Wikipedia:Motto of the day/Nominations/Archive 32

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A truth that's told with bad intent
Beats all the lies you can invent.

From Auguries of Innocence, which has so many more potential mottos hidden in it :) sonia 10:08, 22 September 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/January 16, 2011 (per consensus; 5 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talkcontribs) 08:58, 28 September 2010 (UTC)

Simply south (talk) 21:30, 15 September 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/January 14, 2011 (per consensus; 5 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talkcontribs) 08:56, 28 September 2010 (UTC)

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!

Clementina talk 00:13, 15 September 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/January 13, 2011 (per consensus; 5 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talkcontribs) 08:47, 28 September 2010 (UTC)

There is no fire without smoke

Secret Saturdays (talk to me) 21:21, 25 August 2010 (UTC)

  Declined - no consensus. Simply south (talk) 02:07, 24 September 2010 (UTC)

There is no fire without smoke

Edit 1. I do like the quote, but the links didn't seem to fit. Maybe this is better? Cordially, Esther Clementina talk 08:58, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

  • Eh... usernameblocks? The quote is good, but neither fits imo. (Clem, you should usurp User:Clementina- it'd make your life a lot easier.) sonia 09:48, 30 August 2010 (UTC)
    • (<-) Oh, right. :p I forgot about those—you're right, in that context, it could be rather confusing. And as for the usurpation, I'd love to, but I only created my account a few days ago. Maybe a link to banning would be better. Esther Clementina talk —Preceding undated comment added 12:06, 30 August 2010 (UTC).
  • Supportpjoef (talkcontribs) 06:56, 31 August 2010 (UTC)
  • Support - Much better! And Sonia, aren't bad usernames a sort of vandalism? Maybe? ~~ Hi878 (Come shout at me!) 16:46, 31 August 2010 (UTC)
    • Depends whether they're just promotional usernames. What about proxyblocks, or blocks per request, or blocks of established users enforcing sanctions or 3RR or NPA? Banning is an even worse link because plenty of bans are for tendentious/disruptive/POV editing, not simple vandalism as such. @Clem: admins/established editors in other wikis need not establish themselves here to get an usurpation. You may also wish to completely kill your old account so no socking accusations can happen. sonia 11:05, 1 September 2010 (UTC)
      • Actually, formal oppose to all edits, based on the fact that the idiom is no smoke without fire, as in when there is smoke one knows it is a sign of trouble. Fires can and often do burn sans smoke. sonia 11:11, 1 September 2010 (UTC)
  Reopened - No consensus. ~~ Hi878 (Come shout at me!) 22:51, 8 September 2010 (UTC)

  Declined - no consensus. Simply south (talk) 02:07, 24 September 2010 (UTC)

Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

~AH1(TCU) 15:01, 25 August 2010 (UTC)

  Declined per weak consensus. Simply south (talk) 02:07, 24 September 2010 (UTC)

Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

Edit 1 with a different set of links. Wikipedia:Article development (a.k.a. "Wikipedia:How to write a great article"; shortcut: WP:DEV) can be an alternative for the 2nd link. –pjoef (talkcontribs) 07:07, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened - No consensus; not enough !votes either way for either edit. ~~ Hi878 (Come shout at me!) 22:30, 8 September 2010 (UTC)

  Declined - no consensus. Simply south (talk) 02:07, 24 September 2010 (UTC)

We knew the merry world was round, and we might sail forever more.

Can anyone think of a link for 'round' with something to do with Wikipedia lasting forever etc? WVRMADTalk Guestbook 09:28, 23 August 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened - No consensus yet, only an oppose and a support. ~~ Hi878 (Come shout at me!) 22:35, 8 September 2010 (UTC)
  Declined - No consensus  ono  feedback 02:15, 16 September 2010 (UTC)

All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts...

Secret Saturdays (talk to me) 16:48, 13 August 2010 (UTC)

All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances;

Edit 1 I got rid of the last line. Secret Saturdays (talk to me) 19:29, 14 August 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened - No consensus. ~~ Hi878 (Come shout at me!) 16:52, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts...

Edit 2pjoef (talkcontribs) 06:53, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened (not enough discussion) –pjoef (talkcontribs) 06:59, 14 September 2010 (UTC)

  Declined - ALL - no consensus  ono  feedback 03:33, 15 September 2010 (UTC)

Yes, but you have the benefit of ignorance, while I have the burden of knowledge

~AH1(TCU) 17:59, 19 August 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened - Not enough discussion. ~~ Hi878 (Come shout at me!) 22:36, 8 September 2010 (UTC)
  Declined - No discussion after reopen  ono  feedback 03:31, 15 September 2010 (UTC)

We the willing, led by the unknowing are doing the impossible for the ungrateful.
We have done so much with so little for so long, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.

~AH1(TCU) 17:59, 19 August 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened - No consensus. ~~ Hi878 (Come shout at me!) 22:51, 8 September 2010 (UTC)
  Declined - Stale, no discussion after first relist  ono  feedback 03:30, 15 September 2010 (UTC)

~AH1(TCU) 17:59, 19 August 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened - No consensus - PLEASE DISCUSS; MOTTOS DECLINED AFTER 1 RELIST.  ono  01:27, 7 September 2010 (UTC)
  Approved for January 12, 2011.  ono  feedback 03:28, 15 September 2010 (UTC)

Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!"

Esther Clementina talk 00:18, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

You're right, Hi, I fully agree the Department of Fun is certainly good, and it's because Wikipedia is fun that people enjoy editing here so much. :) But I wasn't meaning it's bad in itself, I'm saying that "fun" may be used as an excuse for all kinds of vandalism. The best things may be twisted to be used as an excuse. Hmm, maybe it isn't exactly the right link here though (it might not quite fit in with socking). What about the alternate suggestion below? Esther Clementina talk 08:29, 31 August 2010 (UTC)
I thikn that you should keep the sockpuppet idea, I just didn't like the last link. And also, I don't think we should give people the idea to use that as an excuse. :P ~~ Hi878 (Come shout at me!) 16:42, 31 August 2010 (UTC)
  Declined -  ono  feedback 03:24, 15 September 2010 (UTC)


Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!"

Edit 1 per above. Esther Clementina talk 08:29, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

This hook didn't link to the Department of Fun. ;) Cordially, Esther Clementina talk 02:34, 1 September 2010 (UTC)
  Declined -  ono  feedback 03:24, 15 September 2010 (UTC)

Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!"

Edit 2 I've re-added the link to socking, changed WP:USER to WP:Wikipedian, and changed the DOF link to "silly things". Hopefully this is better :) Esther Clementina talk 02:34, 1 September 2010 (UTC)

  Approved - for January 11, 2011. Edit 2  ono  feedback 03:23, 15 September 2010 (UTC)

Well, I don't wanna be a soldier, mama, I don't wanna die.

From a John Lennon song. Suggestions? SimonKSK 15:37, 13 August 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened - My point was never addressed. ~~ Hi878 (Come shout at me!) 23:44, 27 August 2010 (UTC)
  Declined - No consensus  ono  feedback 03:21, 15 September 2010 (UTC)

Good things come to those who wait

Its been a while since i submitted one but the links seem perfectly fitting to me. Sorry another FA one. Simply south (talk) 00:31, 8 September 2010 (UTC)

  Declined (in favour of Edit 1) –pjoef (talkcontribs) 07:03, 14 September 2010 (UTC)

Good things come to those who wait

I know people always strive for the top level but this is also what people should aim for at least. And besides, there have not been many GA mottos in the project. Edit 1. Simply south (talk) 21:29, 8 September 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/January 10, 2011 (per consensus; 5 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talkcontribs) 07:03, 14 September 2010 (UTC)

79th on AFI's list of the best 100 movie quotes, and yet never used in MOTD! I doubt you'll find many people who haven't heard this line of Leslie Nielson. Stephen! Coming... 11:55, 2 September 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/January 9, 2011 (per consensus; 6 in support and 1 opposed) –pjoef (talkcontribs) 07:00, 14 September 2010 (UTC)

Esther Clementina talk 08:57, 2 September 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/January 8, 2011 (per consensus; 4 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talkcontribs) 06:54, 14 September 2010 (UTC)

An ounce of love is worth a pound of knowledge.

MMS2013 21:49, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/December 24, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talkcontribs) 06:51, 14 September 2010 (UTC)

If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes.

Kind of interesting... -- ono  07:21, 10 August 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened (not enough discussion; 1 in support and 1 opposed) –pjoef (talkcontribs) 08:52, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes.

Edit 1 - per Hi878. WVRMADTalk Guestbook 10:12, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

  Approved - Edit 1 for January 6, 2011. Unanimous in favor of Edit 1. ~~ Hi878 (Come shout at me!) 22:32, 8 September 2010 (UTC)

O, 'tis a parlous boy;
Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable;
He is all the mother's from the top to toe.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616), Richard III, Act III, Scene I (1623) –pjoef (talkcontribs) 07:01, 10 August 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened (not enough discussion; 1 in support and 1 opposed) –pjoef (talkcontribs) 08:48, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

  Declined - No consensus; nothing has changed since it was reopened. ~~ Hi878 (Come shout at me!) 22:32, 8 September 2010 (UTC)

Nemo me impune lacessit
("No one attacks me with impunity")

Latin motto of the Order of the Thistle and of three Scottish regiments of the British Army. –pjoef (talkcontribs) 07:01, 10 August 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened (not enough discussion; 1.5-2 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talkcontribs) 08:45, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

  Declined - No consensus; nothing has changed since it was reopened. ~~ Hi878 (Come shout at me!) 22:33, 8 September 2010 (UTC)

R-o-s-e-b-u-d.

Charles Foster Kane portrayed by Orson Welles in Citizen Kane (1941) directed by Orson Welles; written by Herman J. Mankiewicz, Orson Welles; starring Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore, Everett Sloane, Ray Collins; music composed by Bernard Herrmann; cinematography by Gregg Toland; editing by Robert Wise. –pjoef (talkcontribs) 07:01, 10 August 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened (not enough discussion; 2 in support and 1 opposed) –pjoef (talkcontribs) 08:43, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

  Declined - No consensus; nothing has changed since it was reopened. ~~ Hi878 (Come shout at me!) 22:33, 8 September 2010 (UTC)

Possible alt link: Wikipedia:BREAK#When_to_come_back.  ono  21:17, 10 August 2010 (UTC) BP CEO on the 2010 BP Gulf oil spill... ("We're sorry for the massive disruption it's caused to their lives," Hayward said."There's no one who wants this thing over more than I do, I'd like my life back.")  ono  06:06, 10 August 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened (not enough discussion; 2-3 in support and 1 opposed) –pjoef (talkcontribs) 08:42, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

  Declined - No consensus; nothing has changed since it was reopened. ~~ Hi878 (Come shout at me!) 22:33, 8 September 2010 (UTC)

A steady increase of light, darkness is made to disappear or in which iniquity dissolves and just as the smoke rising into the air eventually dissipates.

~AH1(TCU) 23:43, 9 August 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened (not enough discussion; 2 in support and 1 opposed) –pjoef (talkcontribs) 08:36, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

  Declined - No consensus; nothing has changed since it was reopened. ~~ Hi878 (Come shout at me!) 22:34, 8 September 2010 (UTC)

~AH1(TCU) 23:43, 9 August 2010 (UTC)

*I guess - Kinda bland, but it'll do.  ono  21:19, 10 August 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened (not enough discussion; 2.5-3 in support and 1 opposed) –pjoef (talkcontribs) 08:34, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

  Declined - Only comment since being reopened is an oppose, and I would close it as no consensus anyways. ~~ Hi878 (Come shout at me!) 22:34, 8 September 2010 (UTC)

. --monosock 02:17, 7 August 2010 (UTC)

  • Big, ugly banners? I was on a Wikibreak then, so I was only using Wikipedia for reference, and I thought the banners looked cool. BTW, have you seen the meta proposal about banners? Kayau Voting IS evil 05:20, 8 August 2010 (UTC)
  • oppose I found those banners puerile and annoying, partly because their message– a naïve hope with no substance– was put across in such an aggressive way. This motto is better than that, but I still don't like the fact that the last link is to a reminder of that campaign. sonia 06:12, 9 August 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened - no consensus. Simply south (talk) 23:47, 22 August 2010 (UTC)

  Declined - No consensus; nothing has changed since it was reopened. ~~ Hi878 (Come shout at me!) 22:35, 8 September 2010 (UTC)

The measure of a man is what he does with power.

This one might be controversial. sonia 04:22, 6 August 2010 (UTC)

  • Oppose - I don't think it makes sense. One can create articles, lots of high quality ones, without exercing any userrights. Kayau Voting IS evil 06:19, 6 August 2010 (UTC)
    • Hmm... true. I suppose what I meant was frustration with users who go around collecting rights and not using them. If you request a right, you should have a need. And also, my feelings about adminship come through there- this is what I mean. Perhaps there is a better way to phrase it? sonia 06:31, 6 August 2010 (UTC)
      • People usually need to demonstrate that they need the tool before they are given the tool. For example, you've got to actually revert some vandalism before you get rollback. You need to actually write articles before getting autopatrolled. You need to actually do maintenance work before you get to be an admin. I haven't seen any case of userright 'collection' (reminds me of King Philip or Henry VIII!) before, though you may have. Kayau Voting IS evil 06:43, 6 August 2010 (UTC)
  • Weak Support - Kayau has a point, but I still think it works. ~~ Hi878 (Come shout at me!) 16:14, 6 August 2010 (UTC)
  • Support - I see what Kayau is saying, but Sonia's quote is still reasonable. Good people apply those rights well. But it is conceivable that someone could create great articles, become autopatrolled and use that to create some bad articles. That would be a bad measure of them given their response to "power". That even includes the basic right to edit pages. It is a measure of the person whether they improve or vandalise the articles. PrincessofLlyr royal court 03:00, 8 August 2010 (UTC)
  • Support per above. –pjoef (talkcontribs) 07:58, 10 August 2010 (UTC)
  • Oppose - More links needed, see edit 1  ono  21:26, 10 August 2010 (UTC)
    • Why are more links needed? I left it deliberately for its simplicity. In this form it could mean any right from registered user to founder, any level of activity, and I like it that way. Additional links distract. sonia 09:10, 7 September 2010 (UTC)

The measure of a man is what he does with power.

Edit 1 -- ono  21:26, 10 August 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened - Not enough discussion on Edit 1.  1year  03:26, 20 August 2010 (UTC)

The measure of a man is what he does with power.

Edit 2pjoef (talkcontribs) 08:10, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

  Declined - No consensus on any nomination. ~~ Hi878 (Come shout at me!) 22:36, 8 September 2010 (UTC)

Remember people, always remember to treat young people and strangers as the great people they will become.

I thought of this about eleven-thirty at night while I was in bed. WVRMADTalk Guestbook 10:58, 18 August 2010 (UTC)

Remember people, always remember to treat young people and strangers as the great people they will become.

Edit 1 ~ I hope I've addressed the last link, and I've kept AGF in there. --Smaug123 (talk) 08:10, 4 September 2010 (UTC)

  Approved - Edit 1 for January 7, 2011. Unanimous in favor of Edit 1. ~~ Hi878 (Come shout at me!) 22:37, 8 September 2010 (UTC)

Vitality is the mother of inspiration.

~AH1(TCU) 23:43, 9 August 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened (not enough discussion; 3 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talkcontribs) 08:31, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

  Approved for Wikipedia:Motto of the day/December 23, 2010 (per consensus; 4 in support and 0 opposed) –pjoef (talkcontribs) 09:29, 7 September 2010 (UTC)

~AH1(TCU) 14:27, 5 August 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened - No consensus.  1year  02:59, 20 August 2010 (UTC)
  Declined -  ono  01:30, 7 September 2010 (UTC)

Nec pluribus impar
("Not unequal to many")

Motto of the "Sun King". –pjoef (talkcontribs) 07:37, 3 August 2010 (UTC)

  Reopened (not enough discussion; 3 in support, 1 neutral, and 1 opposed) –pjoef (talkcontribs) 12:54, 17 August 2010 (UTC)

  • Weak oppose - Wikipedians are equal to many - equal to many what? Is it implying that there are lots of us, or that one Wikipedian equals several normal people? If it's the second I Oppose it because Wikipedians are just normal people, if it's the first then I Weak oppose it because motto's need to be clear for everyone to understand. WVRMADTalk Guestbook 10:24, 18 August 2010 (UTC)
    • The meaning of this motto is obscure. Louis XIV (a.k.a Sun King) said that "[he] known that some obscurity has been found in these words, and [he] has no doubt that the same symbol might have suggested some happier ones." My intention was to say that all Wikipedians are Suns. And, as the Sun gives light to the Earth, Unsigned editors, Newbies, Editors, Experienced editors, Administrators, Clercks, ... Jimbo Wales, all of them, in a way or in another, give light (contribute) to Wikipedia. –pjoef (talkcontribs) 07:33, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

  Declined - no consensus. Simply south (talk) 00:47, 1 September 2010 (UTC)