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

“The only time a politician tells the truth is when speaking about their opponents”

A liar can tell the truth when he/she calls out another liar. "A contributor writes to inquire if I've heard this one: 'The only time a golfer tells the truth is when he calls…

April 19, 2017
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The only time politicians tell the truth is when they call each other liars”

"The only time politicians tell the truth is when they call each other liars" is a one-line political saying that has been printed on many images. There does not appear to be any specific…

November 3, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The only wasted vote is the one you cast for a politician”

Many people talk about "wasted" votes, such as a vote for a third party candidate who has no chance of winning the election. Somme people believe that voting in a state that is not a…

October 13, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The opposite of capitalism is lowercaseism”

Sometimes "capitalism" just means capital letters. "lowercaseism: antonym of capitalism....the practice of not using any capital letters" was posted on Twitter by Jim Gleeson on…

March 24, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The opposite of isolate is isoearly”

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic caused many people to self-isolate. "Dad: what is the opposite word for isolate Me: doesn’t answer for 5mins Dad: you so early" was posted on Twitter…

March 24, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The opposite of isolate is yousoearly”

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic caused many people to self-isolate. "Dad: what is the opposite word for isolate Me: doesn’t answer for 5mins Dad: you so early" was posted on Twitter…

October 16, 2012
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The organization of any bureaucracy is very much like a septic tank…” (Imhoff’s Law)

Thomas Lyle Merton's book, Malice in Blunderland (1973), provided a satirical view of bureaucratic jargon. One "law" has remained popular: IMHOFFS LAW: "The organization of any…

October 28, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The party in power is smug; the party out of power is insane” (Jane’s Law)

Megan McArdle (writing as "Jane Galt") wrote this on the blog Asymmetrical Information on May 21, 2003: "Jane's Law: The devotees of the party in power are smug and arrogant.…

July 17, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The past is rewritten so fast that you don’t know what will happen yesterday.—Soviet joke”

An old Soviet joke is that government propaganda got so bad, and the past was rewritten so much, that people didn't know what will happen yesterday. The form of the joke, however, became…

May 31, 2019
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The patriarchy isn’t going to fight itself”

"The patriarchy isn't going to fight/fuck/smash itself" is a feminist saying that has been printed on many images. "'I need feminism because the patriarchy isn’t going to…

May 31, 2019
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The patriarchy isn’t going to fuck itself”

"The patriarchy isn't going to fight/fuck/smash itself" is a feminist saying that has been printed on many images. "'I need feminism because the patriarchy isn’t going to…

May 31, 2019
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The patriarchy isn’t going to smash itself”

"The patriarchy isn't going to fight/fuck/smash itself" is a feminist saying that has been printed on many images. "'I need feminism because the patriarchy isn’t going to…

October 13, 2014
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The peasants are revolting” (“The people are revolting”)

"The peasants/people are revolting" is a joke, playing of the meanings of "revolting" ("rebelling" and "disgusting"). The Peasants Are Revolting (1971), by…

April 29, 2011
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The penalty for not participating in politics is to be governed by your inferiors”

The philosopher Plato (428/427 BC – 348/347 BC) wrote this, from the English translation of Republic 347c: "That is perhaps why to seek office oneself and not await compulsion is thought…

May 4, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The Pentagon was originally going to just be a square, but the contractor kept cutting corners”

The Pentagon is a five-sided building that is the headquarters building of the United States Department of Defense, in Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. A…

March 6, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The people against voter ID wanted you to show vaccine papers”

"The people against voter ID wanted you to show vaccine papers" is a saying that has been printed on an image. "Notice, the same people against voter ID insist on vaccine…

February 8, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The people get the government they deserve”

Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821) wrote in 1811: "Toute nation a le gouvernement qu'elle merite." ("Every nation has the government it deserves.") De Maistre was credited with…

July 2, 2016
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The people have spoken—the bastards!”

Democratic politician and strategist Dick Tuck ran for the California State Senate in 1966, but finished second in a crowded field. When asked by a television newsman for his reaction, Tuck said:…

September 25, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The people have spoken…and they must be punished”

New York City Mayor Ed Koch (1924-2013) lost the 1989 Democratic primary to David Dinkins. Many people didn't like Dinkins as mayor; wherever Koch appeared, people would ask if he'd run…

December 27, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The people on the ‘right side of history’ are usually fighting for freedom and liberty…”

"The people on the ‘right side of history’ are usually fighting for freedom and liberty, not censorship and reeducation camps" (also shown on an image) was posted on Twitter by Kevin…

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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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