John Gay Quotes
When you censure the Age, Be cautious and sage, Lest the Courtiers offended should be: If you mention Vice or Bribe, 'Tis so pat to all the Tribe ;, Each cries----That was levell'd at me.
John Gay, 1685-1732, English Poet and Playwright, The Beggar's Opera
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
What is fascinating about this quotation is that although the head of a religion, Smith was not advocating the kinds of personal lifestyles of his church the way modern religious leaders do, but was concerned with the much larger issues of expansionism, corruption of the courts and judiciary, and land distribution. He was a classic reform candidate in that sense. Smith had written to most of the then likely Presidential candidates of both major parties asking for their position on the Mormons who were facing persecution wherever they went. None of the politicians would make any satisfactory commitments. Smith took Direct Action and became the only major religious official to have run for the Presidency of the United States until Pat Robertson tried and failed in 2000. Smith’s assassination shortly thereafter cut his run for the Presidency short before it made much headway and politically he had no chance to affect the race.
In most modern societies there is a combination of merit appointments and repayment of the rich. In the United States, wealthy people are often appointed as Ambassadors to countries of which they know little and often do not even speak the language. Assistant secretaries of cabinet level positions also often are awarded to the wealthy campaign contributors. Occasionally, these wealthy people have talent and do a good job. On most occasions where a person is appointed as the direct or indirect result of wealth, the person is mediocre or poor.
See {586119} for an earlier English version of this point.
Ingersoll was considered to be the greatest orator and political thinker of his day, but his overt atheistic views curtailed his elected political career.
John Gay was an English poet and dramatist and member of the Scriblerus Club. He is best remembered for The Beggar's Opera (1728), a ballad opera. The characters, including Captain Macheath and Polly Peachum, became household names.
