Difference between revisions of "Talk:Most influential phrases"

Latest revision as of 04:12, April 20, 2019

I've added five quotes of my own but don't feel qualified to rank them together with the others. Perhaps wiser heads can help! Rafael (talk) 19:31, 18 April 2019 (EDT)

I'm just curious why "upon this rock I will build my church" is being ranked here. It came true, but this statement about Peter doesn't seem to me like one of the "most influential phrases" in history. Am I missing something? --DavidB4 ^(TALK) 20:24, 18 April 2019 (EDT)

I'd have no problem deleting it. Honestly, I'm not sure about Genesis 1:1 either, since there are more "influential" (whatever that means) verses in the Bible (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:4, John 3:16). It's easier having an article on "most influential books" rather than just quotes. --1990'sguy (talk) 20:27, 18 April 2019 (EDT)

Yeah, I'm not quite sure what to do with this page. Several others, like "Government has no other end, but the preservation of property" and "Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem" are good quotes, but I'm not sure how "influential" they were. --DavidB4 ^(TALK) 20:30, 18 April 2019 (EDT)

How about "Work brings freedom"? In context, it's a terrifying quote, but it was "influential," in a bad way. --DavidB4 ^(TALK) 20:31, 18 April 2019 (EDT)

I think the "influence" of the last two listed quotes are debatable. But that illustrates the value of having such a list: it sparks inquiry and debate.--Andy Schlafly (talk) 21:52, 18 April 2019 (EDT)

Could this at least be made an essay to get it out of mainspace? I take your point about inquiry and debate, but an encyclopedia article needs firmer footing than this idea is ever likely to have.

With that said, I'd offer:

• "We shall fight on the beaches...", Winston Churchill
• "I have a dream...", Martin Luther King
• "I am the greatest!" Muhammad Ali
• "...the only thing we have to fear is fear itself...", Franklin D. Roosevelt
• "Speak softly and carry a big stick...", Theodore Roosevelt
• "...ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country." John F. Kennedy
• "This is the way the world ends / Not with a bang but a whimper." T.S. Eliot
• "My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; / Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!" Percy Bysshe Shelley
• "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind." Neil Armstrong

JohnZ (talk) 16:41, 19 April 2019 (EDT)

Yes, there are some more good, influential quotes. I would also slightly support the idea of moving this to essay space. It is by definition rather subjective, much as out best/worst lists of movies, video games, and musical works are, which is why they are essays. --DavidB4 ^(TALK) 17:17, 19 April 2019 (EDT)

I don't agree with the characterization of this list as a "ranking". You can't rank them. Just list them. They speak for themselves. SamHB (talk) 00:12, 20 April 2019 (EDT)