08-22-2011, 10:00 AM
If I may weigh in? Just because I'm nosey 
abide conveys a feeling of contempt, especially combined with will -- can not abide, in comparison, would imply that it's more or less out of the speaker's control, and given that he's kind of good at controlling things... there is also a secondary meaning to the word will that adds dimension here... and abide also, as in "Abide With Me".
strive implies competition, and I don't think the speaker really feels any great competitive threat from the subjects, which is why it seemed out of place to me initially.
And thrive, though a really interesting image with the garden/seedling overtones, also implies something that's not really in the speaker's control, viz "that sort of plant will not thrive in rocky soil".
"My words", for one who is The Word, is much the same as one of us saying "my body" -- so essentially, abide gives you "I cannot abide your petty attempts to copy me -- come and talk to me when you've realised your limitations".
Yes, I know, it's just one damn word!
abide conveys a feeling of contempt, especially combined with will -- can not abide, in comparison, would imply that it's more or less out of the speaker's control, and given that he's kind of good at controlling things... there is also a secondary meaning to the word will that adds dimension here... and abide also, as in "Abide With Me".
strive implies competition, and I don't think the speaker really feels any great competitive threat from the subjects, which is why it seemed out of place to me initially.
And thrive, though a really interesting image with the garden/seedling overtones, also implies something that's not really in the speaker's control, viz "that sort of plant will not thrive in rocky soil".
"My words", for one who is The Word, is much the same as one of us saying "my body" -- so essentially, abide gives you "I cannot abide your petty attempts to copy me -- come and talk to me when you've realised your limitations".
Yes, I know, it's just one damn word!
It could be worse