Quotables

‘In the future I will be more circumspect.’

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 83, on recent highly negative comments she made about presidential candidate Donald Trump. The comments drew criticism from across the political spectrum for jeopardizing the confidence of Americans in a nonpartisan judiciary. On July 19 Trump officially became the Republican nominee for president.

‘Too often we judge other groups by their worst examples, while judging ourselves by our best intentions.’

Former President George W. Bush, in a speech at a July 12 memorial service for the five Dallas police officers who had been gunned down by a sniper on July 7, on racial unrest in the United States. “At our best,” he said, “we honor the image of God we see in one another … sharing the same brief moment on Earth and owing each other the loyalty of our shared humanity.”

‘Democracy is like a train: when you reach your destination, you get off.’

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, in a statement made about using democracy to seize power, when he was mayor of Istanbul in the 1990s. After overcoming a July coup attempt by elements of Turkey’s military, Erdogan has moved to stifle opposition, shut down media outlets, and have tens of thousands arrested or removed from their jobs.

‘A public health crisis that is destroying the life of millions.’

The Republican Party Platform’s description of pornography after revisions prior to the 2016 party convention. The platform called for states “to fight this public menace.” Previously, the GOP platform had only urged prosecution of child pornography.

‘Recognize that just because you do not feel the pain, the anguish of another, does not mean it does not exist.’

U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., in a floor speech on race and how he’s at times had a strained relationship with U.S. Capitol police. Scott, who is black, said he was stopped seven times in a one-year period, sometimes because officers either didn’t recognize him or thought he was impersonating a senator.