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May 21, 2011
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer”

Entry in progress -- B.P. [This entry was prepared with assistance from Garson O'Toole, Quote Investigator.] Google BooksMay 1878, Temple Bar: A London Magazine, "Sticks, Stocks an…

January 29, 2025
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“A house divided against itself is 1 with no remainder”

"A house divided against itself cannot stand" is a famous 1858 speech by Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), referring to the North and the South of the United States. It's not a division…

February 18, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“A hypocrite is a fellow who is not himself on Sundays”

"A hypocrite is a person who is not himself on Sunday" is a saying that has been printed on several images. Sunday is traditionally the day when Christians go to church, and a hypocrite…

February 18, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“A hypocrite is a person who is not himself on Sunday”

"A hypocrite is a person who is not himself on Sunday" is a saying that has been printed on several images. Sunday is traditionally the day when Christians go to church, and a hypocrite…

February 18, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“A hypocrite is someone who’s not themselves on Sunday”

"A hypocrite is a person who is not himself on Sunday" is a saying that has been printed on several images. Sunday is traditionally the day when Christians go to church, and a hypocrite…

March 8, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“A jellyfish’s mouth is also its anus. The politician of the sea”

Politicians have been known to talk out of their asses. "Politician of the sea! RT @UberFacts: The mouth of a jellyfish is also the anus" was posted on Twitter by Jonny Zavant on October…

November 7, 2012
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“A judge is a law student who marks his own examination papers”

H. L. Mencken (1880-1956) wrote in his magazine The Smart Set in June 1913: "A JUDGE is a law student who marks his own examination papers." "A judge is a law student who marks his…

October 13, 2015
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“A jury consists of twelve persons chosen to decide who has the better lawyer”

"A jury consists of twelve persons chosen to decide who has the better lawyer" is a popular joke definition of a jury. The joke appeared in the Atchison (KS)

August 6, 2014
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“A jury is one thing that never works when it’s fixed”

"What's one thing that doesn't work when it's fixed?" is a popular riddle. The answer is "a jury." The joke has been cited in print since 1946, when it appeared…

November 17, 2014
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“A lawsuit is something no one wants to have and no one wants to lose”

"A lawsuit is something no one wants to have and no one wants to lose" is a popular legal contradiction that appeared in the American Bar Association Journal in 1920. "What is it…

October 14, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“A lawyer asked his dentist to give him a retainer”

Both dentists/orthodontists and lawyers have "retainers." "A lawyer asked his dentist to give him a retainer. (Pun of the Day)" was posted on the newsgroup rec.humor.jewish on…

May 21, 2016
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“A lawyer helps you get what’s coming to him”

"A lawyer helps you get what’s coming to him" is a jocular saying of unknown authorship that has been cited in print since at least December 1948. American composer and comedian Oscar…

May 4, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“A lawyer is someone who writes an 80-page document, and calls it a ‘brief’”

What a lawyer calls a "brief" if often very long. Jokes about this date to at least 1884. "A lawyer calls it a brief and then makes it 96 pages in length" was printed in the…

May 21, 2016
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“A lawyer prevents somebody else from getting your money”

"A lawyer is a man who prevents anyone else from getting your money" is a jocular saying about lawyers that has been cited in print since at least 1955. The Chicago (IL)

October 7, 2015
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“A lawyer’s time and advice are his stock in trade”

"A lawyer's time and advice are his stock in trade" is a classic legal aphorism that is often credited to Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), but there's no evidence that he said it.…

September 28, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“A lawyer’s first duty is to make sure that only the client goes to jail”

Entry in progress -- B.P. Lawyers with TroublesTrust Advice; Old Joke – Who goes to jail at the end of the day?; Cameras – get you canned – NSFWPosted on August 15, 2013 by Ted Waggoner(...)I…

August 7, 2012
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way”

"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way" is a frequently used saying about leadership. H. Reginald Buckler (1840-1927) wrote in 1889: "And what is it to be…

June 28, 2012
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“A leader leads by example, whether he intends to or not”

"A leader leads by example, whether he intends to or not" means that even a leader's flaws (something not intended to be seen) are examples of leadership. The popular saying is…

December 6, 2009
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“A liberal is a man too broad-minded to take his own side in a quarrel”

"A liberal is a man too broad-minded to take his own side in a quarrel" is usually credited to American poet Robert Frost (1874-1963). Frost used the quote in January 1961 (discussing…

December 31, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“A liberal is a man who leaves the room when the fight begins”

New York newspaper columnist Heywood Broun (1888-1939) is known for saying: "A liberal is a man who leaves the room when the fight begins." Broun was a socialist who believed that…

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BARRY POPIK is a contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary, Dictionary of American Regional English, Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Yale Book of Quotations and Dictionary of Modern Proverbs. Since 1990 he has also been a regular contributor to Gerald Cohen's Comments on Etymology.

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