While the phrase sound bite is relatively new - namely because it required the capture, editing and rebroadcast of sound :-), the concept of a short oft-quoted and remembered bit of text most definitely is not! Follow me below the dingledoodlesquiggliedKosagnocchidividerthingie fold after a word from our sponsor...
Here at Top Comments we strive to nourish community by rounding up some of the site's best, funniest, most mojo'd & most informative commentary, and we depend on your help!! If you see a comment by another Kossack that deserves wider recognition, please send it either to topcomments at gmail or to the Top Comments group email by 9:30pm Eastern. Please please please include a few words about why you sent it in as well as your user name (even if you think we know it already :-)), so we can credit you with the find!
Long before there were sound bites, media moments, spin statements... people have taken memorable bits of sermons, speeches, etc and turned them into famous top comments quotations. Every Independence Day, I subject Casa Brillig to a discussion of the Declaration of Independence which the Boston Globe prints on its Op-Ed pages. Hopefully K1 will look up from the comics to join in; hopefully the prospect of a 2013 Netroots Nation Registration if she gets more involved in political discussion will be a motivating influence :-). In honor of our Founding Fathers, I went looking for quotes that resonate especially well these days, by three who signed the original American protest document. Enjoy, comment, and share your own findings/favorites!
John Adams:
Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom.
-- Defense of the Constitutions, 1787
Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclination, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.
-- Argument for the Defense, Rex v. Wemms (Boston Massacre Trial), December 4, 1770
Independence forever.
-- last public words, as a toast for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1826
I agree with you, that in Politics the Middle Way is none at all. If We finally fail in this great and glorious Contest, it will be by bewildering ourselves in groping after this middle Way.
-- letter to Horatio Gates, March 23, 1776
Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people . . . . This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people was the real American Revolution.
-- Letter to H. Niles February 13, 1818
Benjamin Franklin:
Having been poor is no shame, but being ashamed of it, is.
-- Poor Richards Almanack, 1749
They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.
-- Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759
Without Freedom of Thought there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such Thing as Public Liberty, without Freedom of Speech.
-- writing as Silence Dogood, No. 8, 1722
Thomas Jefferson:
An honest man can feel no pleasure in the exercise of power over his fellow citizens.... There has never been a moment of my life in which I should have relinquished for it the enjoyments of my family, my farm, my friends & books.
-- letter to John Melish, January 13, 1813
I would rather be exposed to the inconveniencies attending too much liberty than those attending too small a degree of it.
-- letter to Archibald Stewart, Dec 23, 1791
If we move in mass, be it ever so circuitously, we shall attain our object; but if we break into squads, everyone pursuing the path he thinks most direct, we become an easy conquest to those who can now barely hold us in check.
-- letter to Col. William Duane, 1811
It has been a source of great pain to me to have met with so many among [my] opponents who had not the liberality to distinguish between political and social opposition; who transferred at once to the person, the hatred they bore to his political opinions.
-- letter to Richard M. Johnson, 1808
Brillig's ObDisclaimer: The decision to publish each nomination lies with the evening's Diarist and/or Comment Formatter. My evenings at the helm, I try reeeeallllyy hard to publish everything
without regard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do
not publish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down.
From first time TC nominator (YAY!) Lorinda Pike:
egarratt explains the difference between D's and R's by choice of Sheriff.
From Steveningen:
In Hunter's diary Rep. Joe Walsh says Tammy Duckworth isn't a 'true hero', Jaxpagan nails the truth.
From social democrat:
I'll recommend the DailyKos Electoral College Projection animation Jeffrey L Albertson posted here.
From ZedMont:
Nominating ban48's comment from today's Abbreviated Pundit Roundup.
From peregrine kate:
I'd like to nominate this comment made by Pluto (in her own diary). To describe the U.S. version of capitalism as "predatory," and then to explain clearly and succinctly why it deserves that label, is a fine contribution to our collective understanding. (Her sig file isn't bad either.)
From Noddy:
vacantlook brings an insightful quote from The Newsroom to a discussion on MinistryofTruth's diary STOP Telling me "Both sides do it".
From Yours Truly, brillig:
So much confusion on the ACA. lgmcp points out a nifty quiz to take then share with those who need to learn the truth.
Top Mojo for yesterday, July 2nd, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you
mik for the mojo magic!
1) but will they learn??? by Sue B — 138
2) AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! by Tom Stokland — 129
3) I'll believe it when the jail sentences are handed by Tom Stokland — 126
4) I haven't set foot in a Walmart since '06. by Broke And Unemployed — 113
5) This drought & heat was predictable by FishOutofWater — 101
6) No, sadly, they will not learn. by Tom Stokland — 99
7) finally by dark daze — 98
8) DOD report a few years ago on climate change by Don midwest — 97
9) I doubt that even this... by JackND — 97
10) Totally awesome with me by kos — 93
11) Exactly. The fact that this was an issue for the by lineatus — 90
12) "our "homeland security" is focused on by gooderservice — 84
13) National security state is too focused by Jesselyn Radack — 82
14) I consume a lot of British media and so here is my by SantaFeMarie — 82
15) Just more proof that Romney's only ideology... by markthshark — 80
16) I know that since I am a bleeding heart by mariachi mama — 79
17) Duh. by rk2 — 79
18) I commend AC for his courage. It takes a lot by rubyr — 78
19) Keep hitting him on Bain. by TomP — 78
20) James Inhofe is close by by nofltwlt — 77
21) And... by RichM — 76
22) Welcome... by wyvern — 73
23) This is the part that got me thinking... by DemocraticOz — 72
24) And 911 is down here in Fairfax County--as is my by pelagicray — 71
25) Not surprising - but he has reasons to be private by harrije — 70
26) Oh and... by RichM — 70
27) Since this is CNN-related, are we to assume... by BenderRodriguez — 69
28) Here's the pithy, to the heart framing meme by bkamr — 67
29) A picture you won't see on the Romney 2012 website by Scarce — 66
30) I keep insisting that Global Warming is THE issue by westyny — 65
Top Pictures for yesterday, July 2nd. Click any image to be taken to the full comment. Thank you
jotter for the image magic!