Insight: “Truth withers when freedom dies, however righteous the authority that kills it; and free individualism uninformed by moral value rots at its core and soon brings about conditions that pave the way for surrender to tyranny.” —Frank Meyer

Upright: “I’m aware that the State Department indicated that on the flagpole of our American embassies that one flag should fly, and that’s the American flag. And I support that. … When it comes to the American flagpole, and American embassies, and capitals around the world, one American flag flies.” —Vice President Mike Pence on the flap about embassies wanting to fly so-called “pride” flags

Immigration reality: “I think the cold, hard reality is, even though almost none of my members were enthusiastic about the prospect of tariffs, you have to give the president credit — it worked. The president deserves applause — not condemnation — for the outcome, which has a good chance of solving this crisis at the border.” —Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Trump’s dealings with Mexico

Braying Jackass: “I believe Trump is an existential threat to America.” —Joe Biden

Demo-gogues: “We choose hope over fear. Unity over division. Truth over lies. And science over fiction.” —Joe Biden, whose Democrat Party does exactly the opposite

Non Compos Mentis: “I promise you if I’m elected president, you’re going to see the single most important thing that changes America — we’re gonna cure cancer.” —Joe Biden

Braying Jenny: “I think there’s [sic] some issues that have such moral clarity that we as a society have decided that the other side is not acceptable. Imagine saying that it’s okay to appoint a judge who is racist, or anti-Semitic, or homophobic. Asking someone to appoint someone who takes away basic human rights of any group of people in America … I don’t think that those are political issues anymore.” —Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on judges and Roe v. Wade

Hitting the brakes … or not: “There is nothing as divisive in our country, in my view, than impeachment. … [But] it’s not off the table.” —House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

And last… “Ideas have real-world consequences, some of which are immediate and dramatic enough that they can instruct even the citizens of democracies, who are so often so immune to learning.” —Kevin Williamson