Say what you want about the famous quote attributed to Tocqueville -- it's like feeding chicken soup to a corpse, it ain't going to hurt anything.
I agree. What does it hurt?
It's a LIE! THAT's what it hurts!
> Say what you want about the famous quote attributed to Tocqueville -- it's like feeding chicken soup to a corpse, it ain't going to hurt anything.
Uh... huh.
"You know all that stuuf people say about me being divine? It's rubbish. When I was young, I bummed around with my posse and performed some magic tricks, including a pretty good escape trick." - Jesus of Nazareth, 64 AD
"We got about 500 miles out, and then decided to turn north and go to Iceland. We partied for a while and then went back and claimed we'd gotten to India. Imagine my surprise... " Christopher Columbus, 1497
"Actually, she didn't drown... I strangled her in a drunken rage and then dumped the car to make it look like an accident." Teddy The Swimmer, 1974
"The American people would have to be complete fu--ing morons if they allow Social Security to continue for another minute." FDR, 1941
"Wow. I still can't believe they baught it." A. Hitler, 1956
Yeah, let's just make stuff up. Ain't going to hurt anything.
MLC9852 said: I agree.
I don't think this interesting article suggested that any great harm came from the invented quote which, everyone seems to agree, is rather bracing.
I think many of us regard the correcting of such things as a mildly useful amusement. It is not an attack on the quote or the people who have used it.
As others have eloquently said here, there is a value to getting our history correct. I just don't see getting defensive about people -- with no agenda or edge -- making corrections in the historical record. I'm sure you both don't really mean to be standing up for the idea that historical errors should be let stand. It is okay to breeze on by such corrections if they hold no interest for you. No need to take an active stand for ignorance and error.