Commemoration

Today was Presidents' Day.  Congress commemorated George Washington's throwing a dollar across the Potomac by throwing $780 billion down a rat hole.

Jay Leno (unsourced)

Life

I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.

Jim Carrey (April, 2006; Reader’s Digest)

Authority

When you vote, you are exercising political authority, you're using force. And force my friends is violence. The supreme authority from which all other authorities are derived.

Jean Rasczak (1991, Starship Troopers based on a novel by Robert Heinlein published 1959)

Spud

You can praise God by peeling a spud if you peel it to perfection

Reverend. J.D. Liddell (Chariots of Fire, 1981)

Blowback

Colonel, I hope you’ve learned that an occupying foreign force can never defeat a determined local populace.

Lisa Simpson (The Simpsons, Episode G.I.D'oh)

The Power of "No"

You know, it's funny, I was thinking about what you said, that the preeminent truth of our age is that you cannot fight the system. But if, as you say, the truth is fluid, that the truth is subjective, then maybe you can fight the system. As long as just one person refuses to be broken, refuses to bow down.
Interrogator: But can you win?
Every time I say "no.".

Captain John Sheridan of Babylon 5, Season 4, Episode 18

A Live Lived

When King Lear dies in Act V, do you know what Shakespeare has written? He's written "He dies." That's all, nothing more. No fanfare, no metaphor, no brilliant final words. The culmination of the most influential work of dramatic literature is "He dies." It takes Shakespeare, a genius, to come up with "He dies." And yet every time I read those two words, I find myself overwhelmed with dysphoria. And I know it's only natural to be sad, but not because of the words "He dies." but because of the life we saw prior to the words.

I've lived all five of my acts, Mahoney, and I am not asking you to be happy that I must go. I'm only asking that you turn the page, continue reading... and let the next story begin. And if anyone asks what became of me, you relate my life in all its wonder, and end it with a simple and modest "He died."

Mr. Edward Magorium in Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007)

Johnny Got His Gun (2nd quote)

Hospital Offical: He won't wait for an answer. All he says is, "Kill me, kill me, kill me."
Third Doctor: Don't you have some message for him, Padre?
[Priest shakes his head and looks to the floor]
Third Doctor: You could at least tell him to put his faith in God, couldn't you?
Priest: I'll pray for him for the rest of my days. But I will not risk testing his faith against your stupidity.
Third Doctor: Well you're a hell of a priest, aren't you?
Priest: He's the product of your profession, not mine.

 Johnny Got His Gun (1971 Movie)

Johnny Got His Gun

Joe: When it comes my turn, will you want me to go?
Father: For democracy, any man would give his only begotten son. 

Johnny Got His Gun (1971 Movie)

Two Advil

Is 30 thousand troops the military equivalent to two advil?!

Jon Stewart on the Daily Show (Dec 2nd, 2009)