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April 17, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Security without liberty is called prison”

"Security without liberty is called prison" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying as usually been credited to Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), an American polymath…

April 17, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Security without liberty is prison”

"Security without liberty is called prison" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying as usually been credited to Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), an American polymath…

November 25, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthPets (Dogs, Cats, Horses)

“See The Dog Jump In A Circle. Leave Her Home To Entertain Every Visitor Here” (Cabinet mnemonic)

"St. Wapniacl" was the old mnemonic (since at least 1917) to remember the offices of the President of the United States' Cabinet. It was arranged in order of creation and importance:…

February 12, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Self-educated people cannot be fooled by institutionalized propaganda”

"Self-educated people cannot be fooled by institutionalized propaganda" is a saying that has been printed on an image. The meme (of uncertain authorship) was posted on Facebook by WhosGot…

January 18, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Service is the rent we pay to live on this earth”

“Service is the rent we pay for a room on earth" was cited in print in 1917 (when it was an inscription over the doorway of a hospital in India) and is of unknown authorship. The saying is…

July 20, 2019
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Sex is a misdemeanor. De more I miss, de meaner I get”

"I consider sex a misdemeanor. The more I miss, de meaner I get" (or "Sex is a misdemeanor. De more I miss de meaner I get") is a jocular saying that has been printed on many…

October 29, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Sex is cool, but have you ever fucked the system?”

Entry in progress -- BP TwitterSELF₿ANKT & SOVEREIGN@selfbanktSex is cool but have you ever fucked The System? #Bitcoin4:12 PM · May 10, 2021·Twitter for Android Twitterashley…

April 10, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Shaking hands is the new first base”

"First base," in sexual terms, is usually kissing. The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic encouraged "social distancing" (six feet away) and changed the bases. "Is the new…

September 23, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Shit is fucked up and stuff”

"Shit is fucked up and stuff" (shown on a protest sign) is a saying that has been printed on many images. "Insightful placard on tent at #yvr #vag #occupy camp says 'shit is…

October 30, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Shit posting will continue until government improves”

"Shit posting will continue until government improves" is a saying that has been printed on several images. "The firings/floggings/beatings will continue until morale improves"…

April 16, 2016
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Short form, the government gets your money; long form, the CPA gets it”

The Internal Revenue Service has Form 1040 for individual income taxes, and Form 1040EZ ("short form") for simple individual income taxes. A popular joke is that with the short form, the…

March 4, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Show me a time in history where rendering the good people helpless made the bad people harmless”

“Making good people helpless won’t make bad people harmless” is a pro-gun saying from the early 2000s. "Show me a time in history where rendering the good people helpless made the bad…

September 10, 2014
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Show me your budget and I’ll tell you what you value”

United States Senator Joe Biden said on the presidential campaign trail in 2007: "As my Dad used to say, 'Do not tell me what you value. Show me your budget and I will tell you what you…

October 15, 2009
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future”

"Show me your friends and I will tell you what you are" is cited in print from at least 1828 and is said to be a Spanish proverb. "Show me your friends and I'll show you your…

February 24, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Show your enemy no mercy. Misgender them at every opportunity.—Sun Tzu, ‘The Art of War’”

"Show your enemy no mercy. Misgender him/them at every opportunity. -- Sun Tzu, 'The Art of War'" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. Chinese military…

October 9, 2025
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Shut the government down forever. We hate you evil fucks”

"SHUT THE GOVERNMENT DOWN FOREVER. WE HATE YOU EVIL FUCKS" (shown on a sign) is an anti-government saying that was posted on X/Twitter by Agorist Nexus (Brandon) on October 1, 2025, and…

June 4, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Shut up and sing/dance/act” (entertainers taking political positions)

"Shut up and dance!" or "Shut up and sing!" has been said to many entertainers -- simple advice from a director or the audience to do what the entertainer does best.…

April 4, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Sick until proven healthy is no less tyrannical than guilty until proven innocent”

"Sick until proven healthy" has been used during the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and has been compared to "guilty until proven innocent" (the opposite of "innocent…

October 10, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Sign in haste, repent at leisure”

Entry in progress -- B.P."Marry in haste and repent at leisure" is a proverb that has been cited in print since at least 1568. Wiktionary: Marry in haste, repent at leisureProverbmarry in…

October 11, 2011
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Signs don’t vote”

"Yard/Lawn signs don't vote" is a popular political adage. However, many politicians also believe that a large show of support, in the form of lawn signs, is usually beneficial.…

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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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