Food
for Thought (a collection of thought provoking quotes)
“Dear
Arizona Bar Association and Court of Appeals, I really appreciate your
‘protection.’ You’ve protected me so
well you’ve made it impossible for me to even respond to a lawsuit. Thank you for your ‘protection.’ I appreciate your protecting me right into a
default judgment and losing my home.” – M. M.
“If you make people
think they are thinking, they will love you, but if you really make them think
they will kill you.” - Albert Einstein
“Everything that is
really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in
freedom." - Albert Einstein, "Out of My Later Years," 1950
“The world is a
dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of
the people who don't do anything about it.” - Albert Einstein
"True independence
comes when we cease to force and start to flow." - Vernon Howard
“The Bible should be read the way that you
eat fish. When you eat fish you eat it
slowly, and carefully, picking your way through it to avoid choking on a bone.”
– Rev. Robert Schuller, pastor for the Crystal Cathedral and the Hour of Power
“Turn your scars into
stars.” - Rev. Robert Schuller, pastor for Crystal Cathedral
“Those who attack the
rationale of the game, and not the players, are its most formidable
adversaries.” - James J. Martin
"Whoever in
discussion adduces authority uses not his intellect but rather memory." -
Leonardo
"Ridiculous, all
this for a can of tuna." – “My Cousin Vinny”
"When the subject
has refused allegiance, and the officer has resigned his office, then the
revolution is accomplished." - Henry David Thoreau, "Civil
Disobedience"
“How sharper than a
serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child!” - King Lear, Act I, Scene IV
“WARNING: This book may
be hazardous to your dis-ease.” – from the binding of New York Naturally
holistic health community directories
"Never doubt that
a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed,
it’s the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead
"When the
government fears the people, you have liberty.
When the people fear the government, you have tyranny." -Thomas
Jefferson
“When
lies pay better than truth, expect lies.” – anonymous
"All animals are born equal, but some animals are more equal than
others." - Animal Farm
"If I could have convinced
more slaves that they were slaves, I could have freed thousands more." -
Harriet Tubman
“The land of the free
and the home of the brave.” - unknown
"But to tear down
a factory or to revolt against a government or to avoid repairs of a motorcycle
because it is a system is to attack effects rather than causes; and as long as
the attack is upon effects only, no change is possible. The true system,
the real system, is our present construction of systematic thought itself,
rationality itself. And if a factory is torn down but the rationality,
which produced it, is left standing, then that rationality will simply produce
another factory. If a revolution destroys a systematic government, but
the systematic patterns of thought that produced that government are left
intact, then those patterns will repeat themselves in the succeeding government
... " - Robert Pirsig in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
"There is no labor
from which most people shrink as they do from that of sustained and consecutive
thought. It is the hardest work in the world. This is especially
true when truth is contrary to appearances." - Wallace D. Wattles
(1910)
"The ideal tyranny
is that which is ignorantly self-administered by its victims. The most
perfect slaves are, therefore, those which blissfully and unknowingly enslave
themselves." - Dresden James
“You cannot enslave a
man, only murder him.” - unknown
"From all these
indignities, such as the very beasts of the field would not endure, you can
deliver yourself if you try, not by taking action, but merely by willing to be
free. Resolve to serve no more, and you are at once freed. I do not
ask that you place your hands upon the tyrant to topple him over, but merely
that you support him no longer; then you will behold him, like a great colossus
whose pedestal has been pulled away, fall of his own weight and break into
pieces." - Etienne de la Boetie, Discourse on Voluntary Servitude.
"The whole aim of practical
politics is to keep the populace alarmed - and thus clamorous to be led to
safety - by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them
imaginary." - H.L. Mencken.
"To proclaim a
people free to choose their own government but then to insist that the
government determine, through a government-controlled compulsory educational
system, the very attitudes and values by which the people will choose becomes
the most insidious and pernicious form of tyranny: it gives the people the
illusion of freedom while all along controlling them through a form of
governmental programming." Blair Adams.
"All government,
in its essence, is organized exploitation, and in virtually all of its existing
forms it is the implacable enemy of every industrious and well-disposed
man." - H.L. Mencken.
An Anti-Electorate
Manifesto: “We, the Anti-Electorate, do not believe there is a need for
"strong leadership" in government.
We are not drawn to 'intellectual' authorities and political 'heroes.' We are not impressed with titles, ranks,
pecking orders, politicians, celebrities, and gurus. We do not struggle for control of organizations, social circles,
and government. We do not lobby the
State for favors or permission to control those with whom we disagree. Rather, we advocate freedom. By its very nature, the State does not. Exercise your right to say 'No' to the
warfare-welfare system. Refuse to
vote. Then tell your friends.” - Wally Conger, OUT OF STEP, June 1994.
(146-A N. Canyon Blvd, Monrovia, CA 91016)
“And none of them wanna
pay taxes again, ever.” – Bruce Willis in “Armageddon”
“Children are
polymorphous perverse.” – Sigmund Freud
“Government officials
will, at times, act like children.” – unknown
“Organized crime begins
with the federal government.” – Irwin Schiff
“Suppose there were no
such word as "country" and no equivalent. How would that affect the power of territorial gangsters?” -
Fredric Mann
“I am sure there was no
man born marked of God above another for none comes into the world with a
saddle upon his back, neither any booted and spurred to ride him.” - Last words
of Richard Rumbold before being hanged for planning an insurrection against the
tyrant Charles II, 1679.
“Force cannot give
rights.” - Thomas Jefferson, The Rights of British Americans
“The Constitution is
either a superior, paramount law, unchangeable by ordinary means, or it is on a
level with ordinary legislative acts and, like other acts, is alterable when
the legislature shall please to alter it. If the former part of the
alternative be true, then a legislative act contrary to the Constitution is not
law; if the latter part be true, then written constitutions are absurd
attempts, on the part of the people, to limit a power in its own nature
illimitable.” Thus, the Constitution is either the Supreme Law of the
Land, superceding all other laws, or the Constitution is
a worthless piece of paper. If the latter, government can do
as it pleases. If the former, tyrants have seized sovereignty illegally,
it is the duty of the people to put them in their proper place in history.” -
Pretended Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Marshall 1803, Marbury
v. Madison.
“For, the very idea
that man may be compelled to hold his life, or the means of living, or any
material right essential to the enjoyment of life, at the mere will of another,
seems to be intolerable in any country where freedom prevails, as being the
essence of slavery itself.” Yick Wo
v. Hopkins, 118 U.S. 356, 370.
“World War II will be a
war of words and ideas. In fact, that
war is being fought right now, even as we speak.” - unknown
“Sons of Scotland, I am
William Wallace and I see a whole army of my countrymen here in defiance of
tyranny. You have come to fight as free men and free men you are. What will you
do without freedom? Will you fight?"
One of the men said, "Fight, against that? No, we will run and we
will live." To which Wallace
replied: "Aye, fight and you may die, run and you'll live, at least
awhile. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to
trade all the days from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance to
come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives but they'll
never take our freedom.” - Mel Gibson as “William Wallace” in “Braveheart”
“Off
with her head!” - the Queen. “Oh you're
just a playing card.” – Alice, in Wonderland
"As generally
understood, propaganda is opinion expressed for the purpose of influencing
actions of individuals or groups... Propaganda thus differs fundamentally from
scientific analysis. The propagandist tries to "put something
across," good or bad. The scientist does not try to put anything
across; he devotes his life to the discovery of new facts and principles.
The propagandist seldom wants careful scrutiny and criticism; his object is to
bring about a specific action. The scientist, on the other hand, is
always prepared for and wants the most careful scrutiny and criticism of his
facts and ideas. Science flourishes on criticism. Dangerous
propaganda crumbles before it." Alfred McLung Lee & Elizabeth
Bryant Lee, The Fine Art of Propaganda, 1939.
“Crime never pays.” –
the good guys
“I contend that the
statist fraud-concepts are all anti-concepts. They misrepresent reality.
They have a stupefying and debilitating effect on those who accept them
as valid. This is one of the main reasons for the slow results produced
so far by most freedom advocates.” The Nature of Government,
Fredric Mann.
The purpose of
"anti-concepts" is to obliterate certain concepts without public
discussion; and, as a means to that end, to induce the same disintegration in
the mind of any man who accepts them, rendering him incapable of clear thinking
or rational judgment. No mind is better than the precision of its
concepts." Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal by Ayn Rand.
“He
did it as a symbol of protest.” – Apocalypse Now
“If
you don’t know your rights then you have no rights. If you do know them but you fail to enforce them then you still
have no rights.” – unknown
“If
you can read but you refuse to then you’re no better off than someone who can’t
read.” – unknown
“Hey hey, ho ho, (this
or that) culture has got to go.” – a protestor’s rallying cry
“I’m just a bill, yes
I’m only a bill, and I’m sitting here on Capitol Hill.” – Saturday morning
“educational” lyrics
“There’s no such thing
as the United States. It’s just public
relations.” – Gross Point Blank
“The judicial system is black magic.
Everyone’s in the dark about what goes on.'' - Richard Dean Schramm
“Even a paranoid can
have enemies.” - Henry Kissinger
"More than once
the judges of a court have been indirectly reminded that they personally are
taxpayers. No sophisticated person is unaware that even in this very
Commonwealth the Internal Revenue Service has been in possession of facts with
respect to public officials which it has presented or shelved in order to serve
what can only be called political ends, be they high or low. And a judge
who knows the score is aware that every time his decisions offend the Internal
Revenue Service he is inviting a close inspection of his own returns. But
I suppose that no one familiar with this Court believes that intimidation,
direct or indirect, is effective." Lord v. Kelly, 240 F.Supp.
167, 169 (1965).
“I have no civil
rights. I only have unalienable
rights. The former are granted and can
therefore be arbitrarily taken away.
The later cannot rightfully be denied.” – R.M.
"Facts do not
cease to exist because they are ignored"- Aldous Huxley.
“Statist flunkies are
just useful idiots. Useful to the
status quo but otherwise incapable of creating value.” – Lenin, allegedly.
“Exactly what is it
that politicians actually do anyway?” – G.N.
“Voting for people … to
control our lives.” – G.N.
“I have learned to read
between the lines.” – P.M.
“I only work here.” – a
classic often used “it’s not my fault” excuse, even if they are continually
contributing to ‘it.’
“I don’t have a problem with God.
It’s his fan club that I can’t stand.”
and, “More jobs? What about less
people?” and, “The more people I meet,
the more I like my dog.” - three different bumper stickers on the same exact
car
"Truth is that
which is observationally known to be corroborable and is common to all
observers." A. J. Galambos from Course V-50 Session 2
“You may have my body
but you’ll never have my obedience.” – Gandhi
“Even though it may
seem unimportant what do by yourself on your own, it is extremely important
that you do it.” – Gandhi
“Perception: Our
day-in, day-out world is real. Reality:
That world is a hoax, an elaborate deception spun by all-powerful machines of
artificial intelligence that control us.
Whoa.” – The Matrix
“I am not suffering
from a mental disturbance. I am
enjoying every minute of it.” – from a bumper sticker
"The thought of
how far the human race would have advanced without government simply staggers
the imagination." - Doug Casey, 1979
"Mine will be the
most ethical administration in the history of the republic." –
allegedly, President-Elect Bill Clinton on November 1992.
"It is difficult
to free fools from the chains they revere." – Voltaire
“We forge the chains
that bind us.” - unknown
“Never in
my life did I swear allegiance to him.” – Braveheart
"Violence is the last
refuge of the incompetent" – Isaac
Asimov through his character Mayor Salvor Hardin from book 1, part III of The
Foundation Trilogy, "The Mayors"
The State:
In dealing with the State, we ought to remember that its
institutions are not aboriginal, though they existed before we were born: that
they are not superior to the citizen: that every one of them was once the act
of a single man: every law and its usage was a man’s expedient to meet a
particular case ... To educate the wise man, the State exists; and with the
appearance of the wise man the State expires.
The appearance of character makes the State unnecessary. The wise man is the State. He needs no army, fort or navy, - he loves
men too well; no bribe, or feast or palace, to draw friends to him, no vantage
grounds, no favorable circumstance. He
needs no library, for he has not done thinking; no church, for he is a prophet;
no statute book, for he is the law-giver; no money, for he is the value; no
road, for he is at home where he is; no experience, for the life of the creator
shoots through him and looks from his eyes.” - from Politics, in “Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson”
"Great spirits
have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." - Albert
Einstein
"To be great is to
be misunderstood." – Nietzsche
"Hence, although
the goal of extinguishing aboriginal title could have been achieved by
congressional fiat, see Tee-Hit-Ton Indians v. United States, 348 U.S. 272,
279282 (1955)." Idaho v. UNITED STATES et al. on writ of
certiorari to the united states court of appeals for the ninth circuit [June
18, 2001].
"The ultimate
ownership of all property is in the State; individual so-called
"ownership" is only by virtue of Government, i.e., law, amounting to
mere user; and that use must be in accordance with law and subordinate to the
necessities of the State. - 73rd
Congress, 1st Session, Senate Document #43, “Contracts Payable in
Gold.”
"Not so, with
respect to citizenship, which has arisen from the dissolution of the feudal
system; and is a substitute for allegiance, corresponding with the new order of
things. Allegiance and citizenship, differ, indeed, in almost every
characteristic. Citizenship is the effect of compact; allegiance is the
offspring of power and necessity. Citizenship is a political tie;
allegiance is a territorial tenure. Citizenship is the charter of
equality; allegiance is a badge of inferiority. Citizenship is
constitutional; allegiance is personal. Citizenship is freedom;
allegiance is servitude. Citizenship is communicable; allegiance is
repulsive. Citizenship may be
relinquished; allegiance is perpetual. With such essential differences,
the doctrine of allegiance is inapplicable to a system of citizenship; which it
can neither serve to control, nor to elucidate." Talbot v Jansen, 3
Dall 133. This direct quote from a
supreme court case has never overruled.
THE DILEMMA: To laugh
is to risk appearing a fool. To weep is
to risk appearing sentimental. To reach
out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk rejection. To place your dreams before the crowd is to risk ridicule. To love is to risk not being loved in
return. To go forward in the face of
overwhelming odds is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk
nothing. The person who risks nothing
does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow but he cannot learn, feel, change, grow
or love. Chained by his certitude, he
is a slave. He has forfeited his freedom. Only a person who dares to risk is free.
“Oh
what a tangled web we weave when unto a lawyer we fail to cleave.” – from a
written decision by a judge in the case of ‘Joe v. Smitty’s’ (verification to
be posted)
Statement:
“But that was never a condition of our agreement, nor was giving Han to this
Bounty Hunter!” – Lando Calrissian
Reply:
“I am altering the deal! Pray that I
don’t alter it any further.” – Darth Vader
Question:
“You mean you didn’t vote?”
Answer:
“No, I don’t need a leader, and neither do you.”
“The right aim of law
is to prevent coercion, either by force, or by fraud.” – Ezra Pound
“A slave is one who
waits for someone to free him.” – Ezra Pound
“May Peace Prevail On
Earth.” – from the Peace Pole Project