Insight: “We have on the one hand a desperate need; hunger, sickness, and the dread of war. We have, on the other, the conception of something that might meet it: omnicompetent global technocracy. Are not these the ideal opportunity for enslavement? This is how it has entered before; a desperate need (real or apparent) in the one party, a power (real or apparent) to relieve it, in the other.” —C.S. Lewis (1898-1963)

Upright: “We are in a moment of constitutional crisis. America already has one post-constitutional party; we don’t need another. We have a president who does not believe in executive restraint; we do not need another. I am not endorsing any candidate; I am urging conservatives to hold every candidate accountable to keeping their word so that we uphold the Constitution’s system of checks and balances. I’m pro-Constitution and if that makes me anti-Trump, that’s Mr. Trump’s problem.” —Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE)

For the record: “No Donald on the debate on Thursday? First let me say: I will believe it when I see it. However this is not surprising if you follow the pattern of Donald Trump. We already have a president who will not talk to Fox News. Now Donald Trump? Only liberal progressives block Fox.” —Glenn Beck

Flashback: “Michele Bachmann just dropped out of prez race — when she didn’t do the Newsmax debate it showed great disloyalty and people rejected her.” —Tweet from Donald Trump on Jan. 4, 2012

Fair share: “We will raise taxes, yes we will.” —Bernie Sanders on how he’ll fund Medicare For All

Braying Jackass: “[T]he Republican Party and the right-wing news entertainment media complex have spent more than eight years trying to find new ways to call Barack Obama — and by extension black Americans en masse — a ‘nig—’ without actually using the slur.” —Salon’s Chauncey DeVega

Alpha Jackass: “It’s unfortunate that the entire country is a racist country. … We are living in a country that discriminates and has certain racial tendencies — racist tendencies. … Generally speaking, we’re a bunch of racists.” —Hollywood director Danny DeVito

Late-night humor: “A lot of people got stranded over the weekend and flights were canceled. There was more than two feet of snow in Washington, DC, and New York. All nonessential federal workers in Washington, DC, were told to stay home. … How do you know if you’re nonessential? Do they call you? ‘Steve, I have some good news and some bad news. Good news is you have the day off today. Bad news, you’re worthless.’” —Jimmy Kimmel