Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 1, Page 181…

“The coat of arms of the human race ought to consist of a man with an axe on his shoulder proceeding toward a grindstone. Or, it ought to represent the several members of the human race holding out the hat to each other.

“For we are all beggars. Each in his own way.    Read more »

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Bertrand Russell, A History of Western Philosophy, Page 366

“It is strange that the last men of intellectual eminence before the Dark Ages (the fall of the Western Roman Empire came in the fifth century) were concerned not with saving civilization or expeling the barbarians or reforming the abuses of the administration but with preaching the merit of virginity and the damnation of unbaptized infants.    Read more »

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Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 1, Page 339…

“In the matter of slavish imitation, man is the monkey’s superior all the time. The average man is destitute of independence of opinion. He is not interested in contriving an opinion of his own, by study and reflection, but is only anxious to find out what his neighbor’s opinion is and slavishly adopt it.    Read more »

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No Compliment But Clearly Said By a Student of the Classics

“Diane Harpy”

— A Legislative Staffer referring to Assemblywoman Diane Harkey, a Laguna Niguel Republican

(Editor’s Note: In Greek mythology a Harpy is a winged creature with a woman’s face. In the Odyssey, they are winds that carry people away. Over time, they evolved into ill-tempered, loathsome, food-stealing monsters. In the lower-case, a harpy is defined as a “harridan” or “shrewish woman.”    Read more »

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Ronald Reagan Offers His Views on Government and Politics

“Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book.” “The government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: if it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. If it stops moving, subsidize it.”    Read more »

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This, Allegedly, From The Gipper…

Sitting down with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev at a summit meeting, President Reagan supposedly told Gorbachev this:

Two guys are standing in line waiting for a couple of vodkas. Finally, one becomes exasperated and says, “This is ridiculous. I’m going to go and kill Gorbachev.”

The guy leaves and comes back 20 minutes later.    Read more »

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Here’s an Archaic Word That Could See Use at the Capitol

Mockingstock — “A butt for merriment”    Read more »

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From 1984’s “Newspeak” file…

“Disestablished”

— Page 171, Gov. Jerry Brown’s 2011-12 budget summary. By July 1, the fate of existing redvelopment agencies.

(That anything like being eliminated?)    Read more »

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Of the State of Washington…

“How can you not love a place whose capital is named after a beer?”    Read more »

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What Have We Learned Over the Past 2065 Years?

“The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.”

Cicero, 55 BC    Read more »

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