“Are there still people who don’t understand that if you want to discourage an activity, tax it heavily, and if you want to encourage it, cut its taxes?”

Donald Coxe in Maclean’s September 20, 2004

In my latest Epoch Times column I say the main difficulty with ditching various terrible cabinet ministers is who’s going to replace them… and why.

“acedia – the terrifying condition of not much caring about anything”

A writer whose name I did not record in National Review February 1, 1993

“the saying, ‘If at first you don’t succeed, try something else.’”

Laurence J. Peter and Raymond Hull, The Peter Principle (without further attribution)

“The believers in miracles accept them because they have evidence for them. The disbelievers in miracles deny them because they have a doctrine against them.”

G.K. Chesterton quoted in Gilbert! magazine Vol. 6 #4 (Jan.-Feb. 2003)

“Boredom would be a relief after the emotion I’m experiencing now.”

Another of mine (hey, use it or lose it) from March 2004.

“Human affairs are not serious, but they have to be taken seriously.”

Iris Murdoch, quoted as “Thought du jour” in Globe & Mail October 4, 2002

“May you live through interesting times.”

Another of mine, from September 13 2001 (and yes, adapted from the supposed Chinese curse “May you live in interesting times.”)

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