I am obliged to Mrs. Underclass (who spent longer than she cared to in the advertising industry) for today’s catchphrase, neatly summing up in one word the wretchedness of a once-proud nation languishing in political apathy, mawkish sentimentalism and ethical cowardice, and the appalling, evil governments which, like some species of ant, have for so [...]
Archive for the ‘Quotes’ Category
Quote of the day
Posted in Quotes on 17 April, 2009 | 13 Comments »
Quote of the day
Posted in Quotes, tagged boxes on 19 March, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Comment on Slashdot:
There are 4 boxes to be used in the defence of liberty: Soap, Jury, Ballot, and Ammo. Use in that order.
Quote of the week (Ptolemaic ptotalitarianism)
Posted in Quotes, tagged Egypt on 19 October, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
“The spirit of the nation was one of indifference – the dull obedience of serfs who possessed no initiative, no animation, no patriotism, whose thoughts were wholly concentrated on the problem of daily bread and economic interests… officials became submerged in a mire of bureaucracy and bribery… Serfdom lay heavy upon the people, but protests [...]
Passers-by
Posted in Quotes, tagged kafka, passers-by on 2 September, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The Lone Voice:
British people are the least likely in Europe to be “have-a-go heroes” and get involved if they witness a crime, research from a think tank claims. The public policy group Reform says that Britons have become “passive bystanders” in the fight against crime.
Franz Kafka [tr. W. and E. Muir]:
When you go walking by [...]
Remember, remember
Posted in Quotes, tagged 5th November on 23 July, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Old Holborn is going for a walk.
It is a very long way from Redneckshire to London, and to arrive by midday would probably involve what is known at the Villa Underclass as ‘a stupid-o’clock start’. This, together with my medical portfolio, militates against such indulgence.
However, if I can get there, I will.
Not having seen the [...]
Happy birthday, USA
Posted in Quotes, tagged jefferson, usa on 4 July, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Among the admirable remarks of the great Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the USA, was this one:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
[...]
Quote of the day
Posted in Quotes, tagged motto on 29 June, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Eins andern knecht soll niemand seyn,
Der für sich bleyben kann alleyn.
‘Let no man belong to another, who can belong to himself.’
[Motto of 'Paracelsus' (Philip Theophrastus Bombast von Hohenheim, 1493-1541); in Ball, P.: The Devil's Doctor: Paracelsus and the world of Renaissance magic and science, ISBN 0434011347]
