Great Quotes
And not just from comics, but from many great figures in world history as well. Take a look at the goodies I've got in store here and marvel at them all.And I think the best way to begin
this list would be with this
great
quote that's to follow:
When approached by a student who attacked Zionism, Dr. Martin Luther King responded: “When people criticize Zionists, they mean Jews. You're talking anti-Semitism.” -- From Seymour Martin Lipset, “The Socialism of Fools—The Left, the Jews and Israel,” Encounter, (December 1969), p. 24.
When approached by a student who attacked Zionism, Dr. Martin Luther King responded: “When people criticize Zionists, they mean Jews. You're talking anti-Semitism.” -- From Seymour Martin Lipset, “The Socialism of Fools—The Left, the Jews and Israel,” Encounter, (December 1969), p. 24.
And, we could even add this excellent one right here:
"My wife rightfully saw Zionism as the antithesis of Communism." -- Martin Peretz, EIC and Chairman of The New Republic, 1996.
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to put its trousers on." -- Winston Churchill
And who would've thought that years later, one of the biggest felons to commit what Churchill talks about here would be his own country, Britain? Speaking of which, here's a perfect quote from comic books that serves as a perfect followup to what Churchill said in his time:
"More people are going to believe it than won't because it's the kind of thing they WANT to believe. Problem with being the speaker of truth...the hatred comes free." -- Wonder Woman #198 vol 2, January 2004
Sadly, that is indeed a very valid problem and concern. Unfortunately, this was written by Greg Rucka, who's since turned out to be one of the most pretentious, disrespectful writers in recent history, and it wouldn't surprise me if he was alluding to right-wingers. So this quote, admittedly, will have to be taken with a grain of salt.
Meanwhile, with the subject of Churchill having been brought up, here's another quote from one of his books, spoken about on the radio show of a popular cultural critic, that really curled my hair when I discovered it:
"WHICH GUTSY STATESMAN CONDEMNED ISLAM?
This is Michael Medved in the public square. On rare occasions, political leaders find the courage to speak the truth—no matter how inconvenient or uncomfortable. Consider the statesman who dared declare of Islam that, quote, “no greater retrograde force exists in the world…Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits,….sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live...The influence of the religion paralyzes the social development of those who follow it.”
Who showed the guts to pronounce these politically incorrect words? It was Sir Winston Churchill, in his fascinating 1900 book “The River War,” which I just happened to pick up, and discovered this amazing passage. Perhaps we need to rediscover Churchill’s clarity and guts in recognizing that not all religious faiths influence humanity for the better. I’m Michael Medved." -- Michael Medved Show, 2001
Wow. Anyone who thinks that Islam is really just a peaceful and tolerant religion should take a look at this book and what the great Churchill had to say about it. I can see why even the UK would be so desperate to conceal this from the public today. It tells a lot about Islam and such that could help a lot of people know how to maintain an awareness as to what it's like and how to deal with it.
Now, onto some more great stuff. For example:
"I've seen enough future versions of me to last a future lifetime." -- Rick Jones, in Captain Marvel
Hey, I once wondered something like that with the Hulk when the Maestro was a problem!
Now, two great ones from the debut of the Fastest Man Alive's own book:
"This will slay them, and what, I mean." -- Flash, in Flash Comics #1.
"Why don't you go jump at a duck." -- Johnny Thunder, Flash Comics #1.
"With great power, there must also come -- great responsibility!" -- Amazing Fantasy #15, August, 1962
Even before Stan Lee wrote that splendid quote above, DC had something similar featured in early adventures of the Flash:
"Your powers are great gift, but they are also a huge responsibility! Always use them to help others less forutnate than yourself and never for your own gain!" -- Flash #110 Vol 1, Dec 1959/Jan 1960
Now, get a load of this cool quote (and scene) over here:
Weather Wizard: "To think my ill wind blew him here!"
Pied Piper: "This is like a pipe dream!"
Captain Cold: "He has us cold!"
Flash (in amusement): "Got to hand it to you Rogues! No matter how bad things turn out for you - you still talk in character!" -- Flash #256 vol 1, December 1977
"Sweet Christmas!" -- Luke Cage, Hero for Hire/Power Man
"Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb." -- Batman (1966)
Now here's a prophecy for the future in comics, straight from the pen of Al Capp, the late great author of Lil' Abner, from circa 1949-51, in a Dick Tracy spoof called "Fearless Fosdick". The character was killed and later showed up alive in the police commissioner's office:
Commissioner: "FOSDICK! We thought you were DEAD!"
Fosdick: "I was... but it didn't prove fatal. Only a mild case."
“And to those who say that America "deserves" it for support for Israel, or the Gulf War, or some other action with which they disagree ... I wonder: If their sister was raped, would they excuse the rapist and say their sister "deserved" it for some past action? That's called "blaming the victim," folks, and it's moral and ethical cowardice. No action America has ever taken -- and there have been lots of NICE things America has done, mind you -- deserves this kind of response. Nothing excuses or justifies the outright slaughter of 6,000 people. These ratbags are murdering thugs, and they must be stopped -- because whether we act or not, the killing will go on. They'll just be killing US instead of us killing THEM, while we wring our hands in self-loathing impotence. Me, I know which side I'm on in that debate.” -- Andrew "Captain Comics" Smith, October 5, 2001
As good as the above is, there is one very troubling problem and question in all of this: does the man who wrote it back then really have faith in what he says? File this under the "hard questions" category.
And maybe that's why the best way to follow up on said query is to add this item here from the Incredible Hulk, during the time that Todd McFarlane was the artist, and Peter David (I think) was the writer:
"That's the last time I try to psychoanalyze the Hulk!" -- Rick Jones
And now that I think of it, that's the last time I waste my time trying to psychoanalyze people like Smith too, and figure out what their standings are.
"First I'm gonna find a place I want to be and then I'm going to attack that market for all it's worth and make a few million bucks!" -- Booster Gold #24, February 1988
"I'll never need to be the Huntress again. But I may want to, and that makes all the difference in the world to me" -- Helena Bertinelli, post-Crisis Huntress, from one of the miniseries in the early 1990's.
"Hello, there. I'm the World-Famous Elongated Man!" -- Ralph Dibny
Now there's something I just love to see whenever it's available.
"Face
it,
Tiger -- you just hit the jackpot!" -- Mary Jane Watson, in "The Birth
of a Super-Hero," Amazing Spider-Man #42, November 1966.Man, do I just LOVE that line!
Funny one now from a conversation between the Human Torch from Fantastic Four and Crystal of the Inhumans as they take a flight through the air:
Crystal: "Other guys would call their girl a taxi."
Johnny: "Ok, you're a taxi."
“I want them to stop catering to the perverted needs of 45 year old men. I want to stop seeing Batman f****** Black Canary. I don’t want to hear Batman swearing. I don’t want to see him feeding a boy rats. I don’t want to see characters get raped in the ass. I don’t want to see characters that have been straight for 60 years be lesbians over night because the writer is too stupid or uncreative to come up with something decent. I want to see new characters for new time. When the industry realigns its sights to the young people it was meant for, I’ll be there with both arms and feet…That’s the straightest answer I can give you.” -- Darwyn Cooke, 2010
If there's anything of definite value in his argument, it's that sexual assault cannot be put into storytelling for cheap sensationalism. And many writers/artists today are tragically stupid.
This one's from a videogame of Captain America and the Avengers from 1991:
The Avengers to Whirlwind: "You can't escape!"
Whirlwind to the Avengers: "You'll be the one escaping!"
"Mute testimony to my awesome genius!" -- Doctor Doom
"You can't kill a vegetable by shooting it in the head." -- Jason Woodrue, alias the Plant Master/Floronic Man in "The Anatomy Lesson," Saga of the Swamp Thing #21, February 1984.
The thing is though, if the head is cut off, then the vegetable probably could be killed.
"By the gods! You pursue me past your dying -- ! Are you man -- or fiend from hell?" -- Ra's Al-Ghul, in "The Demon Lives Again," Batman #244, September 1972.
Hulk: "Rick -- ten words or less, okay?"
Rick Jones: "They want to take Marlo [Chandler], and I don't want them to."
Hulk: "Eleven words. Close enough." -- from "American Pie," The Incredible Hulk #406, June 1993.
"That's the first time I've fired the signal. I pray it will be the last." -- Reed Richards.Mr. Fantastic, in Fantastic Four #1, November 1961.
No please, Reed, don't make it the last! Fortunately, it wasn't, and more greatness would be to come. Including this line below:
"Helping people is what th' Fantastic Four is all about! Ya don't hafta remind us, rubber man!" -- Ben Grimm/The Thing, in Fantastic Four #239, 1982
Amen, brother!
"Face it ... you won't whup me ... period. You may be the greatest heavyweight who ever lived ... but I'm Superman! ... I change the course of mighty rivers ... bend steel in my bare hands ... and that's just for openers!" -- Superman, in "Superman vs. Muhammad Ali," All-New Collectors' Edition, Vol. 7, No. C-58, 1978.
"I'm the government, Mister. Any more questions?" -- Henry Peter Gyrich, in "On the Matter of Heroes," The Avengers #181, March 1979.
Gyrich has always been an annoying character, but when written well, intentionally. And this line, you could say, illustrates his obnoxious personality almost perfectly!
"We are all alone until we accept our need for others." -- Henry McCoy, X-Men
Or until the the editors enable that.
"We'll walk from now on."
"Can't we take a cab?"
"No."
"How about I take a cab and you walk?"
"Only if I can go shopping."
"We'll walk." -- Shadowcat and Wisdom, in Pryde and Wisdom #1
"You always know where the X-Men have been, because it's always on fire." -- Pete Wisdom, Excalibur
Witness: "Come to kill me? Judge me? Set me free?"
Bishop: "I -"
Witness: "I discovered the Xavier Sanctum! No secrets from me, pup. King of secrets, me."
Bishop: "But I have -"
Witness: "But I have evidence that suggests they were murdered... by another X-Man! Knew it. Saw it. What of it?"
Bishop: "How do we -"
Witness: "How do we know the traitor was ever caught... ever brought to justice? You don't know. Never know."
--Jim Lee and Scott Lobdell, "Bishop to King's Five", Uncanny X-Men # 287
After Jim Gordon punched out a man who insulted original Gothamites (referred to here as "OGs") in Batman #749:
Batman: "You shouldn't have done that."
Commisioner Gordon: "I didn't do it for me. I'm from Chicago, Batman, you know that. Sarah was OG, born and raised in Gotham. And dead or not, nobody talks about my wife like that."
Either way, one thing is for certain, and it's that his way of dealing with the situation is...the Chicago way!
"When the Arab claim is confronted with our Jewish demand to be saved, it is like the claims of appetite versus the claims of starvation" -- Ze'ev Jabotinsky
"There is nothing more tragic than the death of a beautiful woman." -- Edgar Allan Poe
An excellent thought indeed, and which makes me think of all the maddening times when comics have resorted to killing off plenty of beloved female characters. When it happened with Gwen Stacy, that was done okay. But when comics kept on with it, all that happened was that they ended up running this now ludicrous cliche into the ground, and hammering the reader over the head with shock value after shock value scenario.
Here's an interesting
scene that took place in an issue of The Transformers #15
back in 1986, when Marvel was publishing the adaptations of
Hasbro's toys:Dad at a dinner table: "I'll bet the Communists are behind this!"
Shopper in a department store: "I'll bet that the PLO is behind this!"
Energy mogul who's an Autobot ally: "I'll bet that the GOVERNMENT is behind this!"
Now let's scroll back a moment to the second exclamation in the above part there. See that? No, the PLO wasn't the one behind the Robot Master broadcasts on TV across the US, but even so, what's remarkable about this is that they don't hide the fact that the PLO in real life is a terrorist organization either. And I'll bet that today's staff at Marvel doesn't even remember that part there, given how they whitewashed the PLO in Spectacular Spider-Man's Countdown story arc, any supposed "criticism" of the culprits notwithstanding.
Actually, they'd rather we forget about such things from the great eighties. To cut us off from the past, present and future, that's their way of making decisions alright.
While this may only be a theoretical viewpoint, this one here could very easliy explain as to why some thugs in the underworld aren't always independently strong:
"With my brains, my power, my strength--I need none of you! I merely let you serve me to feed my own vanity! But, I demand unquestioning obedience! Never forget that!" -- The Owl, in Daredevil #20 (Vol 2?)
To say the least, it's fear that keeps the thugs in line for many crime bosses. In a lawless world, they need to attach themselves to strength in order to survive. And in a world with super heroes, non-powered dirt balls have it very rough. So they join up with the toughest baddie that will have them. The fact that he knocks them around doesn't bother them too much, since they've probably been slapped around before. They are also quite used to a high failure rate. That goes with the territory, even in comic book land.
"Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at without result." -- Winston Churchill
And lest we forget one of the Thing's classic battle cries...
"IT'S CLOBBERIN' TIME!" -- Benjamin "The Thing" Grimm
This next one is...guess what? A caption that's so brilliant, it could put an end to all others!
"Ask any comic strip writer...he'll tell you the most valuble word in caption writing is...meanwhile..." -- Stan Lee, Amazing Spider-Man #49, June 1967
"One prejudice ingrained in me during my stay on earth, girl -- is that I never strike a lady." -- Kree Captain Mar-Vell, Avengers #89, June 1971
Written by Roy Thomas during a time when even anti-heroes respected ladies much more than happens today, this is another great line that I like. It's from during the Kree-Skrull War (reviewed here) that took place between issues #89-97 of the Avengers. Plus, here's another one spoken by Ronan the Accuser in this storyline, that can serve to show just how the enemies of FOX News view the above news channel:
“A planet which can produce such a race – which can go from steam power to atomic power in less than a century – is a potential threat to Kree supremacy in space – a threat which cannot be allowed to grow and fester.”
A perfect description of how afraid some really one-sided TV execs, among others, must think about news sources like them, and how, even if they aren't going to try to opress them forcibly, they'd still like to do so via smear tactics.
Two more really good ones from the late Captain Mar-Vell of the Kree:
"As long as there is life, there is hope!"
"There is nothing in the universe that cannot be overcome!"
Spoken to Thanos during a battle with him (in dream sequence, I think) in the Death of Captain Marvel graphic novel of 1982, Mar-Vell's official demise. Great stuff.
"Probably the difference between man and the monkeys is that the monkeys are merely bored, while man has boredom plus imagination." -- Lin Yutang
Now here is something
more that's very important, the oaths of the Green Lanterns!"And I shall shed my light over dark evil . . . for the dark things cannot stand the light . . . the light of the Green Lantern!" -- oath of Golden Age Green Lantern Alan Scott
"In brightest day,
In blackest night,
No evil shall escape my sight!
Let those who worship evil's might,
Beware my power - Green Lantern's light!" -- oath of Silver Age Green Lantern Hal Jordan
Famous oaths recited every time our two honorly Emerald Warriors recharge their power rings!
Now for an excellent quote from the equally excellent JSA of today:
"There is no land beyond the law, where tyrants rule with unshakable power. It is but a dream from which the evil wake to face their fate...their terrifying hour." -- JSA #1, 1999
And that goes for Saddam Hussein and his dictatorship in Iraq too. Iraq is no more immune to punishment than any other tyrant dictatorship.
Now, let's take a look at how superheroes can attract superheroines, as demonstrated by the current Starman in same issue:
Starman 2/Jack Knight: "Come on, kiddies! Let's spank some bony white zombie butts!"
Black Canary 2/Dinah Laurel Lance: "Cute, Jack, you always this charming?"
Starman 2/Jack Knight: "Only when I'm trying to impress a girl in skintight black leather."
If I'm ever on a team like this, I'd better learn to take a cue from that! Who knows, I just might get a date with Dinah darling, as Jack ought to!
“I certainly wouldn’t want to argue with Brian. It seems that Brian would be a very astute observer. Again, we’d love to do a crossover with Marvel, but we’ll have to wait until there’s a change in management.” -- Bob Wayne in discussing a Batman/Daredevil crossover venture on Newsarama.
I suppose he's right. Even now, after they did replace Bill Jemas with Dan Buckley!
"This is an imaginary story (which may never happen, but then again may) about a perfect man who came from the sky and did only good. It tells of his twilight, when the great battles were over and the great miracles long since performed; of how his enemies conspired against him and of that final war in the snowblind wastes beneath the Northern Lights; of the two women he loved and of the choice he made between them; and how finally all the things he had were taken from him save one. It ends with a wink. It begins in a quiet midwestern town, one summer afternoon in the quiet midwestern future. Away in the big city, people still sometimes glance up hopefully from the sidewalks, glimpsing a distant speck in the sky... but no: it's only a bird, only a plane. Superman died ten years ago. This is an imaginary story...
Aren't they all?" -- Superman # 423, September 1986 (Alan Moore, writer)