History can be an risky teacher. One has to know the full-story before one can learn anything from it. With regards to certain famous quotes that have impacted human societies in a meaningful way, we must also appreciate this dynamic and inherent risk.
For example: We have many quite famous personages in history, conquerors, heroes, a few inventors, tons of blowhard politicians, and even an occasional wise woman that have uttered a line that caught with the masses like wildfire.
But are WE SURE that this is what they REALLY said? Or are we receiving the truncated version passed on to us by some lying ass Medieval journalist?
Thanks to my ever-faithful assistant, Doc Emmit L. Brown, and his creative time-travel inventions, I, Tyger, have been able to dive Back to the Future and discern for us all WHAT WAS REALLY SAID by these famous author's of these very famous quotes. Observe the results:
"Do not ask what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." ....JFK
The actual quote: "Do not ask what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country. I expect Congress to pass my tax-hike proposal this month. Pony up."
*****
"Veni, vedi, vici" ....Julius Caesar (translated from the Latin: "I came, I saw, I conquered.")
The actual quote: "Veni, vedi, veci.....Nunc est bibendum!" (translated from the Latin: "I came, I saw, I conquered, Now it is time to drink!"
*****
"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake." ....Napoleon Bonaparte.
The actual quote: "Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake. You say that Wellington won't respond?"
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"An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." .....ancient legal text from the Code of Hammurabi.
The actual quote: "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, but only after you have taken all their money."
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"I am not a great man. I am a failure. And you have made me one." Former (D) President Bill Clinton to now-dead-of-AIDS homosexual-father-of-terrorism Yasir Arafat.
The actual quote: "I am not a great man. I am a failure. And you have made me one. I'm going to try to swallow this time."
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"God has given you one face, and you make yourself another." William Shakespeare
The actual quote: "God has given you one face, and you make yourself another. Actors and actresses makes dozens."
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"Let them eat cake." Marie Antoinette's response to what turned out to be the French Revolution.
The actual quote: "Let them eat cake. Preferably poisoned."
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"I'll have those niggers voting Democrat for two hundred years." Democrat President Lyndon B. Johnson.
The actual quote: "I'll have those niggers voting Democrat for two hundred years."
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"If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also."......Jesus.
The actual quote: "If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also so that your nose doesn't get in the way of a clear line-of-fire."
*****
It's all about context, man. All about the context.... ;-)
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