Quotes about kick
page 2

“Loyalty is weird, it kicks in when you dont expect it and the people who deserve loyalty least seem to get it the most.”

Russell Banks (1940) American author

People, Loyalty

“I've had the sort of day that would make St. Francis of Assisi kick babies.”

Douglas Adams The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul

Source: The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul

Baby

“In theory, when yoou're done with training, you should be able ot kick a hole in a wall or eknock out a moose with a single punch."

"I would never hit a moose," said Clary. "They're endangered.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Fallen Angels

Variant: And second, keep in mind that you are a weapon. In theory, when you're done with training, you should be able to kick a hole in a wall or knock out a moose with a single punch."
"I would never hit a moose," said Clary. "They're endangered.
Source: City of Fallen Angels

Training

“Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day.”

Harry Truman (1884–1972) American politician, 33rd president of the United States (in office from 1945 to 1953)

“People think happiness will simply fall into their laps. You have to aspire to it. And sometimes you have to seize it when it’s kicking and screaming.”

Kresley Cole American writer

Source: Dark Needs at Night's Edge

Happiness, People, Thinking

“Far too many people opened their hearts and lives at the drop of a hat. Why give someone that power over you? Why endow them with the ability to hurt you that much? Let someone in and you were asking for an emotional kicking some day.”

Dorothy Koomson book My Best Friend's Girl

Source: My Best Friend's Girl

People, Heart, Hurt

“That it is statistically easier for low-IQ people to kick an addiction than it is for high-IQ people… That boring activities become, perversely, much less boring if you concentrate intently on them.”

David Foster Wallace book Infinite Jest

Source: Infinite Jest

People

“Well alright then," His eyes glittered. "I get my kicks whipping woman I have sex with and you're next on my list. Now I'm going to take a shower.”

Susan Elizabeth Phillips (1948) American writer

Source: Kiss an Angel

Sex

“Nico wasn't sure whether to kick himself or Will Solace. If he hadn’t been so distracted bickering with the son of Apollo, he would never have allowed the enemy to get so close.”

Rick Riordan book The Blood of Olympus

Source: The Blood of Olympus

“Suffering is humbling. It pays to know how to get your butt kicked.”

Christopher McDougall (1962) American journalist and writer

Source: Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen

Suffering

“He looked the boy up and down as if he had never seen a child before and wasn't quite sure what he was supposed to do with one: eat it, ignore it or kick it down the stairs.”

John Boyne (1971) Irish novelist, author of children's and youth fiction

Source: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Boy

“I gave him a kick and he stepped back onto the third rail. Exploding, flaming eraser! This is why moms tell you to stay away from the third rail, but it sure came in handy this time.”

James Patterson (1947) American author

Source: The Angel Experiment

Moms, Time

“Never slam a car door. According to the Westchester elite, it's a heinous crime, as heartless as kicking a puppy.”

Lisi Harrison (1970) Canadian writer

Cars

“Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be kicked in the nuts as soon as they try to get back up. That wasn’t in the Bible, but maybe it should’ve been.”

Joe Hill (1879–1915) Swedish-American labor activist, songwriter, and member of the Industrial Workers of the World

Source: Horns

“Kat didn't know what to say. It's good to see you too? Thanks for getting me kicked out? Is it possible you've gotten even hotter? I think I might have missed you?”

Ally Carter book Heist Society

Source: Heist Society

Thinking

“You've got something to say to me, Seaweed Brain?"
"You'd probably kick my butt."
"You know I'd kick your butt.”

Rick Riordan (1964) American writer

“What do you know?”
“Almost everything. That almost part can be a real kick in the teeth sometimes.”
“What do you want, then?”
“What I can’t have.” Wit turned to him, eyes solemn. “Same as everyone else, Kaladin Stormblessed.”

Brandon Sanderson book Words of Radiance

Source: Words of Radiance

Parting

“Keep it kickwriting at all costs too, that is, write only what kicks you and keeps you overtime awake from sheer mad joy.”

Jack Kerouac book On the Road

Source: On the Road

Joy, Madness

“A mule will labor ten years willingly and patiently for you, for the privilege of kicking you once.”

William Faulkner (1897–1962) American writer

(Ch. 6) "Old Man"; p. 160
The Wild Palms [If I Forget Thee, Jerusalem] (1939)

“How to Overthrow the System: brew your own beer; kick in your Tee Vee; kill your own beef; build your own cabin and piss off the front porch whenever you bloody well feel like it.”

Edward Abbey (1927–1989) American author and essayist

Feeling, Beer

“Baravetto was unconscious when we found him," Hi said. "What'd you do to the guy?"

"Kicked him in the balls, then brained him with a rolling pin. Twice.”

Kathy Reichs Virals

Source: Virals

Guy

“Every last souvenir of the love we had, the prizes & the debris of this relationship, like the glitter in the gutter when the parade has passed, all the everything & whatnot kicked to the curb.”

Daniel Handler book Why We Broke Up

Source: Why We Broke Up

Love

“You think I led him on? For what? Kicks? I don't have enough exictement in my life, so maybe I'll tease a nice guy, get his hopes up, then laugh and skip away?”

Kelley Armstrong The Reckoning

Source: The Reckoning

Life, Hope, Guy, Thinking

“You're not so bad. You'll get there. You should have seen Alec do flips at first. I think he kicked himself in the head once.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Fallen Angels

Source: City of Fallen Angels

Thinking

“Sometimes the Universe smiled. Mostly she kicked me in the face, stomped on my ribs once I fell down, and laughed at my pain, but once in a while she smiled.”

Ilona Andrews American husband-and-wife novelist duo

Source: Magic Breaks

Pain, Smile, Universe

“I want to be able to see stuff," Iggy said. "Like I used to, when I was little. And I want to be able to totally kick Jeb's butt.”

James Patterson (1947) American author

Source: The Angel Experiment

“Fang? Are you- like Max?" asked Dr. Martinez.
"Nope,"he said, sounding bored. "I'm the smart one."
I resisted the urge to kick him in the shin.”

James Patterson (1947) American author

Source: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports

“She had the look in her eye when you kick and kick at the door and it doesn't open, when you write a boy letters and letters and he never loves you, not ‘til the day he dies. Not even then.”

Daniel Handler book The Basic Eight

Source: The Basic Eight

Love, Boy

“It depends. If I don't let you in, will you huff and puff and blow my house down?"
She had no idea. "I'm more of a kick the door open and cut everyone inside to ribbons kind of wolf.”

Ilona Andrews American husband-and-wife novelist duo

Source: Bayou Moon

Idea, Wolf, Housing, Dependency

“Gabe scratched his double chin. "Maybe if you hurry with the seven-layer dip… And maybe if the kid apologizes for interrupting my poker game."
Maybe if I kick you in your soft spot, I thought. And make you sing Soprano for a week.”

Rick Riordan book The Lightning Thief

Source: The Lightning Thief

Game, Singing

“Don’t you, when strangers and friends come to call, straighten the cushions, kick the books under the bed and put away the letter you were writing? How many of us want any of us to see us as we really are? Isn’t the mirror hostile enough?”

Jeanette Winterson (1959) English writer

Hostility, Books

“Those who get in the way of love's path will be kicked by horses.
~Kyoya”

Bisco Hatori (1975) Japanese manga artist

Source: Ouran High School Host Club, Vol. 17

Love, Way, Horse

“In order to acquire a growing and lasting respect in society, it is a good thing, if you possess great talent, to give, early in your youth, a very hard kick to the right shin of the society that you love. After that, be a snob.”

Salvador Dalí (1904–1989) Spanish artist

Love, Youth

“A blonde to make a bishop kick a hole in a stained glass window.”

Raymond Chandler book Farewell, My Lovely

Source: Farewell, My Lovely (1940), chapter 13

“If You Want to Gather Honey, Don't Kick Over the Beehive”

Dale Carnegie How to Win Friends and Influence People

Source: How to Win Friends and Influence People

“… If you'd like to go back in there and try kicking him, I recommend aiming upward and a bit to the left”

Cassandra Clare book Clockwork Prince

Source: Clockwork Prince

“Nico jumped into the crowd, kicking groins, smacking faces with the flat of his blade, bashing helmets with his pommel. In ten seconds, the Romans all lay groaning and dazed on the ground.”

Rick Riordan book The Blood of Olympus

Source: The Blood of Olympus

“like a kid kicked out of class. humiliated and free.”

Janet Fitch (1955) American writer

Source: Paint it Black

“Slow down. Stop trying to do everything now, now, now. Hold up the people behind you for all you care, feel them kicking at your heels but maintain your pace. Don't let anybody dictate your speed.”

Cecelia Ahern book Thanks for the Memories

Source: Thanks for the Memories

People, Feeling, Speed

“There's only so many times you can kick a dog before it turns viscous. (Julian)”

Sherrilyn Kenyon Fantasy Lover

Variant: There were only so many kicks a dog could take before it turned vicious.’ (Acheron)
Source: Fantasy Lover

Dogs, Time

“He invented Kung Fu when translated to English means method by which short, bald guys can kick the bejeezus out of you.”

Christopher Moore book Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal

Source: Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal

Guy

“I fell into a deep sleep tucked in that little cocoon, a deeper sleep than I might of had in years.

Right up until someone kicked me and said "Gotcha!”

James Patterson (1947) American author

Source: Angel

Sleep

“She said you were probably plastic and Uncle Kevin said he’d give you a feel and let her know and then Uncle Joe punched him in the shoulder and said the only thing he’d feel is his A-S-S getting kicked if he tried.”

Shannon Stacey (1972) american writer

Source: Exclusively Yours

Feeling

“A Poem from Edna St. Vincent Millay:

Grown-up

Was it for this I uttered prayers,
And sobbed and cursed and kicked the stairs,
That now, domestic as a plate,
I should retire at half-past eight?”

Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892–1950) American poet

Source: The Selected Poetry

Past

“I have a whole guard room full of brawny veterans who'd enjoy a chance to drag two Eddisians out of here, particularly if you kicked a lot and they could kick you back.”

Megan Whalen Turner The King of Attolia

Source: The King of Attolia

Chance

“He leaned against the door frame, ignoring the kick of adrenaline the sight of her produced. He wondered why, not for the first time. Isabelle used her beauty like she used her whip, but Clary didn't know she was beautiful at all. Maybe that was why.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Bones

Source: City of Bones

Beauty, Time

“With the whole Mark of Cain thing, does that mean if I accidentally kick you during the night, I get kicked in the shins seven times by an invisible force?”

Cassandra Clare The City of Lost Souls

Source: City of Lost Souls

Time, Night

“Just reflecting on the fact that when the Universe punches you in the teeth, it never just lets you fall down. It kicks you in the ribs a couple of times and dumps mud on your head.”

Ilona Andrews American husband-and-wife novelist duo

Source: Magic Strikes

Universe, Time

“And try to remember what we discussed, Susannah. A mediator is someone who helps others resolve conflicts. Not someone who, er, kicks them in the face.”

Meg Cabot book Shadowland

Source: Shadowland

Help

“The tension between us kicked up a notch, and I realized that along with our bodies being nearer, so were our lips.”

Richelle Mead book The Indigo Spell

Source: The Indigo Spell

“I'll teach you to kick me…'
You don't need to teach me--I already know how!”

Groucho Marx (1890–1977) American comedian

“The shelf was filled with books that were hard to read, that could devastate and remake one's soul, and that, when they were finished, had a kick like a mule.”

Mark Helprin book Winter's Tale

Source: Winter's Tale

Books, Soul, Reading

“With a bit of luck, his life was ruined forever. Always thinking that just behind some narrow door in all of his favorite bars, men in red woolen shirts are getting incredible kicks from things he’ll never know.”

Hunter S. Thompson book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Source: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Life, Men, Thinking

“How are you?"
"Perfectly fine," he said.
"Are your ribs broken?"
"Probably not. Cracked at most. We fought very carefully."
"Did this settle anything?"
"It made me feel better," he said, sitting up. "Did you see me kick him in the kidneys?"
"I saw.”

Ilona Andrews American husband-and-wife novelist duo

Source: On the Edge

Feeling

“Punch a man on the nose, kick an old man downstairs, shoot somebody or any old thing like that, that’s my job. But argue with women in love—no thank you!”

Mikhail Bulgakov book The Master and Margarita

Source: The Master and Margarita

Love, Women

“I wondered if kicking him in the head would make the whole explanation pop out of his mouth in one chunk.”

Ilona Andrews American husband-and-wife novelist duo

Source: Magic Slays

“Alec dragged the heavy canvas bag out of the back of the van, dropping it on the sidewalk. "Ready to go." He announced. "Lets kick some demon butt!"
Jace looked at him a little oddly. "You alright?”

Cassandra Clare book City of Bones

Source: City of Bones

“I get no kick from champagne.
Mere alcohol doesn't thrill me at all,
So tell me why it should be true
That I get a kick out of you?”

Cole Porter (1891–1964) American composer and songwriter

"I Get a Kick Out of You"
Anything Goes (1934)
Source: The Complete Lyrics of Cole Porter

Alcohol

“Dead or alive, the balls still hurt when kicked, huh? (Zarek)”

Sherrilyn Kenyon book Dance with the Devil

Source: Dance with the Devil

Hurt, Dead

“I can't get through the year without getting kicked out or blowing something up.”

Rick Riordan (1964) American writer

“I’m not a bad person. I haven’t killed anyone. I (rarely) lie. I don’t kick little puppies. So why do people look at me as if the world would be a better place without me?”

Gena Showalter (1975) American writer

Source: Oh My Goth

People, Lie, World, Personality

“Sure," said Adrian. "I bet going in there and kicking down the door will change their minds. Take Rose with you, and you guys'll make a really good impression.”

Richelle Mead Shadow Kiss

Source: Shadow Kiss

Change

“MAN: Kick him-he'll forgive you. Flatter him-he may or may not see through you. But ignore him and he'll hate you”

Idries Shah (1924–1996) writer and Sufi teacher

Hate, Forgiveness

“Are you sure you want me to go after Christina? Lately I've kind of thought I might just give up on that. Plus, didn't you and I need to gaze into each other's eyes first? How will I know how to gaze at Christina? And my pebble kicking? Disaster.”

Jaclyn Moriarty (1968) Australian writer

Source: The Year of Secret Assignments

“Someone needs to drag you kicking and screaming into this century.”

Christine Feehan book Dark Prince

Source: Dark Prince

“Please, sit down," Sharon said with another hair toss. I made a mental note to practice doing that in a mirror the next time I saw one. it seemed a useful skill, right up there with roundhouse kicks.”

James Patterson (1947) American author

Time

“Word of advice. These have a kick, so don’t suck too hard—”
Holy hypoxia, Batman.”

Jessica Bird (1969) U.S. novelist

Source: Lover Reborn

“What civilization is, is 6 billion people trying to make themselves happy by standing on each other's shoulders and kicking each other's teeth in. It's not a pleasant situation.”

Terence McKenna (1946–2000) American ethnobotanist

Happiness, People

“Jace, on the other hand, looked like the sort of boy who'd come over to your house and burn it down for kicks.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Bones

Source: City of Bones

Boy, Housing

“I’ve seen your foot up close.”
Curran pointed to his chest. “I’ve seen it here.” He moved his hand to his jaw. “Here.” He touched the place over his cheek where my kick had cut him. “And here.”

Ilona Andrews American husband-and-wife novelist duo

Source: Magic Slays

“This is not a book in the ordinary sense of the word. No, this is a prolonged insult, a gob of spit in the face of art, a kick in the pants to God, Man, Destiny, Time, Love, Beauty… what you will.”

Henry Miller book Tropic of Cancer

Source: Tropic of Cancer (1934), Chapter One
Context: This is not a book. This is libel, slander, defamation of character. This is not a book, in the ordinary sense of the word. No, this is a prolonged insult, a gob of spit in the face of Art, a kick in the pants to God, Man, Destiny, Time, Love, Beauty... what you will.

Love, God, Books, Beauty

“He looked like the sort of boy who'd come over to your house to pick you up for a date and be polite to your parents and nice to your pets. Jace, on the other hand, looked like the sort of boy who'd come over to your house and burn it down for kicks.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Bones

Source: City of Bones

Boy, Parent, Housing

“the description of lust was simple: two people learn they're compatible, attraction grows, and the ancient instinct to preserve the species kicks in.”

Nicholas Sparks book True Believer

Source: True Believer

People, Learning

“Try looking at your mind as a wayward puppy that you are trying to paper train. You don't drop-kick a puppy into the neighbor's yard every time it piddles on the floor. You just keep bringing it back to the newspaper.”

Anne Lamott (1954) Novelist, essayist, memoirist, activist

Source: Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

Time, Training

“If you're going to kick authority in the teeth, you might as well use two feet.”

Keith Richards (1943) British rock musician, member of The Rolling Stones

Source: Keith Richards: In His Own Words

“If there is ever a fascist takeover in America, it will come not in the form of storm troopers kicking down doors but with lawyers and social workers saying. "I'm from the government and I'm here to help.”

Jonah Goldberg (1969) American political writer and pundit

Source: Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left from Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning

Help

“I don't expect life to make sense," he said after a few moments, "but it could certainly be pleasant if it would stop kicking us in the balls.”

Scott Lynch book The Republic of Thieves

Source: The Republic of Thieves (2013), Chapter 5 “The Five-Year Game: Starting Position” section 1 (p. 250)
Context: Locke put his head in his hands and sighed.
“I don’t expect life to make sense,” he said after a few moments, “but it would certainly be pleasant if it would stop kicking us in the balls.”

Life, Sense

“It's his word against the Commander's, unless he wants to head a posse. Kick in the door, and what did I tell you? Caught in the act, sinfully Scrabbling. Quick, eat those words.”

Margaret Atwood book The Handmaid's Tale

Source: The Handmaid's Tale

“Basil Stag Hare tut-tutted severely as he remarked to Ambrose Spike, 'Tch, tch. Dreadful table manners. Just look at those three wallahs, kicking up a hullaballoo like that! Eating's a serious business.”

Brian Jacques Redwall

Source: Redwall

Business

“At moments when life is at its worst there are two things you can do:
1.) break down, lose hope and refuse to go on while lying face down on the ground banging your fists and kicking your legs, or 2.) laugh. Bobby and I did the latter.”

Cecelia Ahern book A Place Called Here

Variant: At moments when life is at its worst there are two things that you can
do: 1) break down, lose hope, and refuse to go on while lying facedown on the ground
banging your fists and kicking your legs, or 2) laugh.
Source: A Place Called Here

Life, Hope, Lying

“I'm going to kick you in the head when I get home. Repeatedly.”

Ilona Andrews American husband-and-wife novelist duo

Source: Magic Slays

Home

“It's like Brad Pitt for us. You might not like blond men with pretty features, but c'mon, it's Brad. You're not going to kick him out of bed for eating crackers.”

Emily Giffin (1972) American writer

Men

“I get a kick out of being an outsider constantly. It allows me to be creative. I don't like anything in the mainstream and they don't like me.”

Bill Hicks (1961–1994) American comedian

“But Hudibras gave him a twitch
As quick as lightning in the breech,
Just in the place where honour's lodg'd,
As wise philosophers have judg'd;
Because a kick in that part more
Hurts honour than deep wounds before.”

Samuel Butler (poet) (1612–1680) poet and satirist

Canto III, line 1065
Source: Hudibras, Part II (1664)

Parting, Hurt

“I'm a very driven person. I'm always going after my goals. You just get up in the morning and kick yourself in the butt. I'd like to show people that they can have that same drive to go where they want to go. It's up to you and not to anybody else.”

Heidi Klum (1973) German model, television host, businesswoman, fashion designer, television producer, and actress

Quoted in Parade Magazine 10 July 2008 http://www.parade.com/celebrity/celebrity-parade/archive/pc_0194.html.

People, Personality

“The only way you can ever accuse a Conservative of hypocrisy is if they walk past a homeless person without kicking him in the face.”

Jeremy Hardy (1961–2019) British comedian

The News Quiz, BBC Radio 4, November 2008

Way, Past, Personality

“I saw a sheet lying on the floor, it must have been a ghost that had passed out… So I kicked it.”

Mitch Hedberg (1968–2005) American stand-up comedian

Do You Believe in Gosh?

Lying

“I have to believe… the reason I got the part is that in their eyes I represented the character and what he’d really be like if he were alive. But the reason I represented him is that as a kid growing up I constantly thought about it. I was a bit of a loner. I used to come back home from school and then while I was kicking a ball against the wall for hours, I’d daydream about this. I really believe this shapes our lives and brings things to us. Fans like to think that there’s an element of kismet when an actor is cast as a superhero — that the actor was somehow fated to play the character. I believe that if there is such a thing that it would apply in my case. If you look at my screen test, which you can see online, you can see the dedication that I had… even in the screen test. I was so into it, that for me, it was real.”

Burt Ward (1945) American actor

Burt Ward — A Slice of SciFi Interview http://www.sliceofscifi.com/2011/04/27/burt-ward-a-slice-of-scifi-interview/ (April 27, 2011)

Fate, School, Home, Thinking

“held her there,
kicking and mewling,
upended, unspooling, unsung and blue;
told her "wherever you go,
little runaway bunny,
I will find you."
And then she ran,
as they're liable to do.”

Joanna Newsom (1982) American musician

Baby Birch
Have One On Me (2010)

“Those were all genuine statements that I had to make. The Hon. Member for Winchester (Mr. Browne) was kicked out for 20 days because he lined his pockets with about £50,000 and did not put it in the register as he is supposed to do, and now he is whingeing but I reckon he got away with blue murder!”

Dennis Skinner (1932) British politician

Speech http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199192/cmhansrd/1992-02-28/Debate-1.html in the House of Commons (28 February 1992) <br class="br">1990s

“Dylan… said, "Both Becky and Kenny need medical attention—"
"And a prison cell until their social security kicks in," Jilly added.
"—but give us two or three minutes before you call 9-1-1," Dylan finished.
This instruction baffled Marj. "But you are 9-1-1."
Jilly fielded that peculiar question: "We're one of the ones, Marj, but we're not the other one or the nine."”

Dean Koontz book By the Light of the Moon

after Dylan & Jilly (who had claimed to be an undercover policewoman) save Marj and her grandson from homicidal teenagers
By the Light of the Moon (2002)

Question

“With glee, Tory Members ritually attack the inner city authorities, the Greater London council, the metropolitan counties and all the others, and have voted through the Rates Act and with it rate capping. They will rue the day that they did that, because the Government are fundamentally attempting to destroy democracy for local government. They have been doing so since 1979. The political principle on which they have operated is sheer selective vindictiveness against the poorest people in the country. Every inner city area has been penalised by the Government because the Government's notion of overspending is that, if a council tries to provide services that go some way towards meeting some of the needs and aspirations of the poorest people, they kick the council in the teeth. If a council continues to do that, despite the Government's blandishments, it does not get kicked in the teeth, but has its head cut off and suffers an unprecedented media barrage inspired by the Government. If one looks at any inner city area, one finds that disgraceful pattern.”

Jeremy Corbyn (1949) British Labour Party politician

Speech http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1985/jan/16/rate-support-grant-england in the House of Commons (16 January 1985). <br class="br">1980s

People, Way, Democracy, Suffering

“"What happened?" Arthur asked. He caught a glimpse of something below, but couldn't quite make out what it was. "The Nithling-"
"Missed me," called out Suzy. "Close-run thing. Bit off my right clog. I was kicking it in the teeth, so I s'pose that's fair."”

Garth Nix (1963) Australian fantasy writer

Source: The Keys to the Kingdom series, Grim Tuesday (2004), p. 177.

“GG Allin: I might go and kick somebody in the head, I might grab a girl and force her to perform oral sex with me. I've had sex on stage with men, women and animals and everything in between.”

GG Allin (1956–1993) American singer-songwriter

GG Allin on The Jerry Springer Show, May 5. 1993.
On The Jerry Springer Show

Women, Men, Sex, Girl

“The modern young man,' said Aunt Dahlia, 'is a congenital idiot and wants a nurse to lead him by the hand and some strong attendant to kick him regularly at intervals of a quarter of an hour.”

P.G. Wodehouse book Very Good, Jeeves

Very Good, Jeeves (1930)

Strong

“In Somalia, we know exactly what they had to gain because they told us. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Colin Powell, described this as the best public relations operation of the Pentagon that he could imagine. His picture, which I think is plausible, is that there was a problem about raising the Pentagon budget, and they needed something that would be, look like a kind of a cakewalk, which would give a lot of prestige to the Pentagon. Somalia looked easy. Let's look back at the background. For years, the United States had supported a really brutal dictator, who had just devastated the country, and was finally kicked out. After he's kicked out, it was 1990, the country sank into total chaos and disaster, with starvation and warfare and all kind of horrible misery. The United States refused to, certainly to pay reparations, but even to look. By the middle of 1992, it was beginning to ease. The fighting was dying down, food supplies were beginning to get in, the Red Cross was getting in, roughly 80% of their supplies they said. There was a harvest on the way. It looked like it was finally sort of settling down. At that point, all of a sudden, George Bush announced that he had been watching these heartbreaking pictures on television, on Thanksgiving, and we had to do something, we had to send in humanitarian aid. The Marines landed, in a landing which was so comical, that even the media couldn't keep a straight face. Take a look at the reports of the landing of the Marines, it must've been the first week of December 1992. They had planned a night, there was nothing that was going on, but they planned a night landing, so you could show off all the fancy new night vision equipment and so on. Of course they had called the television stations, because what's the point of a PR operation for the Pentagon if there's no one to look for it. So the television stations were all there, with their bright lights and that sort of thing, and as the Marines were coming ashore they were blinded by the television light. So they had to send people out to get the cameramen to turn off the lights, so they could land with their fancy new equipment. As I say, even the media could not keep a straight face on this one, and they reported it pretty accurately. Also reported the PR aspect. Well the idea was, you could get some nice shots of Marine colonels handing out peanut butter sandwiches to starving refugees, and that'd all look great. And so it looked for a couple of weeks, until things started to get unpleasant. As things started to get unpleasant, the United States responded with what's called the Powell Doctrine. The United States has an unusual military doctrine, it's one of the reasons why the U. S. is generally disqualified from peace keeping operations that involve civilians, again, this has to do with sovereignty. U. S. military doctrine is that U. S. soldiers are not permitted to come under any threat. That's not true for other countries. So countries like, say, Canada, the Fiji Islands, Pakistan, Norway, their soldiers are coming under threat all the time. The peace keepers in southern Lebanon for example, are being attacked by Israeli soldiers all the time, and have suffered plenty of casualties, and they don't like it. But U. S. soldiers are not permitted to come under any threat, so when Somali teenagers started shaking fists at them, and more, they came back with massive fire power, and that led to a massacre. According to the U. S., I don't know the actual numbers, but according to U. S. government, about 7 to 10 thousand Somali civilians were killed before this was over. There's a close analysis of all of this by Alex de Waal, who's one of the world's leading specialists on African famine and relief, altogether academic specialist. His estimate is that the number of people saved by the intervention and the number killed by the intervention was approximately in the same ballpark. That's Somalia. That's what's given as a stellar example of the humanitarian intervention.”

Noam Chomsky (1928) american linguist, philosopher and activist

Responding to the question, "what did the United States have to gain by intervening in Somalia?", regarding Operation Provide Relief/Operation Restore Hope/Battle of Mogadishu.
Quotes 1990s, 1995-1999, Sovereignty and World Order, 1999

People, World, Peace, Food

“When the war kicks off in Iran, I will be there. People ask me "Whose side are you going to fight on?" To these people I say "Fight? I'm not going to fight! I'm going to entertain!" Because let's face it, when they see my comedy, they won't have the will to fight. When the American and Iranian troops see the comedy of Omid Djalili, they won't have the will to live! The Daily Mail.”

Omid Djalili (1965) Iranian-British stand-up comedian

No Agenda (2007)

War, People, Fight

“If I can be permitted to turn around a phrase, I would say that I'm kind of sorry I won't have you to kick around any more.”

Pierre Trudeau (1919–2000) 15th Prime Minister of Canada

Statement to the press, referencing "You won't have Dick Nixon to kick around any more", during his resignation speech (21 November 1979) http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/1979-trudeau-steps-down-as-liberal-leader

“About three decades ago, when I needed to purchase some office equipment, chiefly steel filing cabinets, I was amused by a firm whose computer, having been informed that R. P. Oliver was the purchasing agent for R. P. Oliver, offered the former a secret "kick back" of 20% if he would buy their products at the expense of the latter. Another firm offered the purchasing agent a "complimentary" woman's mink jacket, which would be sent with his compliments to "any address," thus tactfully permitting him to choose between his wife and his doxy. That would have been good business, had the computers been operated by someone with intelligence enough to notice the odd coincidence between the name of the purchasing agent and the name of the owner to be exploited.”

Revilo P. Oliver (1908–1994) American philologist

"Spiced Crambe", Liberty Bell magazine (March 1993)
1990s

Secret, Intelligence, Business

“You want praise from people who kick themselves every fifteen minutes, the approval of people who despise themselves. (Is it a sign of self-respect to regret nearly everything you do?) (Hays translation)”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

Source: Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book VIII, 53

People

Quotes about kick page 2

Quotes about kick
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