Insight: “The moment men obtain perfect freedom, that moment they erect a stage for the manifestation of their faults. The strong characters begin to go wrong by excess of energy; the weak by remissness of action.” —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)

Silver linings: “The election sets things up nicely for Republicans in 2022 and 2024. It has prevented Democratic excesses for at least the next two years, which is the immediate benefit. But if Joe Biden squeaks into the Oval Office, historical precedent suggests Republicans would win seats in the next midterm elections. Then, two years later, the GOP presidential nominee will probably be a vigorous, age-appropriate conservative, challenging either the oldest incumbent in the history of the country, or a venomous radical who was once his vice president.” —Hugo Gordon

Observations: “Conservatives have good reason to be enraged by Biden’s victory. If we are less angry than the left was four years ago, it’s because we’re more stable emotionally. … Though not enraged by Biden’s victory, I’m offended by it — offended that this mediocre man will become the president of our great country.” —Paul Mirengoff

A blind squirrel finds a nut: “If 68 million people do something it’s vital that we understand it.” —Andrew Yang

Demo-gogue: “Donald Trump sadly is trying to take our democracy down with him into the sewer, despite the fact that there is no evidence of fraud. Let the votes be counted.” —Senator Amy Klobuchar

Race bait, Part I: “We intellectually understand what America is at its base, right? That there is a great amount of racism, anti-blackness, anti-wokeness. This idea that political correctness is some sort of scheme to destroy white America, right? … I think part of your heart says, ‘You know what? Maybe the country’s going to pay off all of this pain.’ As the night wore on … I realized … that’s not happening. We are still who we thought, unfortunately. … It’s disappointing, and I emerge from this disappointed.” —MSNBC’s Joy Reid

Race bait: Part II: “All of this [minority support for Trump] to me points to the power of the white patriarchy and the coattail it has of those who depend on it or aspire to it. It reaches across gender and sexual orientation and even race. Trump’s brash, privileged chest trumping and alpha-male dismissiveness and in-your-face rudeness are aspirational to some men and appealing to some women. Some people who have historically been oppressed will stand with the oppressors, and will aspire to power by proximity.” —NYT’s Charles Blow

Village idiot: “[Trump] is a liar and a cheat who wants them to stop counting thousands of legitimate votes. And almost half of us are apparently OK with that. Half of us want to keep it going for four more years. … What more did Trump have to do to show us that he’s insane and not fit to lead this country? I feel like I overestimated the American people, and I underestimated the Village People.” —Jimmy Kimmel

Greasing the skids: “Regardless of the winner, the electoral college must go. It’s an antiquated relic that has outlived its usefulness.” —Seth MacFarlane

And last.. “Whatever you think of Trump’s fraud claims, the idea that Russia colluded with Trump to rig our election is far more absurd and yet it was promoted by every Democrat and every liberal media outlet nonstop for four years.” —Matt Walsh