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Wikipedia:Motto of the day/Nominations/Archive 26

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→ Affidavit
("He asserted")

A legal term from Medieval Latin for "he has declared upon oath". Alternative links: WP:PRAY, WP:GUIDELINES, WP:BONAFIDE. –pjoef (talk • contribs) 07:41, 23 March 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (no consensus and no chance) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:23, 30 March 2010 (UTC)

Failure is the mother of success.

Kayau Voting IS evil 09:17, 20 March 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/April 6, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:04, 30 March 2010 (UTC)

→ Go ahead, make my day.

Harold Francis "Dirty Harry" Callahan (played by Clint Eastwood) in Sudden Impact (directed by Clint Eastwood; written by Charles B. Pierce, Earl E. Smith, Joseph C. Stinson; starring Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Pat Hingle, Paul Drake; cinematography by Bruce Surtees; music composed by Lalo Schifrin; 1983) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 07:35, 16 March 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/April 1, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 09:53, 30 March 2010 (UTC)

→ Love is the emblem of eternity; it confounds all notion of time; effaces all memory of a beginning, all fear of an end.

Anne Louise Germaine de Staël (1766–1817), reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert's Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 392. –pjoef (talk • contribs) 09:33, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined per WP:IAR: No consensus, and since most regulars have commented it is not likely to get one. Kayau Voting IS evil 02:36, 28 March 2010 (UTC)

→ Love is the emblem of eternity; it confounds all notion of time; effaces all memory of a beginning, all fear of an end.

Edit 1 ~ A more complex version with LOVE portrayed by WIkipedia Articles. –pjoef (talk • contribs) 09:07, 2 March 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened BOTH (no consensus; 3 in support and 1 opposed for the original; 3 in support and 2 opposed for edit 1) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 09:16, 16 March 2010 (UTC)   Declined - see original edit Kayau Voting IS evil 02:36, 28 March 2010 (UTC)

→ Esse quam videri
("To be, rather than to seem to be.")

Esse quam videri is found in Cicero's essay "On Friendship" ("De amicitia", chapter 98). "Virtute enim ipsa non tam multi praediti esse quam videri volunt" (Few are those who wish to be endowed with virtue rather than to seem so). –pjoef (talk • contribs) 07:35, 16 March 2010 (UTC)

Reply: NO, (INHO) it's "to be editors, rather than to seem to be editors." And, a troll needs to seem to be an "editor"; I'm not referring to the elves, but to Troll (Internet), which is the subject of that essay on MetaWiki. –pjoef (talk • contribs) 08:34, 23 March 2010 (UTC)

  Declined per WP:SNOW - does not make sense Kayau Voting IS evil 12:45, 26 March 2010 (UTC)

→ A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

A proverb conceived by Chinese philosopher Laozi (ca 604–ca 531 bc), founder of Taoism, which means: even the longest and most difficult ventures have a starting point. –pjoef (talk • contribs) 07:35, 16 March 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (used before) Kayau Voting IS evil 12:44, 26 March 2010 (UTC)

→ A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

New links per me. Smaug123 (talk) 17:41, 16 March 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (used before) Kayau Voting IS evil 12:44, 26 March 2010 (UTC)

→ He that will have his son have a respect for him and his orders, must himself have a great reverence for his son.

I haven't seen an AGF nom on here before, and I thought that it would be nice to add one. MMS2013 20:35, 13 March 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/April 5, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 08:16, 23 March 2010 (UTC)

→ With a bronze mirror, one can see whether he is properly attired; with history as a mirror, one can understand the rise and fall of a nation; with men as a mirror, one can see whether he is right or wrong.

Kayau Voting IS evil 13:09, 12 March 2010 (UTC) Or

  Declined (in favour of Edit 2) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 08:14, 23 March 2010 (UTC)

→ With a bronze mirror, one can see whether he is properly attired; with history as a mirror, one can understand the rise and fall of a nation; with men as a mirror, one can see whether he is right or wrong.

Edit 1 ~ Kayau Voting IS evil 13:09, 12 March 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (in favour of Edit 2) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 08:14, 23 March 2010 (UTC)

→ With a bronze mirror, one can see whether he is properly attired; with history as a mirror, one can understand the rise and fall of a nation; with men as a mirror, one can see whether he is right or wrong.

Edit 2 ~ Wait, NAS makes no sense. Hope this is better. Kayau Voting IS evil 01:50, 13 March 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/April 4, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 1 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 08:14, 23 March 2010 (UTC)

→ With a bronze mirror, one can see whether he is properly attired; with history as a mirror, one can understand the rise and fall of a nation; with men as a mirror, one can see whether he is right or wrong.

Edit 3 ~ Kayau Voting IS evil 01:54, 13 March 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (in favour of Edit 2) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 08:14, 23 March 2010 (UTC)

→ I never liked him very much.

Kayau Voting IS evil 09:46, 10 March 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/April 3, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 08:02, 23 March 2010 (UTC)

→ Bosh!

Amazingly, bosh is Larsen's last word - he didn't really say it, but it's still his last word, especially since Humphrey, the narrator, said that it was- before he dies of stroke. Kayau Voting IS evil 14:20, 9 March 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/April 2, 2010 (per consensus; 5 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 07:59, 23 March 2010 (UTC)

→ Lend me your song, ye Nightingales! O, pour
The mazy-running soul of melody
Into my varied verse.

James Thomson (1700–1748), The Seasons: "Spring" –pjoef (talk • contribs) 07:44, 9 March 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 29, 2010 (per consensus; 3 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 07:56, 23 March 2010 (UTC)

→ Play it, Sam. Play &#145;As Time Goes By.&#146;

Ilsa Lund (portrayed by Ingrid Bergman). Casablanca (directed by Michael Curtiz; written by Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, Howard Koch, Casey Robinson, Murray Burnett, Joan Alison; starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains; music composed by Max Steiner; cinematography by Arthur Edeson; 1943). –pjoef (talk • contribs) 07:44, 9 March 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 31, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 07:49, 23 March 2010 (UTC)

→ The feather of a goose from a thousand miles away
May be light, but it is heavy with meaning

Not sure with the heavy bit - English probably doesn't have this metaphor. SS, got a better translation? I just realised I'm rubbish at this. Kayau Voting IS evil 10:14, 9 March 2010 (UTC)

  • Confused - What does this quote have to do with donating? Nutiketaiel (talk) 12:45, 9 March 2010 (UTC)
    • The xiehouyu in Chinese is 千里送鵝毛，物輕情更重。It means that even though a gift may not be very expensive, but it is still full of meaning. I think it's a guy who lost a rare goose or something from afar then gave the king nothing but a feather and said these words. So, no matter how little you donate, it's still good to Wikipedia. Kayau Voting IS evil 13:21, 9 March 2010 (UTC)
  • Strong Support - I like the idea that even the smallest donation can make a difference. Why don't we have more mottos like this? MMS2013 13:43, 9 March 2010 (UTC)
    • Um... that's actually a really hard one to translate... Chinese is just so concise in comparison, huh? My attempt would be
      A rare feather gifted from a thousand miles away
      bears much meaning, though no weight
      but I don't know. Anyone else care to paraphrase? SS✞(Kay) 21:26, 10 March 2010 (UTC)

  Declined in favour of edit 2 Kayau Voting IS evil 12:41, 26 March 2010 (UTC)

→ A rare feather gifted from a thousand miles away
bears much meaning, though no weight

Per SS. Kayau Voting IS evil 11:58, 11 March 2010 (UTC)

  • Support - This translation makes the meaning more clear, I think (no offense, Kayau). Nutiketaiel (talk) 12:21, 11 March 2010 (UTC)
    • Reply - yeah, I guess I was adding legs to the snake by changing the first part. (Can't resist the joke, sorry. Adding legs to the snake is the Chinese idiom for doing something extra that makes a good thing bad.) Anyway, is there another way to swap the 'meaning' and 'weight' parts without throwing the baby out with the bathwater? (Incidentally, throwing the baby out with the bathwater has no Chinese equivalents that I can think of :P) Kayau Voting IS evil 13:48, 11 March 2010 (UTC)

  Declined in favour od edit 2 Kayau Voting IS evil 12:41, 26 March 2010 (UTC)

→ A gift of a feather from a thousand miles away
bears little weight, though much meaning

My version of SS's translation. Kayau Voting IS evil 11:58, 11 March 2010 (UTC)

  Approved per consensus. Simply south (talk) 20:39, 22 March 2010 (UTC)

→ Hello, is it me you're looking for?

Possibly better linking? SS✞(Kay) 08:40, 2 March 2010 (UTC)

  Approved per consensus - 5 in support and 0 opposed (following pjoef's style) Kayau Voting IS evil 14:25, 22 March 2010 (UTC)

Happy editing and let WikiLove spread over the internet!

Last line of Wikipedia:WikiLove. –pjoef (talk • contribs) 17:43, 16 February 2010 (UTC)

Let WikiLove spread over the Internet!

Edit 1 ~ Kayau Voting IS evil 02:47, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened ALL versions (no consensus) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 09:16, 2 March 2010 (UTC)

  Declined ALL versions (no consensus) Kayau Voting IS evil 14:20, 22 March 2010 (UTC)

→ And look for adoration to th' abuse
Of those imperial titles which assert
Our being ordained to govern, not to serve?

A quote from one of my favorite characters in Judeo-Christian Mythology in Milton's Paradise Lost. I know, I say all the time that I hate poetry, but sometimes I make an exception for epic poetry. In the original, this is part of Lucifer's speaches to his fellow angels encouraging them to rebel, but I think it serves nicely as linked here to illustrate the point that Adminship is no big deal and that administrators should not take themselves too seriously. The full quote reads "Who can in reason then or right assume/ Monarchy over such as live by right/ His equals, if in power and splendor less / In freedom equal? or can introduce/ Law and edict on us, who without law/ Err not, much less for this to be our Lord,/ And look for adoration to th' abuse/ Of those imperial titles which assert/ Our being ordained to govern, not to serve?." Nutiketaiel (talk) 20:28, 10 March 2010 (UTC)

  Approved per cpnsensus. Simply south (talk) 09:34, 17 March 2010 (UTC)

→ There was an old lady who swallowed a horse... She's dead of course!

Simply south (talk) 23:18, 10 March 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 25, 2010 (per WP:SNOW) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 09:34, 16 March 2010 (UTC)

→ E pluribus unum
("Out of many, one")

On the Seal of the United States. The phrase originally came from Moretum by Virgil: "color est e pluribus unus" –pjoef (talk • contribs) 07:44, 9 March 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (in favour of Edit 3) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 09:31, 16 March 2010 (UTC)

→ E pluribus unum
("Out of many, one")

Edit 1 (pointing to Wikipedia.) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 07:44, 9 March 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (in favour of Edit 3) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 09:31, 16 March 2010 (UTC)

→ E pluribus unum
("Out of many, one")

Edit 2 (pointing to wmf:Main Page.) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 07:44, 9 March 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (in favour of Edit 3) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 09:31, 16 March 2010 (UTC)

→ E pluribus unum
("Out of many, one")

Edit 3 - I think this gets across the message a little more clearly. From many editors, one encyclopedia. Pretty straightforward, and pretty indicative of what we do here. Assuming we haven't used "E Pluribus Unum" previously, this version has my support. Nutiketaiel (talk) 12:58, 9 March 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 24, 2010 (per consensus; 5 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 09:31, 16 March 2010 (UTC)

You can't make a silk purse out of a pig's ear.

Kayau Voting IS evil 04:43, 7 March 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 23, 2010 (per consensus; 5 in support and 1 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 09:28, 16 March 2010 (UTC)

→ If you take their power now, they'll rebel soon, and bring little trouble; if you don't, they'll rebel later, and bring bucketloads of trouble.

This one is quoted from the famous document Chao Cuo wrote to Emperor Jing of Han. Yeah, I know this is a horrible translation, but try translating classical Chinese. Kayau Voting IS evil 12:35, 5 March 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (in favour of Edit 1) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 09:26, 16 March 2010 (UTC)

→ If you take their power now, they'll rebel soon, and bring little trouble; if you don't, they'll rebel later, and bring bucketloads of trouble.

Edit 1 - Kayau Voting IS evil 08:37, 6 March 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 22, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 09:26, 16 March 2010 (UTC)

→ I am big. It's the pictures that got small.

Norma Desmond (portrayed by Gloria Swanson). Sunset Boulevard (directed by Billy Wilder; written by Billy Wilder, Charles Brackett and D. M. Marshman, Jr.; starring William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson; 1950) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 11:49, 9 February 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened - no consensus. Simply south (talk) 16:54, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (no consensus) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 09:23, 16 March 2010 (UTC)

→ And it keeps gettin' better

--[[SRE.K.A.L.|L.A.K.ERS]] 10:14, 9 March 2010 (UTC)

  Approved ~ per consensus Kayau Voting IS evil 05:07, 14 March 2010 (UTC)

→ You see, Mr Li, here we have ten miles of peach trees and tens of thousands of wine stores... Care to come for a visit?

Kayau Voting IS evil 12:15, 6 March 2010 (UTC)

  • Oppose - link doesn't make sense. Simply south (talk) 14:05, 6 March 2010 (UTC)
    • Reply - this is a practical joke that Wang Lun played on Li Po. He made use of ambiguity to trick Li into thinking that there are ten miles of peach trees and tens of thousands of wine stores when in fact there is just a lake ten miles long called peach tree, and one single wine store whose owner was named ten thousand. Kayau Voting IS evil 14:49, 6 March 2010 (UTC)
  • Weak Oppose - I'm afraid I don't understand this one. MMS2013 21:19, 6 March 2010 (UTC)
  • Oppose this just strikes me as a little too obscure, I don't think many people will catch the reference. SpitfireTally-ho! 10:26, 8 March 2010 (UTC)
  • Strong Oppose - The reference is way too obscure, especially since the arrow link that would undoubtedly explain it all is to a website that 90% of English Wikipedians (including your's truly) can't read. We need to keep arrow links to the English Wikipedia, so our readers can understand what we're trying to say. Is there an English Wikipedia article on... whatever it is you're trying to reference? Additionally (and this may be a nuance of translation), the statement is not actually ambiguous. If this is what was actually, said, than there was no ambiguity- Wang Lun just lied. Nutiketaiel (talk) 18:29, 8 March 2010 (UTC)
  • Weak Oppose Actually, it is ambiguous, but only in Chinese. But still, Nutiketaiel's point is valid. SS✞(Kay) 00:29, 9 March 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (per consensus) Kayau Voting IS evil 13:20, 10 March 2010 (UTC)

→ O honey-throated warbler of the grove!
That in the glooming woodland art so proud
Of answering thy sweet mates in soft or loud,
Thou dost not own a note we do not love.

Charles Tennyson Turner (1808–1879), "To the Nightingale" –pjoef (talk • contribs) 07:56, 2 March 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (It has been used on February 24, 2010.) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 09:08, 9 March 2010 (UTC)

→ Advocatus diaboli
(devil's advocate)

The Promoter of the Faith, popularly known as the Devil's Advocate, is a canon lawyer appointed by Roman Catholic Church authorities to argue against the canonization of the candidate. –pjoef (talk • contribs) 07:56, 2 March 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (in favour of Edit 1) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 09:02, 9 March 2010 (UTC)

→ Devil's Advocate

Edit 1 - As I stated above, I don't think we should use latin mottos if the english translation is commonly used. Devil's advocate is a very common phrase, and there's no need to put it here in latin just for the sake of having a latin motto. This version has my support. Nutiketaiel (talk) 12:32, 2 March 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 20, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 09:02, 9 March 2010 (UTC)

→ Don't lean on one side, don't have a biased opinion, don't do too much, and don't do too little.

If you can speak Chinese, please help change this a bit - I know this is a very sloppy translation! Kayau Voting IS evil 10:33, 28 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 19, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 08:59, 9 March 2010 (UTC)

→ Life is like a bowl of chillies

Simply south (talk) 16:54, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (no consensus) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 08:57, 9 March 2010 (UTC)

→ Anything that builds a spirit of friendliness and co-operation and helps people get to know each other as human beings seems to me a good thing.

Jimbo Wales, 20 December 2006 –pjoef (talk • contribs) 07:56, 2 March 2010 (UTC)

  Approved per consensus. Simply south (talk) 17:03, 5 March 2010 (UTC)

→ Colourless green ideas sleep furiously.

I hope it works, since it's just as bland as the DISAMBIG one. Kayau Voting IS evil 09:57, 25 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 17, 2010 (per WP:SNOW) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:10, 2 March 2010 (UTC)

→ Insufficient facts always invite danger.

Just happened to be in a Star Trek mood today. MMS2013 13:09, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 16, 2010 (per WP:SNOW) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:08, 2 March 2010 (UTC)

→ The merry lark, he soars on high,
No worldly thought o'ertakes him;
He sings aloud to the clear blue sky,
And the daylight that awakes him

Hartley Coleridge (1796–1849), "Song". –pjoef (talk • contribs) 09:33, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (no consensus) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:05, 2 March 2010 (UTC)

→ Michael... we're bigger than U.S. Steel.

Hyman Roth (portrayed by Lee Strasberg). The Godfather Part II (directed by Francis Ford Coppola; written by Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola; starring Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Robert De Niro, John Cazale, Talia Shire, Lee Strasberg, Michael V. Gazzo; 1974) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 09:33, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (in favour of Edit 1) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:02, 2 March 2010 (UTC)

→ Michael... we're bigger than U.S. Steel.

Edit 1: Let's not try to insult the Brittannica here. Just paper encyclopaedias in general. That's still a little proud but at least it's better than a personal attack - I mean, encyclopaedial attack :) - on one specific encyclopaedia. Kayau Voting IS evil 10:16, 24 February 2010 (UTC)

  • Extremely Weak Support - Wow, it's just like the first version, only watered down to the point where it doesn't taste like anything anymore.  :-( Seriously, Kayau, are you worried some Britannica person is going to come to our Wiki, see the motto and start crying? Nutiketaiel (talk) 12:34, 24 February 2010 (UTC)
    • Reply - no, but it is immoral to bash Britannica. Britannica is not necessarily inferior to Wikipedia. Wikipedia is broader and more up-to-date, but Britannica is better in terms of quality and reliability. There's no saying which one is better, so let's not just jump to the conclusion that Britannica is not as good as Wikipedia. Any good Chinese philosopher - except Yang-Tzu, I guess - would tell you that. Kayau Voting IS evil 09:50, 25 February 2010 (UTC)
      • Reply - I didn't know that Chinese Philosophers made a habit of comparing Wikipedia with Britannica.  :-P Oh, and it is not immoral to bash Britannica, especially since they are inferior to Wikipedia. Wikipedia is broader and more up to date, and in its major articles is just as reliable and has just as good a quality as a print encyclopedia. I'm not jumping to a conclusion, I'm coming to a well reasoned and rationally thought out conclusion- Wikipedia is better than Britannica. Nutiketaiel (talk) 12:19, 25 February 2010 (UTC)
        • Reply First, a run-on warning - use a semicolon please. Secondly, a huge number of articles of the 'pedia are STUBS, while others are mainly STARTS and Cs. Look at Charles Dickens, for example. I bet Britannica's entry isn't so, erm, messy? (I didn't really go to the library to have a look; it's closed now.) Kayau Voting IS evil 14:25, 25 February 2010 (UTC)
          • Reply - First, there was no run-on sentence in my statement and no semicolon was needed. Second, while I agree that Wikipedia has many stubs, the vast majority of those are on topics that would never appear in Britannica in the first place. As for Charles Dickens, I also doubt that Britannica's entry is so detailed, even if it may be ever so slightly cleaner. We can spend all week cherry-picking articles, though, arguing which is better in the Wiki and which is better in Britannica. I have better things to do. Nutiketaiel (talk) 12:39, 26 February 2010 (UTC)
            • Reply - There isn't a ruler or balance to measure which encyclopaedia is better, Wikipedia and Brittanica. Therefore, saying Wikipedia is better is just, as you said here, 'subjective nonsense'. That's why we shouldn't compare Wikipedia and Britannica in the motto. I hope I'm clear enough. Kayau Voting IS evil 13:28, 26 February 2010 (UTC)
            • BTW - I recall reading on the signpost that a great deal of vandalism's never recovered. I bet Britannica can't have that problem. Kayau Voting IS evil 01:02, 27 February 2010 (UTC)
              • Reply - Making me eat my own words? That's a low blow, Kayau.  :-P Seriously, though, I do see your point, and I'd be with you 110% if we were talking about an article. I just don't see a problem with us extolling our own vitrues or tooting our own horn in our own mottos. That's not the same as creating a Barnstar based on your personal opinion about Einstein. Nutiketaiel (talk) 13:01, 1 March 2010 (UTC)
  • Changing to Strong Support - While I still stand by my points in the above conversation with Kayau, I've decided to change my mind and throw my support behind this version. I still believe that there's nothing wrong with the original, and that it's OK to be very supportive and Pro-Wikipedia in the mottos (indeed, I think it's kind of important that we are pro-Wikipedia); however, NPOV is important, and there's something to be said for leading by example. So, here it is; while I still like and support the original motto, the second version now has my strong support. Nutiketaiel (talk) 13:08, 1 March 2010 (UTC)
  • Weak Support - MMS2013 20:42, 25 February 2010 (UTC)
  • Extremely Strong support GO WikiPedia!!!!!!!TemariHyuga
  • Support –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:02, 2 March 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 15, 2010 (per WP:SNOW) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:02, 2 March 2010 (UTC)

→ The question is not can they reason? Nor can they talk? But can they suffer?

Kayau Odyssey HUCK FINN to the lighthouse 10:41, 7 February 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened (no consensus) Kayau Voting IS evil 02:51, 20 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 14, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 1 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 09:59, 2 March 2010 (UTC)

→ Wikipedia will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.

I'm not bashing those who criticize wikipedia, but it's trying to say with we doubt wikipedia because of the criticisms of it, we will lose what made wikipedia so special: the users that built it. Secret Saturdays (talk to me) 01:55, 29 January 2010 (UTC)

  • Weak oppose the problem is, a lot of people will think you're trying to bash those who criticise Wikipedia. Kayau Odyssey HUCK FINN to the lighthouse BACK FROM EXAMS 12:49, 29 January 2010 (UTC)
  • Support - I like that quote and the links are apt. Smaug123 (talk) 18:29, 29 January 2010 (UTC)
  • Strong Oppose - While I have no problem at all with bashing people who criticize Wikipedia (and I like it when mottos do so), this motto alters the wording of a direct quote and we should never do that. Nutiketaiel (talk) 12:46, 1 February 2010 (UTC)
    • Reply It is immoral to bash those who criticise you, even if you don't intend it, like in this case. It seems that you will never accept any criticisms of Wikipedia, or at least the criticism that people are making right now. Only proud and arrogant people do this. Kayau Odyssey HUCK FINN to the lighthouse 13:59, 2 February 2010 (UTC)
      • Reply - So it's alright for them to bash us, but its immoral for us to bash them back? Especially when much of what they say is nonsensical? And what's wrong with being proud? I am very proud of Wikipedia, and very proud of my contributions to it. I don't care what anyone else says- Pride is not a sin. Nutiketaiel (talk) 17:40, 2 February 2010 (UTC)
        • Reply Pride is not a sin, but when it's too extreme (that's what we call arrogance) it causes a lot of sins. Kayau Odyssey HUCK FINN to the lighthouse 11:21, 3 February 2010 (UTC)
          • Reply - Arrogance isn't always a bad thing, especially when you really ARE the best at what you do (and Wikipedia really is the best free encyclopedia that anyone can edit). It's hubris you have to watch out for.  ;-) Nutiketaiel (talk) 12:43, 3 February 2010 (UTC)
            • Reply Sigh - it's something western people will never learn. Kayau Odyssey HUCK FINN to the lighthouse 14:18, 3 February 2010 (UTC)
              • *cough* *cough* As a note to both of you, these lengthy discussions over cultural differences aren't really productive to forming a consensus over whether or not certain motto's should be promoted. Kindest regards, SpitfireTally-ho! 14:51, 3 February 2010 (UTC)
                • Reply - That's nice, Spitfire. And Kayau, implying that hubris is an exclusively western problem is pretty arrogant of you. Welcome to the club; we have hats.  :-P Nutiketaiel (talk) 15:06, 4 February 2010 (UTC)
                  • Reply by saying that Western people would never learn humbleness, I am not limiting the problem of hubris to the Western society or stating that the Western society is inferior to the Eastern one. It is only a fact that Western culture has a much lighter emphasis than the Chinese culture. After all, you do have something against arrogance. Kayau Odyssey HUCK FINN to the lighthouse 10:04, 5 February 2010 (UTC)
                    • Comment as uninvolved: Sorry, Spitfire- As an Asian migrant to a Western culture, I'd just like to point out that both cultures have pride. (Of course, this is an uncalled-for broad generalization based on my very limited experience.) It's just in different forms- The West finds no issue with frankly stating their pride in something they do, The East find that pride in downplaying letting their achievements speak for themselves, and in "face", as such. We are all the same. We all like to be complimented. In the West we acknowledge these compliments, in the East we deny them, but we all get that glow from it. We all one-up each other from time to time. Regardless how vocal we are about it, we all get annoyed and think up objections to criticism. Whether this is bashing or not depends on whether you're tearing down the criticism or the criticiser.
                      In the context of this motto: In essence, it states that the enemy is us. Ex-editors who are vengeful could cripple us far more easily than people who've never hit that edit tab. (See the Wikipedia section of Yahoo Answers for numerous examples.) I kind of see how it might appear to be bashing, but... SS✞(Kay) 10:44, 5 February 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened (no consensus) Kayau Don't be too CNN I'LL DO MY JOB uprising! uprising! 04:12, 13 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined per consensus. Simply south (talk) 00:13, 28 February 2010 (UTC)

(This space for rent.)

I’ve been thinking for a while as to whether I should nominate this...and I concluded that it’s worth a shot. Hopefully, this motto will promote this project and motivate users to participate. Just for the record, I have no idea how this is going to be reviewed. But that's for you to decide! Artichoke-Boy (talk) 19:48, 22 May 2009 (UTC)

  • Comment. Perhaps this could be used as the emergency motto (when there are none on schedule) instead of 'Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia'. Per A-B, it would encourage more people to help the project out. Wikiert T S C 14:09, 24 May 2009 (UTC)
That's a good idea, Wikiert. I want to wait for more comments before jumping to that decision so quickly, though. I also have a question: how do I make it the "emergency motto" if I decide to do so? Artichoke-Boy (talk) 16:31, 24 May 2009 (UTC)

  Reopened (no consensus) Kayau David Copperfield MOBY DICK the great gatsby 05:58, 2 August 2009 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 30, 2010 (per consensus) Secret Saturdays (talk to me) 23:20, 26 February 2010 (UTC)

→ It is considered [who?] a dark and stormy night. [citation needed]

Yet another attempt at humour. Kayau Voting IS evil 12:45, 21 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 13, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:58, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

Rest in peace

Simply south (talk) 11:18, 23 January 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened (no consensus) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 12:34, 9 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (no consensus) Kayau Voting IS evil 10:58, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

→ I before E except after C, but we live in a weird society.

Yet another attempt at humour. When I first heard of this mnemonic, I was 9. I went straight to Wikipedia to learn about it. I learnt this variation and loved it ever since. In this motto it might be a bit strange but I think it works. Kayau Voting IS evil 03:17, 21 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 12, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:56, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck would chuck wood?

? Simply south (talk) 22:19, 19 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 10, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:52, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck would chuck wood?

Edit 1 ~ Simply south (talk) 22:53, 20 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (in favour of the original) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:52, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck would chuck wood?

Edit 2 ~ This might be seen as FUI again because of the "way to Amarillo" quote but i hope i can get away with it. Simply south (talk) 22:53, 20 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (in favour of the original) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:52, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

→ Khan!!!

from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Gnevin (talk) 15:30, 19 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 11, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:33, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

It is better to have loved and lost
than never to have loved at all.

Please correct the saying if i have put it wrong. Simply south (talk) 12:22, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

  • Oppose - First off, I think it is worded "than never to have loved at all," but I'm not certain. That's not why I'm opposing, though. I don't think this quote makes sense from a Wikipedia perspective as currently linked. There's nothing really about loving and losing in the current links. Indeed, I think that WP:LOVE is a poor choice of links for this motto- just because a motto has the word "love" in it doesn't mean it has to be about Wikilove- we can still use it as an allegory for something else. Nutiketaiel (talk) 12:38, 17 February 2010 (UTC)
    • Corrected. Anyway, it is not random linking. It is trying to say it is better to have tried to get along with someone than not. And you've made me realise i was meaning AGF (edit 2), which links better with the meaning. Simply south (talk) 14:04, 17 February 2010 (UTC)
      • Reply - I never said it was random. I just don't think the linking you're using matches up perfectly, because it says nothing about loss, which is the most important part of the quote. Nutiketaiel (talk) 17:53, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined in favour of edit 4 Kayau Voting IS evil 10:28, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

Edit 1 - In this edit, I am trying to say that it is better to put alot of work into an article to have it promoted to Featured Article Status ("loved"), even if it later loses that status ("lost"), than to have never put any effort in at all and left the article as a stub ("never to have loved at all"). I'm using love as a metaphor, rather than just linking it to WP:LOVE as everyone would expect, and I think it gets across a good message this way about our efforts. This version has my support. Nutiketaiel (talk) 12:38, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined in favour of edit 4 Kayau Voting IS evil 10:28, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

It is better to have loved and lost
than never to have loved at all.

see original. edit 2. Simply south (talk) 14:07, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined in favour of edit 4 Kayau Voting IS evil 10:28, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

It is better to have loved and lost
than never to have loved at all.

edit 3. Slightly similar to Nutiketaiel's version. SS✞(Kay) 05:58, 18 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined in favour of edit 4 Kayau Voting IS evil 10:28, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

→ 'Tis better to have loved and lost
than never to have loved at all.

Edit 4 ~ Wording corrected; quote attributed. Intelligentsium 21:29, 19 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved Kayau Voting IS evil 10:28, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

→ I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse.

Don Vito "Godfather" Andolini Corleone (portrayed by Marlon Brando, The Godfather (based on the 1969 novel of the same name by Mario Puzo and directed by Francis Ford Coppola; 1972). –pjoef (talk • contribs) 07:54, 2 February 2010 (UTC)

I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse makes more sense. HalfShadow 23:12, 15 February 2010 (UTC)

→ I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse.

Edit 1 per HalfShadow MMS2013 02:45, 16 February 2010 (UTC)

→ I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse.

Edit 2 - I think this link could work for the quote. MMS2013 17:16, 16 February 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened all irrefusable offer mottos. Kayau Voting IS evil 11:56, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

  • Strong Oppose - Once again, this linking shows a complete lack of understanding of the original context of the quote! Have any of you actually seen the Godfather? "An offer he can't refuse" is a threat. Nutiketaiel (talk) 12:43, 17 February 2010 (UTC)
    • Comment ~ I saw the trilogy many times... the &#147;offer he can't refuse&#148; line is used in all of the films of the trilogy and with different meanings. In The Godfather I, Don Vito Corleone says the phrase to Johnny Fontane who was asking for Godfather's help to secure a role in a film, and Fontane is given the part. I know that it is a threat, but my intention was to make a parody of it... something humorous. –pjoef (talk • contribs) 16:14, 17 February 2010 (UTC)
      • Reply - A parody is one thing, but this is the exact opposite of the original meaning with no context. It doesn't come off as a parody, it comes off as someone not knowing what the original quote means. Nutiketaiel (talk) 17:55, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

→ I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse.

Edit 3 (threatening version) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 16:14, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined ALL (no consensus) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:24, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

Mary? Mary who? Queen of Scots? Bloody Mary? Marie Antoinette? Mary Shelly? Mary had a little lamb?

Another humorous one I made up. Kayau Voting IS evil 02:50, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 8, 2010 (per consensus; 5 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:21, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

→ Freedom lies in being bold.

MMS2013 22:00, 16 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 7, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:19, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

→ You're gonna need a bigger boat.

Police Chief Martin Brody (portrayed by Roy Scheider). Jaws (directed by Steven Spielberg; written by Peter Benchley, Carl Gottlieb, Howard Sackler; starring Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton; 1975) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 17:43, 16 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 6, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:16, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

→ It doesn't matter who you are or what you look like as long as somebody loves you.

Feel free to change it if I made any mistakes. I don't have the book, so I might remember wrongly, Kayau Don't be too CNN I'LL DO MY JOB uprising! uprising! 11:21, 14 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 5, 2010 (per consensus; 5 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:14, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

→ You don't use science to show that you're right, you use science to become right.

The text of this quote is from the mouseover text of the xkcd comic I read this morning. I think the quote does a good job of illustrating one of the fundamental principles of Wikipedia- we're not here to push our own agenda or our own idea of what's true, we're here to create articles using only verifiable facts with a neutral point of view. An important message, I think. Nutiketaiel (talk) 12:34, 12 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 4, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:12, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

→ You don't use science to show that you're right, you use science to become right.

Kayau Voting IS evil 11:54, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (in favour of the original) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:12, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

→ Yes, I Believe In Me So You Believe In You

I thought i would try this. The whole of that part is "Lift Your Head Up High And Scream Out To The World I Know I Am Someone And Let The Truth Unfurl No One Can Hurt You Now Because You Know What's True Yes, I Believe In Me So You Believe In You"

Simply south (talk) 23:39, 9 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (in favour of Edit 2) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:09, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

→ Wanna Be Starting Something

edit 1 per Nutiketaiel's strikethrough suggestion. Simply south (talk) 01:50, 13 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (in favour of Edit 2) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:09, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

→ Wanna Be Starting Something

This is easily better. edit 2 Simply south (talk) 13:45, 15 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 3, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:09, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

→ Rise with the lark, and with the lark to bed.

James Hurdis (1763-1801), The Village Curate (1788) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 11:49, 9 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 2, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:06, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

→ Dominus illuminatio mea
("The Lord is my light")

The opening words of Psalm 27 –pjoef (talk • contribs) 11:49, 9 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (in favour of Edit 1) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:04, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

→ Dominus illuminatio mea
("The Lord is my light")

Edit 1 with WP:FIVE instead of WP:MOS. –pjoef (talk • contribs)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/March 1, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:04, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

→ WELCOME TO MOTHER3 WORLD.

A message to the newbies. It tells them that they are welcomed to edit on Wikipedia. Quote taking from an advertisment for the excellent Mother 3 game. Secret Saturdays (talk to me) 05:22, 15 February 2010 (UTC)

Not trying to sound like a wise guy either, but as a strictly domestic Japanese slogan, wouldn't it almost surely be obscure to someone who knows very little about Nintendo and their games? MMS2013 17:02, 16 February 2010 (UTC)
You do have a point, but I'm pretty sure that most of the users know about Nintendo and its games, and those who don't can research about it on Wikipedia, thus increasing the use of Wikipedia's search engine, and can help the Mother 3 article grow. So, it can result in a Win-W in situation. Secret Saturdays (talk to me) 23:21, 16 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved (per consensus; 4 in support and 1 opposed) Secret Saturdays (talk to me) 22:55, 22 February 2010 (UTC)

→ The score never interested me, only the game.

It doesn't matter about how much you edited, only the value of the edits. Secret Saturdays (talk to me) 18:09, 20 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved per consensus. Simply south (talk) 22:35, 22 February 2010 (UTC)

→ He's dead, Jim

Not sure why I'm thinking star trek but I like this one Gnevin (talk) 18:30, 19 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved per consensus. Simply south (talk) 22:35, 22 February 2010 (UTC)

→ The majority have no right to do wrong

Éamon de Valera during the Irish Civil War Gnevin (talk) 10:05, 19 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved per consensus. Simply south (talk) 23:11, 20 February 2010 (UTC)

→ O honey-throated warbler of the grove!
That in the glooming woodland art so proud
Of answering thy sweet mates in soft or loud,
Thou dost not own a note we do not love.

Charles Tennyson Turner (1808–1879), "To the Nightingale" –pjoef (talk • contribs) 17:43, 16 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved per consensus. Simply south (talk) 23:11, 20 February 2010 (UTC)

Wikiepdia, thte adevrtisment-free enctcliopaedia

Kayau Odyssey HUCK FINN to the lighthouse 02:02, 12 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined per consensus. Smaug123 (talk) 08:32, 20 February 2010 (UTC)

Wikipedia, the Advertisment Free ennclyopedia

Per MMS2013 Secret Saturdays (talk to me) 00:51, 13 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined per consensus. Smaug123 (talk) 08:32, 20 February 2010 (UTC)

Wikipedia, the Advertisment Free Enncylopaedia

Per Kayau MMS2013 17:57, 13 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined per consensus. Smaug123 (talk) 08:32, 20 February 2010 (UTC)

→ You've hissed all my mystery lectures. You've tasted a whole worm. Get out of Oxford on the next town drain.

even funnier than original. Kayau Voting IS evil 13:37, 16 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved per consensus for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/February 22, 2010. Smaug123 (talk) 08:32, 20 February 2010 (UTC)

→ The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.

Eden Ahbez, "Nature Boy" (1947) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 11:49, 9 February 2010 (UTC)

→ What's in a name?

Kayau Don't be too CNN I'LL DO MY JOB uprising! uprising! 07:25, 15 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved per consensus. Simply south (talk) 17:55, 19 February 2010 (UTC)

→ Audi alteram partem
(hear the other side)

No person should be judged without a fair hearing in which each party is given the opportunity to respond to the evidence against him. –pjoef (talk • contribs) 17:43, 16 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved per consensus. Simply south (talk) 17:55, 19 February 2010 (UTC)

Not now. Not ever. Say no to drugs. Say no to nightmares.

The government's been using this slogan a lot lately. Everyone in Hong Kong can recite it. Kayau Odyssey HUCK FINN to the lighthouse BACK FROM EXAMS 12:06, 21 January 2010 (UTC)

  • Oppose - sorry, but I think it's a bit esoteric - the links are not really relevant to the words! Smaug123 (talk) 08:17, 23 January 2010 (UTC)
    • Reply: Well, as I said, anyone in HK (or staying in HK for a couple of days) should be able to remember it, so that's off with being esoteric.Links are not relevant to the words... Well, I guess I should have explained. In Chinese, the slogan is 不可一。不可再。向毒品說不。向噩夢說不。 The first bit means, literally, Not once. Not again. - the second bit is exactly the same, though. So I thought that it's OK to link 'not once' to first-time tests and 'not again' with last warnings. I must admit that, however, the links are not understandable to those who are unfamiliar to the slogan. Kayau Odyssey HUCK FINN to the lighthouse BACK FROM EXAMS 13:18, 23 January 2010 (UTC)
  • Oppose - I must agree with Smaug on this one. Additionally, it equates the use of drugs with vandalism, which is a values judgement. Nutiketaiel (talk) 12:59, 25 January 2010 (UTC)

Be smart. Be free. No drugs. No nightmares.

An alternative I saw on a minibus this morning. Kayau Odyssey HUCK FINN to the lighthouse BACK FROM EXAMS 14:01, 26 January 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened (no consensus) Smaug123 (talk) 21:18, 7 February 2010 (UTC)
  Declined (no consensus) Smaug123 (talk) 17:50, 18 February 2010 (UTC)

→ You must believe me, this is not what I wished. How unlucky that you've died on the day that I've come home.

Kwan said this to Big Ma's ghost on P.232. Kayau Odyssey HUCK FINN to the lighthouse 13:19, 2 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined - no consensus. I think this was an edit 1' of the RIP to follow. Simply south (talk) 12:15, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

Wikipedia is like a box of chocolates,
You never know which one you are going to get

Yes yes, has been done before. But both times rejected. Simply south (talk) 11:43, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

  • Weak Support - Well, first off, assuming that Forest Gump is the original source of this quote, which I think it is, there needs to be an arrow link- whether to the book or the movie, I don't care. Secondly, isn't it supposed to be "You never know what you're gonna get" to be more accurate? As for the motto itself- well, that quote was done to death when that movie came out, but that was a long time ago. I have no serious objections to using it now, and the links are about as appropriate as you're going to get for that quote. Nutiketaiel (talk) 12:46, 8 February 2010 (UTC)
Well it is a common enough phrase. Simply south (talk) 13:19, 8 February 2010 (UTC)
  • Reply - To be honest, I had never heard it before that movie came out, and everyone else I know who has used the phrase since was referencing that movie. I have heard the common phrase "life is like a bowl of cherries; sometimes you get the pits," but I was under the impression that the "chocolates" version was an invention for the book. I'd be interested in being proven wrong, though. Can you find a source that references the quote before the book came out? Nutiketaiel (talk) 13:28, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved per medium consensus. Simply south (talk) 00:07, 16 February 2010 (UTC)

→ Much ado about nothing

Kayau Don't be too CNN I'LL DO MY JOB uprising! uprising! 07:25, 15 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved per consensus. Simply south (talk) 00:07, 16 February 2010 (UTC)

→ Every man is the architect of his own fortune.

MMS2013 14:11, 12 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved per consensus. Simply south (talk) 18:16, 15 February 2010 (UTC)

→ Cravendale tastes so good, the cows want it back

:S Simply south (talk) 00:42, 21 January 2010 (UTC)

  Approved - per very bad consensus and emergency Kayau Don't be too CNN I'LL DO MY JOB uprising! uprising! 07:29, 15 February 2010 (UTC)

→ Cravendale tastes so good, the cows want it back

or... Simply south (talk) 00:45, 21 January 2010 (UTC)

  • I prefer this version. Kayau Odyssey HUCK FINN to the lighthouse BACK FROM EXAMS 07:39, 24 January 2010 (UTC)
  • Oppose - The second link in this version makes no sense. It is contradictory to the meaning of the motto. Nutiketaiel (talk) 13:02, 25 January 2010 (UTC)
    • But I think the first one doesn't have an NPOV. Kayau Odyssey HUCK FINN to the lighthouse BACK FROM EXAMS 14:29, 25 January 2010 (UTC)
      • Reply - First off, NPOV is important for articles, not mottos. We think Wikipedia is so great, and we don't need to pander to the naysayers. Secondly, even if NPOV was an issue, it still wouldn't make sense as written. The original context of the quote is saying that this particular milk is so great, the cows wished they had it back. Putting the Why Wikipedia is Not So Great link in there makes no sense in the context of the quote. It would be like saying that the milk is really great, but the cows want it back because it sucks. It makes no sense. Nutiketaiel (talk) 18:46, 25 January 2010 (UTC)
        • Oh dear. Simply south (talk) 18:58, 25 January 2010 (UTC)
          • Comment - I just reread my statement and realized that I was being a bit rude. Please forgive me, Kayau, if you were offended; you certainly do not deserve to be insulted. I also feel the need to clarify a little my comment on NPOV's importance for mottos. While NPOV is critical for articles, and it usually is for a motto if it deals with a subject other than Wikipedia, I do not think that it is important when referring to Wikipedia itself within the context of a motto. The mottos are supposed to be about Wikipedia, and mottos for Wikipedia. In that context, I feel no need to elevate our detractors just because they exist. Every motto that praises Wikipedia does not have to turn around in the next phrase and then grind Wikipedia down. Constructive criticism in a motto is fine (I even encourage it, if well chosen), but just bringing up the criticisms of Wikipedia to maintain neutrality in a motto for Wikipedia, especially in a context where the criticism makes no logical sense, is unnecessary and detracts from the mottos. I hope that is a little clearer statement of what I was intending to say. Nutiketaiel (talk) 12:49, 26 January 2010 (UTC)

  Declined in favour of original Kayau Don't be too CNN I'LL DO MY JOB uprising! uprising! 07:29, 15 February 2010 (UTC)

→ Cravendale tastes so good, the cows want it back

Edit 2. This link sems to fit more or should i do WP:EUI again (e2a)? Simply south (talk) 18:58, 25 January 2010 (UTC)

  Declined in favour of original Kayau Don't be too CNN I'LL DO MY JOB uprising! uprising! 07:29, 15 February 2010 (UTC)

→ Cravendale tastes so good, the cows want it back

Edit 3 per me. Smaug123 (talk) 07:49, 2 February 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened all Cravendale mottos (no consensus) Smaug123 (talk) 07:51, 2 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined in favour of original Kayau Don't be too CNN I'LL DO MY JOB uprising! uprising! 07:29, 15 February 2010 (UTC)

→ A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

Was done before as; "A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down" but this is a very different take, so hopefully that's okay. SpitfireTally-ho! 17:21, 6 February 2010 (UTC)

  Clerk declined per WP:SNOW and WP:MOTD/G. Kayau Don't be too CNN I'LL DO MY JOB uprising! uprising! 04:09, 13 February 2010 (UTC)

The wiki came. I saw. I was conquered.

Edited from Julius caesar's quote TemariHyuga (talk) 07:39, 9 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined per WP:SNOW, WP:MOTD/G and WP:MOTD/FUI. Kayau Don't be too CNN I'LL DO MY JOB uprising! uprising! 04:06, 13 February 2010 (UTC)

→ Disce aut Discede
("Learn or Depart")

The Motto of the Royal College Colombo in Sri Lanka. –pjoef (talk • contribs) 07:54, 2 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined - per consensus Kayau Don't be too CNN I'LL DO MY JOB uprising! uprising! 04:03, 13 February 2010 (UTC)

There's more than one way to skin a cat.

I'm sure everypne has heard this expression at least once in their lives (although I don't think a lot of people enjoy the thought of a cat being skinned). I'm not sure about the phrase's origin, but if anyone knows what it is, feel free to arrow-link it. ---Artichoke-Boy (talk)(sign) 23:07, 4 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/February 15, 2010 (per consensus; 5 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 12:43, 9 February 2010 (UTC)

→ Then from the neighboring thicket the mocking-bird, wildest of singers,
Swinging aloft on a willow spray that hung o'er the water,
Shook from his little throat such floods of delirious music,
That the whole air and the woods and the waves seemed silent to listen.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882), Evangeline, A Tale of Acadie, Part II (1847) –pjoef (talk • contribs)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/February 14, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 12:41, 9 February 2010 (UTC)

→ If a tree falls in a forest when there is no-one around to hear it, does it really fall?

WITHDRAWN - in favour of edit 1 below. Smaug123 (talk) 17:23, 4 February 2010 (UTC)
The idea is to get across that MOTD is under-staffed! Smaug123 (talk) 19:33, 27 January 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (in favour of Edit 1) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 12:36, 9 February 2010 (UTC)

→ If a tree falls in a forest when there is no-one around to hear it, does it make a sound?

Edit 1 - changed forest link to WP: WikiProject- we're one project among many! Smaug123 (talk) 22:47, 3 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/February 13, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 12:36, 9 February 2010 (UTC)

→ Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now, about to become the Masters champion. It looks like a mirac... It's in the hole! It's in the hole! It's in the hole!

Carl Spackler (played by Bill Murray), Caddyshack (directed by Harold Ramis and written by Brian Doyle-Murray; 1980). –pjoef (talk • contribs) 09:16, 29 January 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/February 11, 2010 per consensus. Smaug123 (talk) 22:18, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

→ A statistic may just be a made up number, but we still need verification.

I think the first part needs links, and I think it was a Mark Twain quote. But, then again, I still need verification :P --67.180.161.183(talk)18:18, 3 January 2010 (UTC)

  • Conditional Weak Support - It would be better with a link for the first section of the quote, but I can't think of one. My support is conditional on this actually being a Twain quote. Since the author isn't sure, we should try to verify that it is from Twain and that the wording is accurate. Where did you get the quote from, 67.180.161.183? Nutiketaiel (talk) 18:14, 4 January 2010 (UTC)
  • Comment: I am not able to find a reliable or unreliable source for this. I found a quote by Mark Twain, which has a similar meaning: "There are three type of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics." There is also a quote by Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales: "Everybody tells jokes, but we still need comedians."... which is not so bad. We could use WP:WRITERS for "Everybody", and WP:SIGNUP for "comedians". –pjoef (talk • contribs) 09:10, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

→ Statistics may just be lies, but we still need verification.

How about this? --67.180.161.183(talk)02:16, 8 January 2010 (UTC)

  • Comment: The phrase is not bad, but I can not understand the second link to Mark Twain ([[Mark Twain|Statistics may just be lies]]) and, if I am not wrong, the sentence as it is written, it is not by Mark Twain. IMHO, if we want to point to the Mark Twain's article we have to use the originale quote: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics." As I said before, the phrase is not bad, especially the second half.
    What about: "Statistics may just be lies, but we still need verification." –pjoef (talk • contribs) 10:09, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened (no consensus) Kayau Odyssey HUCK FINN to the lighthouse BACK FROM EXAMS 13:14, 23 January 2010 (UTC)

  Declined per lack of consensus. Smaug123 (talk) 21:20, 7 February 2010 (UTC)

If triangles had a god, it would have three sides

No idea of the origin, but it's always nice to remember that there's no such thing as a truly NPOV. - TB (talk) 20:05, 2 February 2010 (UTC)

  Declined in favour of edit one. Kayau Odyssey HUCK FINN to the lighthouse 02:38, 7 February 2010 (UTC)

If triangles had a god, it would have three sides.

Edit 1 - Per Kayau's suggestion above. The motto is certainly interesting and does make a good point that people need to be reminded of from time to time. This version carries my support. Nutiketaiel (talk) 12:27, 3 February 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for February 10, 2009 per consensus. Kayau Odyssey HUCK FINN to the lighthouse 02:38, 7 February 2010 (UTC)

→ Pick the best, eject the rest and roll those clips

I finally remembbbbbbbbbbbbbbbber one from ages ago and it may be okay but then again... and the b on my keyboard got stuck. Simply south (talk) 20:40, 28 January 2010 (UTC)

  Declined per nom's withdrawal; discussion can be resumed if consensus later gains on it. Kayau Odyssey HUCK FINN to the lighthouse 11:47, 4 February 2010 (UTC)

→ I destroy my enemy when I make him my friend.

We can destroy WikiHate if we show them compassion and fiendship. Secret Saturdays (talk to me) 01:55, 29 January 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/February 9, 2010 (per consensus; 5 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 08:02, 2 February 2010 (UTC)

→ Where, the hawk,
High in the beetling cliff, his aery builds.

James Thomson (1700-1748), The Seasons: "Spring". –pjoef (talk • contribs) 07:47, 26 January 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/February 8, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 08:00, 2 February 2010 (UTC)

→ The cook, that is the trumpet to the morn.
Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat
A wake the god of day.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616), Hamlet Act I, Scene i (1623) (Celebrating the MOTD!) –pjoef (talk • contribs) 08:27, 19 January 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened (insufficient consensus - but only just! One more support needed I think) Smaug123 (talk) 20:08, 31 January 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/February 7, 2010 (4 support 0 oppose) Smaug123 (talk) 19:30, 1 February 2010 (UTC)

→ Shaken, not stirred

Simply south (talk) 20:07, 30 January 2010 (UTC)

  Approved per WP:SNOW. Simply south (talk) 13:42, 1 February 2010 (UTC)

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