I'm pretty sure I'm using the standard definition of "clever" that most everyone use.

Whereas my position is that you are incorrect about the cleverness but that the far more important problem with the pithy quote is that the connotations are all wrong. In terms of being an inspirational quote conveying some insight it has negative value. (Which is probably as far as we can take this. I disapprove and disagree with the Rule while you agree. Hardly important.)