Here is a collection of quotes that I like, from many sources. They are semi-organized by topic, and partially by author. Some are funny, some inspirational, some appalling, some thought provoking. In general, I think they are a defense of freedom of expression, civil rights, and rationality.
A British co-worker told me that Brits are taught that Americans speak in cliches. I don't doubt it, but just wonder if that's less true of Europeans. And who collected Bartlett's Quotations, anyway?
"Throughout his service in the Navy, Stephen had observed the steady, almost mechanical, and as it were obligatory facetiousness that pervaded the various gunrooms and wardrooms he had known; the stream of small merriment, long-established jokes, proverbial sayings and more or less droll allusions that made up so large a part of his shipmates' daily intercourse." - Patrick O'Brian, Desolation Island, p.294
There are lots of misattributions on the web - this has gone on for centuries in print, but now the click of a mouse spreads them. Please tell me when I seem to have done that, and suggest sources for the Unknowns. I've probably mixed up attributions to Ambrose Beirce and H.L. Mencken, and haven't made time to sort them out.Ben Franklin and Abraham Lincoln were old favorite American default attributions when the real source was unknown, and I've seen that this is still happening. Also, it's very common now to ascribe quotes, even recent ones, to favorite ethnic groups (e.g. "old Chinese saying"). I noticed many misattributions or wholly imaginary quotes ascribed to political pariahs (eg Stalin, Boss Tweed) after the Supreme Court elected Bush Lite.
Quotes and last words are often fabricated by friends and enemies. Religious zealots, in particular, fabricate deathbed confessions and/or recantations of heresy when they can't coerce them. The imaginary confession of Charles Darwin is an infamous example, and I've seen Boston Globe and Worcester Telegram letters-to-the-editor that cited it as "proof of the fallacy of evolution." (As if someone changing his mind changes the facts.)
This page has Current Events, Quotes on Quotes, and Sources. Other topics are on separate pages.
quotes on quotes, quote sourcestopics
history, advice on life, and death, criticism
verse,
men vs women, kids
politics,
rights and responsibilities,
superstition and reason,
nut cases and jingoism,
separation of church and state,
science, computers and education
evolution,
news media
stupidity, bumper stickers & one-liners
Worcester Telgram & Gazette, with its nut job writers and subscribers
Ambrose Bierce, Albert Einstein, Ben Franklin, Aldo Leopold, Abraham Lincoln, H.L. Mencken, Shakespeare, George Bernard Shaw, Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde
Please send helpful and polite comments. Other comments are subject to posting and their authors to ridicule.
I'm not the only one crazy enough to be posting quotes!
"Currrent" events:
(or Jan 2001 - Jan 2009, anyway)
11/11/2004"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron" - H.L. Mencken, The Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920
Reading the columnists about the election, it seems that the famous exit-polling question abut "moral values" was badly phrased. It works for Mrs Grundy — an inarticulate response in favor of the status quo, or a roll-back to the 1950s (or for some of them, back to the 1650s.) After all, everyone is in favor of "moral values" — they just disagree on what that means and which ones are most important. When I think about it in those terms: It's immoral to keep a conspicuously ignorant, flagrantly lying, arrogantly superstitious fascist in a position of power.
Peace may be signed between two nations
But for protection of your rights
My friend it's always battle stations- James Keelaghan, Small Rebellions
Why, of course the people don't want to go to war, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders... All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country. - Herman Goering, at the Nuremburg trials 1
quotes on quotes
John Bartlett
I have gathered a posie of other men's flowers,
and nothing but the thread that binds them is mine own. - John Bartlett
There's an old proverb that says just about whatever you want to say.
The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. - Shakespeare
A witty saying proves nothing. - Voltaire
When a thing has been said and said well, have no scruple. Take it and copy it. - Anatole France
I often quote myself; it adds spice to my conversation. - G. B. Shaw
The ability to quote is a serviceable substitute for wit. - W. Somerset Maugham
Quotation, n: The act of repeating erroneously the words of another. - Ambrose Bierce
A proverb is the wisdom of many and the wit of one. - John Russell
Don't let it end like this. Tell them I said something. - Pancho Villa (1877-1923), last words
Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum viditur. (Whatever is said in Latin sounds profound.)
Quote me as saying I was mis-quoted. - Groucho Marx
Have you ever observed that we pay much more attention to a wise passage when it is quoted, than when we read it in the original author? - Philip J. Hamerton
It is a good thing for an uneducated man to read books of quotations. - Winston Churchill
If we read the words and attitudes of the past through the pompous "wisdom" of the considered moral judgments of the present, we will find nothing but error. - Mark Twain
