Insight: “Natural ability without education has more often raised a man to glory and virtue than education without natural ability.” —Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC)

Non Compos Mentis: “We are trying to make it very clear that this country could be careening towards a constitutional crisis. … We have to ensure that the American people understand that the United States Senate, or at least the Democrats in the United States Senate, are going to stand and demand that a special prosecutor be named in order to ensure that all of the facts are out, on the table for the American people to see and understand as to what exactly was the reason that President Trump fired James Comey as he was conducting an investigation of Donald Trump himself.” —Sen. Ed Markey

You doth protest too much: “It is a looming constitutional crisis because it involves a potential confrontation as did Watergate between the president and other branches of government. … It may well produce impeachment proceedings.” —Sen. Richard Blumenthal

Belly laugh of the week: “Donald Trump clearly has not taken this seriously, and [in] what should be a Paul Revere moment for our country, where people are talking about the Russians are coming — they’re not intending not only to attack this last election but intending to continue this behavior — what will our response be?” —Sen. Cory Booker

Alpha Jackass: “Is ISIS dedicated to trying to destroy the prospects for organized human existence?” —Noam Chomsky bemoaning Republicans as civilization’s biggest nemesis for “departing from the rest of the world on climate change”

Braying Jenny: “A Democratic lawmaker from California referred to Middle America as ‘Podunk, USA,’ during a committee meeting last week… Remarks by Rep. Anna Eshoo (D., Calif.) during a closed-door Energy and Commerce Committee meeting with Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai raised eyebrows from those present. The moment occurred when Eshoo pushed back against Pai when he was discussing expanding broadband access to rural areas.” —Washington Free Beacon

Late-night humor: “The White House announced yesterday that President Trump fired FBI Director James Comey. Yet another long-time dream that Trump stole from Hillary.” —Seth Meyers