Button NOTHING WAS EVER ACCOMPLISHED BY A REASONABLE PERSON
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White text on a light brown background

Curl Text I (heart) ORDERS POWERLINE 77920 364
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The phrase, "Nothing was every accomplished by a reasonable man," comes from the play Man and Superman by George Bernard Shaw. The modernization of man to person is more inclusive of any gender. George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) was born in Dublin, Ireland. During his early years, his work was rejected by publishers. He transitioned to writing reviews about books, art, and theater in 1895. Shaw won a Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925.

Sources

George Bernard Shaw. (2019, October 11). Retrieved July 23, 2020, from https://www.biography.com/writer/george-bernard-shaw

Catalog ID IB0542

In for a Penny

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Text on Button IN FOR A PENNY, IN FOR A POUND
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White text on a red background

Curl Text I (heart) ORDERS POWERLINE 77920 363
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The phrase "in for penny, in for a pound" is a common English idiom, meaning if one is involved in something even to a small degree, they may as well be fully involved. A common American equivalent states "in for a dime, in for a dollar." The sentiment dates back to at least 1678, when naturalist John Ray stated one might "as good be hang'd for an old sheep as a young lamb," meaning that if one were to be punished for committing either a minor or major crime (here stealing either an old sheep or a young lamb), they may as well commit the more serious one. 

Sources

Dictionary.com. (2018). In for a penny, in for a pound. Retrieved from http://www.dictionary.com/browse/in-for-a-penny--in-for-a-pound

Catalog ID IB0536

I'm on a Seafood Diet

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Text on Button I'm on a seafood diet. I see food I eat it!
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White text on a purple background

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“I’m on a seafood diet. I see food I eat it!” is a pun based on the word “seafood” being both a rhyme and similar to the words “see food”. The pun also rejects the notion of being on a diet of only seafood, but rather eating any food that is visible. 

Catalog ID IB0543

How Far Can You Open Your Mind

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Text on Button How far can you open your mind before your brains fall out?
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Red text on a yellow background

Curl Text BUTR-767463 copyright RPP, Inc.
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Lawrence Ferlinghetti wrote the line in his book of poems, San Francisco Poems. Ferlinghetti is an American poet, activist and co-founder of City Lights Booksellers & Publishers. His main audience is young people with his poetry being against social norms and that art should be shared among everyone. He termed his work the be “wide-open” referring to the wide range of content and mode. The idea that art was only for the higher class was an ideology that Ferlinghetti was against. He was very vocal that art was meant for everyone to participate in and see. Felinghetti also write fiction with his most recent book called Little Boy (2019). He is also 101 years old as of June 2020.

Sources

Ferlinghetti, L. (2003). San Francisco poems. San Francisco, CA: City Lights.

Lawrence Ferlinghetti. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/lawrence-ferlinghetti

Catalog ID IB0539

Folk You

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Text on Button FOLK YOU
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Black text on an orange background

Curl Text BIG STORE 112 MACDOUGAL ST NYC
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This button was distributed as a joke at a meeting for the American Folklore Society by the chairman, Richard Dorson. The American Folklore Society is an association of people who study and communicate knowledge about folklore around the world. It was founded in 1888 and had Mark Twain as a member as well as President Rutherford B. Hayes. The society is located on the campus of Indiana University-Bloomington.

Catalog ID IB0530