Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by P. J. O'Rourke

Quote by P. J. O'Rourke

Work

Thrown Under the Omnibus

This book delves into the complexities of human relationships and societal expectations through the lens of a character who finds themselves at the center of a community's scrutiny. more

Author

P. J. O'Rourke
P. J. O'Rourke

P. J. O'Rourke, born on November 14, 1947, is a renowned satirical writer known for his humorous and satirical commentary on political and social issues. His distinctive writing style, characterized by wit and sharpness, has won him a wide readership. more

You May Also Like

“When government does, occasionally, work, it works in an elitist fashion. That is, government is most easily manipulated by people who have money and power already. This is why government benefits usually go to people who don't need benefits from government. Government may make some environmental improvements, but these will be improvements for rich bird-watchers. And no one in government will remember that when poor people go bird-watching they do it at Kentucky Fried Chicken.”

PeopleNeedsMayDoeGovernmentRememberPoorRichFashionBenefitsBirdEnvironmentalImprovementWorking ItChickensPoor PeopleKentuckyElitistWatchersMoney And PowerFried ChickenBird Watching
Author:P. J. O'Rourke
Create image

“If we're going to improve the environment, the first thing we should do is duck the government. The second thing we should do is quit being moral. Screw the rights of nature. Nature will have rights as soon as it get duties. The minute we see birds, trees, bugs, and squirrels picking up litter, giving money to charity, and keeping an eye on our kids at the park, we'll let them vote.”

IfsGivingShouldFirstsGovernmentEyeKidsMoralEnvironmentRightsTreeMinutesDutyBirdVoteCharityQuittingParksDucksScrewsBugsSquirrelsGiving Money
Book:All the Trouble in the World: The Lighter Side of Overpopulation, Famine, Ecological Disaster, Ethnic Hatred, Plague, and Poverty
Create image

“Even a band of angels can turn ugly and start looting if enough angels are unemployed and hanging around the Pearly Gates convinced that all the succubi own all the liquor stores in Heaven.”

IfsEnoughTurnsHeavenBandAngelUglyConvincedStoresGatesLiquorUnemployedHanging AroundLootingLiquor StoresPearly Gates
Book:Parliament of Whores: A Lone Humorist Attempts to Explain the Entire U.S. Government
Create image

“There's a lot of debate on this subject - about what kind of car handles best. Some say a a front-engined car, some say a rear-engined car. I say a rented car. Nothing handles better than a rented car. You can go faster, turn corners sharper, and put the transmission into reverse while going forward at a higher rate of speed in a rented car than in any other kind.”

KindTurnsSubjectsCarFrontsHigherRateCornersSpeedDebateHandleFasterReverseTransmission
Author:P. J. O'Rourke
Create image

“So-called Western Civilization, as practised in half of Europe, some of Asia and a few parts of North America, is better than anything else available. Western civilization not only provides a bit of life, a pinch of liberty and the occasional pursuance of happiness, it's also the only thing that's ever tried to. Our civilization is the first in history to show even the slightest concern for average, undistinguished, none-too-commendable people like us.”

PeopleWorldFirstsShowsAmericaBitsHalfLibertyModernCivilizationEuropeConcernWesternAverageAvailableAsiaModern WorldOccasionalWestern CivilizationNorth AmericaCommendable
Author:P. J. O'Rourke
Create image

“Our democracy, our culture, our whole way of life is a spectacular triumph of the blah. Why not have a political convention without politics to nominate a leader who's out in front of nobody? Maybe our national mindlessness is the very thing that keeps us from turning into one of those smelly European countries full of pseudo-reds and crypto-fascists and greens who dress like forest elves.”

WayCountryWholeAmericaPoliticalLife IsCultureLeaderDemocracyFrontsDressesForestsTriumphWhy NotConventionsSpectacularFascistsPseudoEuropean CountriesBlahSmelly
Author:P. J. O'Rourke
Create image