Quote or phrase of the day

[Captain Willard]

Quantity has a quality all of itself. 

Stalin when taking about the difference between German and Russian armies relative technical sophistication. 

[Kevin D]

“Why should hard-working taxpayers in my constituency have to pay for an academic to write about his experiences masturbating to Japanese porn?“

[sir roger]

Particularly when it is practically indecipherable due to being written with his left hand.

[Strontium]

The Starmer thread put me in mind of this gem from John Stuart Mill, from 1859, which should be the overriding principle that everyone lives their lives by.

 

 

The object of this essay is to assert one very simple principle, as entitled to govern absolutely the dealings of society with the individual in the way of compulsion and control, whether the means used be physical force in the form of legal penalties, or the moral coercion of public opinion. That principle is, that the sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively, in interfering with the liberty of action of any of their number, is self-protection. That the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant. He cannot rightfully be compelled to do or forbear because it will be better for him to do so, because it will make him happier, because, in the opinions of others, to do so would be wise, or even right These are good reasons for remonstrating with him, or reasoning with him, or persuading him or entreating him, but not for compelling him, or visiting him with any evil, in case he do otherwise. To justify that, the conduct from which it is desired to deter him must be calculated to produce evil to some one else. The only part of the conduct of any one, for which he is amenable to society, is that which concerns others. In the part which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute. Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign.

[Bjornebye]

Apart from masks when asked to wear one during covid of course..... 

[AngryOfTuebrook]

55 minutes ago, Strontium said:

 That the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. 

So the sale of tobacco to children should be allowed?

[Strontium]

16 minutes ago, AngryOfTuebrook said:

So the sale of tobacco to children should be allowed?

 

Chuldren aren't civilised.

[AngryOfTuebrook]

1 hour ago, Strontium said:

 

Chuldren aren't civilised.

They are "members of a civilised community", though.

[Strontium]

7 minutes ago, AngryOfTuebrook said:

They are "members of a civilised community", though.

 

They're not though, not until they reach the age of majority.

[Captain Willard]

Most things in life are good, cheap or quick. Pick any two. 

[AngryOfTuebrook]

34 minutes ago, Strontium said:

 

They're not though, not until they reach the age of majority.

So, already, that maxim is subject to qualifications which are pretty subjective. That's why I think it's better to consider it a rule-of-thumb, rather than a hard principle.

[Strontium]

1 minute ago, AngryOfTuebrook said:

So, already, that maxim is subject to qualifications which are pretty subjective. That's why I think it's better to consider it a rule-of-thumb, rather than a hard principle.

 

It is a hard principle, for adults.

 

Obviously if you want to treat adults like children, then that throws up its own problems.

[Babb'sBurstNad]

The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love

 

Wordsworth

[manwiththestick]

6 hours ago, Captain Willard said:

Most things in life are good, cheap or quick. Pick any two. 

I use this when friends ask about buying mountain bikes.

 

Cheap, strong, light. Pick two and it won't be the other.

[Captain Willard]

1 hour ago, manwiththestick said:

I use this when friends ask about buying mountain bikes.

 

Cheap, strong, light. Pick two and it won't be the other.

The same with second hand sports cars. Reliable, cheap or quick. Pick any two. 

[easytoslip]

On your tombstone.nobody knows I've gone. 

[sir roger]

The wife would probably have me down as cheap and quick.

[Kevin D]

"I don't have a very high opinion of him“

Salman Rushdie on the guy who stabbed him 10 times

[Bjornebye]

"So Doc, how do you get into this line of work? Do you just love cum?" 

 

Ted to the doctor in the sperm clinic in Ted 2

[Kevin D]

"To be clear, on the specific allegation - have you ever used anal beads while playing chess?" Morgan asked.

[sir roger]

I heard Carlsen had him on a string in that game.

[Kevin D]

If laws have to be broken, then let me be broken.

 

Hernan Cortez.

[redinblack]

"Give Me Satisfaction Or A Damn Good Reason Why"

 

Lemmy on my car stereo about an hour ago.

[Kevin D]

Two police officers quickly arrived and found Hunt, now wearing grey joggers and a blue hoodie. He told them: “I’m not a gimp, I don’t own a gimp suit, I’m not in a gimp suit.”

[Kevin D]

“ Well, titties notwithstanding”