The world's greatest minds defend beer.

[xman]

I prefer to threaten the gin with the vermouth.

[Orvis]

According to one biography of Charlemagne, he had an Irish cleric-scholar named Alcuin in his court. The Irish were then known as Scots (from the Latin name Scoti given them by the Romans), and Irish clerics were renowned for preserving and spreading classical Greek and Roman learning in Dark Ages Europe.

One night, as they were engaged in a drinking bout, the following exchange reportedly took place:

Charlemagne: "What's the difference between a Scot and a sot?"
Alcuin: "The width of a table."

Alcuin was not executed, which says something about Charlemagne's sense of humor.

[Mike_Oettle]

Interesting story about Alcuin, Orvice.
Regarding Winston Churchill, my impression is that he was more concerned about presenting a particular public image than necessarily living it out. For example, he liked to be photographed puffing on a cigar, but from what I can gather he did not smoke much of any cigar he actually lit.
Regards,
Mike

[Tartan Hiker]

"I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts, and beer."
-Abraham Lincoln

[tpa]

Martini:

One if you're able, two at the most;
Three under the table, four under the host.

---traditional

.

Used to try that on visiting females. Regrettably they never seemed to make it past three. We probably put too much gin in.

[triumph]

This speech was given by Noah S. " Soggy" Sweat, he was a WW11 B29 navigator, Judge, Law Professor and State Rep from Mississippi.

Whiskey Speech (1952)
by Noah S. Sweat
My friends, I had not intended to discuss this controversial subject at this particular time. However, I want you to know that I do not shun controversy. On the contrary, I will take a stand on any issue at any time, regardless of how fraught with controversy it might be. You have asked me how I feel about whiskey. All right, here is how I feel about whiskey:
If when you say whiskey you mean the devil's brew, the poison scourge, the bloody monster, that defiles innocence, dethrones reason, destroys the home, creates misery and poverty, yea, literally takes the bread from the mouths of little children; if you mean the evil drink that topples the Christian man and woman from the pinnacle of righteous, gracious living into the bottomless pit of degradation, and despair, and shame and helplessness, and hopelessness, then certainly I am against it.
But, if when you say whiskey you mean the oil of conversation, the philosophic wine, the ale that is consumed when good fellows get together, that puts a song in their hearts and laughter on their lips, and the warm glow of contentment in their eyes; if you mean Christmas cheer; if you mean the stimulating drink that puts the spring in the old gentleman's step on a frosty, crispy morning; if you mean the drink which enables a man to magnify his joy, and his happiness, and to forget, if only for a little while, life's great tragedies, and heartaches, and sorrows; if you mean that drink, the sale of which pours into our treasuries untold millions of dollars, which are used to provide tender care for our little crippled children, our blind, our deaf, our dumb, our pitiful aged and infirm; to build highways and hospitals and schools, then certainly I am for it.
This is my stand. I will not retreat from it. I will not compromise.
 — Noah S. Sweat, April 4, 1952 at the old King Edward Hotel in Jackson during a legislative debate on repealing the prohibition.

[biblemonkey]

One night at Cheers, Cliff Calvin explained the" Buffalo Theory" to his buddy Norm:

"Well, ya see, Norm, it's like this. A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members! ; In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first.. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine! That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers."

Will be using this regularly.

[Tony]

philosophers and alcohol in general....
(contains 5 mildly rude words)

[RockyR]

The "Tomorrow I'll be sober, but you'll still be ugly" quote is part of a conversation attributed to Winston Churchill.

A slight tangent, but my favorite quote attributed to Churchill:

Woman [to Churchill]: Sir, if you were my husband, I would put poison in your drink.
Churchill: Madam, if you were my wife, I'd drink it.

[Irish Jack O'Brian]