Historical Quotes

[Civfan333]

A car can be any color, so long as it's black.
-Henry Ford

 

[FriendlyFire]

Alexander onced travelled to meet one of the great greek minds of the time. I believe it was mentor whom was taking a bath in a tub at the time. Alexander offered him anything he wanted if it was within hes power. Mentor ask that alexander stop blocking the sun so he could wash.

 

[FriendlyFire]

During ww2 German soliders would joke:

If an aircraft is silver thats american
If an aircraft is blue thats british
If an aircraft is green thats russian
If an aircraft is invisible thats ours

LOLs

 

[privatehudson]

Somewhat similar to the British WW2 quip...

When the Germans start bombing the British dive for cover, when the British start bombing the Germans dive for cover...

But when the Americans start bombing everyone dives for cover.

 

[FriendlyFire]

During typhoon 41 Russians would joke they would commit suicide by shooting themselves in the back of the head. (commissar joke).

During 42 one of the desperate battles to hold open rostovo and allow remants of the german forces to get out. 2000 Italian calvary made a desperate attack armed with only sabres they charged some 8000 russians armed with Mgs, mortars and light inf weapons. The russians panic and ran for there lives.

LOL

In 44 it was the german time during the great retreat. Russians unleased there calvary and tanks on masses of panicing germans whom had retreated in good order. Out of AT muntions the germans paniced and run for it. T34s ran them down MG them without resistance. The Russian calvary used sabers and entered terrain tanks had trouble getting too and hacked down germans who did not put up a fight.

 

[The End Is Nigh]

 

[Verbose]

Alexander onced travelled to meet one of the great greek minds of the time. I believe it was mentor whom was taking a bath in a tub at the time. Alexander offered him anything he wanted if it was within hes power. Mentor ask that alexander stop blocking the sun so he could wash.

Alexander's mentor was Aristotle of course, and this isn't a story about him.

To specify a bit:

The philosopher in question was Diogenes, the "cynical" philosopher, i.e. literally "the dog philosopher".

He was a bit of an early "primitivist", arguing that men should get a clue from the animals, living for the day and not worrying. Consequently Diogenes took up residence in a huge empty clay pot by the side of the road. He was known to be incredibly dirty, prone to masturbating in public etc. Or maybe that was the wagging of evil tounges? Hard to tell by now. He still impressed people as a philosopher. Plato paid him the back-hand compliment of describing him as: "Socrates, if he was mad".

And it was him Alexander sought him out where he was sitting by the roadside, offering whatever he wanted, at which point Diogenes asked him to stop shading him.

Everyone was impressed as hell, including the writer Diogenes Laertius in Roman times, who collected all these anecdotes about the philosophers of old at work and at play.

 

[Tee Kay]

"The sportive, knightly battle awakens the best human characteristics. It doesn't separate, but unites the combatants in understanding and respect. It also helps to connect the countries in the spirit of peace. That's why the Olympic Flame should never die."

- Adolf Hitler

 

[Gnuudyr]

I haven' read the whole thread, so please excuse me if this has been quoted before.

"Ego sum rex Romanus, et super grammaticam!"
-Emperor Sigismund to this guy who made a remark about his Latin.

It means something like "I am the king of Romans, and above grammar!".
I don't know much about Latin, but I was told that he made some sort of spelling mistake in the quote too. Haha! Now, which movie does this remind you of?

 

[Tee Kay]

"The most dangerous man, to any government, is the man who is able to think things out for himself, without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane and intolerable, and so, if he is romantic, he tries to change it. And even if he is not romantic personally he is very apt to spread discontent among those who are."

- Mencken

"Whenever I consider the origin of this war and the necessities of our position, I have a sure confidence that this day, and this union of yours, will be the beginning of freedom to the whole of Britain. To all of us slavery is a thing unknown; there are no lands beyond us, and even the sea is not safe, menaced as we are by a Roman fleet. And thus in war and battle, in which the brave find glory, even the coward will find safety. Former contests, in which, with varying fortune, the Romans were resisted, still left in us a last hope of succour, inasmuch as being the most renowned nation of Britain, dwelling in the very heart of the country, and out of sight of the shores of the conquered, we could keep even our eyes unpolluted by the contagion of slavery. To us who dwell on the uttermost confines of the earth and of freedom, this remote sanctuary of Britain’s glory has up to this time been a defence. Now, however, the furthest limits of Britain are thrown open, and the unknown always passes for the marvellous. But there are no tribes beyond us, nothing indeed but waves and rocks, and the yet more terrible Romans, from whose oppression escape is vainly sought by obedience and submission. Robbers of the world, having by their universal plunder exhausted the land, they rifle the deep. If the enemy be rich, they are rapacious; if he be poor, they lust for dominion; neither the east nor the west has been able to satisfy them. Alone among men they covet with equal eagerness poverty and riches. Robbery, slaughter, plunder, they misnamed empire; they make a desert and call it peace."

- attributed to Calgacus

 

[lutzj]

"Your job is not to die for your country, it's to make the other poor bastard die for his" - Patton

"Evil brings men together" - Aristotle

"ACADEME, n.
An ancient school where morality and philosophy were taught.
ACADEMY, n.
[from ACADEME] A modern school where football is taught." - Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

 

[Stuck in Pi]

"Either you're with us. Or you're with the terrorists."-George H. W. Bush

Also my sig...

 

[gegabitelord]

This may already be in here if so sorry:


Only the dead have seen the end of war ~ Plato

Fixed fortifications are monuments to man's stupidity ~ George S. Patton

 

[GuitarHero]

Silence and screams are the end of my song -- Victor Jara

 

[dutchking]

Dunno if its been said already...

"As I walk thorugh the valley of death I fear no one, for I am the meanest mother ****** in the valley!"

HOO WAA. *added to sig*

 

[allunderheaven]

I will make you shorter by the head --Elizabeth I

In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes-- Benjamin Franklin

Don't know if they've been said already...

 

[jessiecat]

In case it's not been mentioned, here's my favourite Marx quotes.

1. "Philosophers have speculated on the nature of the world,
Our task, however, is to change it."
(Inscribed on his tomb, Highgate Cemetary, London)

2. "Yes, of course history does repeat itself,
First as tragedy, secondly as farce."

 

[LAnkou]

Maybe not as known as the ones you cited but some Jacques Chirac one:

"What does she want from me, the housewife? my balls on a plate?" about Maggie Tatcher's propositions during a european summit

"Eat apples" His winning slogan in 95

"I like more bread, paté and saucisson than speed limits"

"Erase this word 'opera' from your vocabulary. There will be no opera at the Bastille"

"If the French vote Yes, that's good. If they vote no, that's good" About the referendum about the 5 year term for president

"You know that Irak is peaceful country govern by peacefull people" (september 1980)


And less historical quotes by Gad Elmaled a french-morrocan humorist:

"I will stop being afraid in a plane when people will stop applauding when the pilot succeed to land the plane"

"You will find a wife, love her and you will want to give her everything. Then love will fade away and you will give her half of it."

 

[mythmonster2]

Don't know who it's from, but it was hilarious for me!
"In a perfect world, the police are British, the manufacturers German, the lovers French, the chefs Italian, and it is all organized by the Swiss. In a dystopia, the police are German, the manufacturers British, the lovers Swiss, the chefs French, and it is all organized by the Italians"

 

[ohcrapitsnico]

Don't know who it's from, but it was hilarious for me!
"In a perfect world, the police are British, the manufacturers German, the lovers French, the chefs Italian, and it is all organized by the Swiss. In a dystopia, the police are German, the manufacturers British, the lovers Swiss, the chefs French, and it is all organized by the Italians"

I wouldn't mind french chefs.