# First A. Coulter and now, S. Palin. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 15, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-a-coulter-and-now-s-palin/536264 "2010-04-15T21:53:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-a-coulter-and-now-s-palin/536264/41 "2010-04-16T15:04:31Z")
From the linked article: > [@](#): > > But she also condemned attacks on her speaking style from the liberal media, who, she said, often misrepresent her words. > > Despite the critics, she attempts to maintain a positive attitude, she assured the crowd: > > “As Plato has said: ‘be nice to everyone.’ “ _Be Nice to Everyone_??? This doesn’t sound like the pithy, “know Thyself” Plato I was brung up on, and I don’t remember reading it in any of his works. I did a search, and found the quote listed often on the internet (usually as “be kind”, not “be nice”), so she’s not alone in thinking this is by him, although she expresses it more perkily. (Plato doesn’t need perky – he needs gravitas). Not one of them said _where_ the quote came from, or what its context was. I’m _very_ suspicious. I could as easily believe Nietzche saying “Be Nice” as Plato. So I found this: > [@](#): > > My quotation-sense is tingling: that certainly ain’t Plato. > > A quick Google finds widespread attribution to Philo of Alexandria instead - but always minus an identified work. Go into Google Books and you find no attributions even to him before about 2000, when it suddenly starts appearing in inspirational books. Suspicious or what? > > I think it’s fake, so why Plato/Philo wrote it isn’t a question worth exploring. > Source(s): > Googel Books pre-2000 [Google Books](http://books.google.co.uk/books?client=f%E2%80%A6) > > Google Books post-2000 [Google Books](http://books.google.co.uk/books?client=f%E2%80%A6) > **[Yahoo Search - Web Search](https://search.yahoo.com/)** > > The search engine that helps you find exactly what you're looking for. Find the most relevant information, video, images, and answers from all across the Web. Good to see someone else out there is as suspicious. And, searching for Philo, I can’t find where he’s supposed to have said it either. Okay, I’m going to indulge myself – it’s typical of Palin to find a quote by Plato that’s not only extremely out of character, but also (and for that reason) highly dubious. And that she doesn’t realize this. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-a-coulter-and-now-s-palin/536264/42 "2010-04-16T15:07:20Z")
Its all Greek to her. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-a-coulter-and-now-s-palin/536264/43 "2010-04-16T15:12:06Z")
I think she’s confusing Plato with Socrates. And by Socrates I mean the character from “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure”. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-a-coulter-and-now-s-palin/536264/44 "2010-04-16T15:31:07Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Okay, I’m going to indulge myself – it’s typical of Palin to find a quote by Plato that’s not only extremely out of character, but also (and for that reason) highly dubious. And that she doesn’t realize this. Could it possibly be an attempt at a joke? Hard to tell, of course—sounds a lot like something Tina Fey’s “Sarah Palin” would say, but the parody has never strayed too far from the reality, has it? ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-a-coulter-and-now-s-palin/536264/45 "2010-04-16T15:34:35Z")
Wait, we let Canadians post on SDMB??? Wow, there goes the neighborhood. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-a-coulter-and-now-s-palin/536264/46 "2010-04-16T15:40:04Z")
> [@](#): > > I think she’s confusing Plato with Socrates. > > And by Socrates I mean the character from “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure”. Cute line. Yeah, I know the difference between Plato and Socrates, but we don’t actually have anything Socrates wrote, and only his quotes through Plato and Xenophon. And, since Plato’s Socrates is wittier than Xenophon’s, a lot of people have suspected that a lot of what we think of as “Socrates” has a fair dollop of “Plato” in it. Not that I could imagine Socrates, Plato, or Xenophon saying “Be Nice” ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-a-coulter-and-now-s-palin/536264/47 "2010-04-16T15:44:58Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Cute line. > > Yeah, I know the difference between Plato and Socrates, but we don’t actually have anything Socrates wrote, and only his quotes through Plato and Xenophon. And, since Plato’s Socrates is wittier than Xenophon’s, a lot of people have suspected that a lot of what we think of as “Socrates” has a fair dollop of “Plato” in it. > Not that I could imagine Socrates, Plato, or Xenophon saying “Be Nice” Wasn’t it Plato who said “Wear sunscreen”? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-a-coulter-and-now-s-palin/536264/48 "2010-04-16T15:47:40Z")
Actually, Plato’s full quote went something like this: _Be courteous, kind, and forgiving, Be gentle and peaceful each day. Be warm and human and grateful, And have a nice thing to say._ And, well, it goes on from there… ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-a-coulter-and-now-s-palin/536264/49 "2010-04-16T15:54:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Could it possibly be an attempt at a joke? Hard to tell, of course—sounds a lot like something Tina Fey’s “Sarah Palin” would say, but the parody has never strayed too far from the reality, has it? It’s impossible to be completely sure, isn’t it? That’s why I said I was indulging myself – there’s always wiggle room for plausible deniability. But I strongly suspect that she or a speechwriter found this in some quote book or online, thought it sounded fresh and interesting (and _possibly_ a bit out of character, and therefore really interesting. That’s giving it the biggest benefit of a doubt), and used it as a tag for a send-off. Whereas I read it and think it’s _wildly_ out of character and suspect, which ruins the mood. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-a-coulter-and-now-s-palin/536264/50 "2010-04-16T15:55:29Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I’m interested by this: > They paid her $200,000 to speak at a \*\*fundraiser \*\*that only brought in $180,000 and the Canadians think _she’s_ the stupid one? She’s bait. We use her to attract stupid Canadians like flies to shit. Then once they are all in a room together, we take their names and slowly and quietly disappear them over the next coulpe of years. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-a-coulter-and-now-s-palin/536264/51 "2010-04-16T16:12:35Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Actually, Plato’s full quote went something like this: > > _Be courteous, kind, and forgiving, > Be gentle and peaceful each day. > Be warm and human and grateful, > And have a nice thing to say._ > > And, well, it goes on from there… So, we can blame Plato for the “have a nice day” phenomenon? ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-a-coulter-and-now-s-palin/536264/52 "2010-04-16T16:14:42Z")
Shhhh! The first rule of disappearings is… ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-a-coulter-and-now-s-palin/536264/53 "2010-04-16T16:53:01Z")
I think she meant to say, “Be excellent to each other.” Spoke extemporaneously? In other words, for $200 you could sit and listen to her blathering without having made the effort to actually write a presentation? Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-a-coulter-and-now-s-palin/536264/54 "2010-04-16T17:07:33Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > She’s bait. We use her to attract stupid Canadians like flies to shit. Then once they are all in a room together, we take their names and slowly and quietly disappear them over the next coulpe of years. I am intrigued by your newsletter and would wish to suscribe. ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-a-coulter-and-now-s-palin/536264/55 "2010-04-16T17:38:52Z")
Is it just me, or does Sarah Palin make Dan Quayle look like a friggin’ genius?? ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-a-coulter-and-now-s-palin/536264/56 "2010-04-16T17:44:33Z")
> [@dhkendall](#): > > Is it just me, or does Sarah Palin make Dan Quayle look like a friggin’ genius?? Actually, Quayle gave the impression that he was **honestly** stupid, while Palin gives the impression that she is stupid **on purpose**. It depends on what you prefer. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-a-coulter-and-now-s-palin/536264/57 "2010-04-16T17:56:37Z")
I’ve looked a little more. I can’t find any believable source for the quote on any of the databases, be it from Philo of Alexandria , Plato, or anyone else. But apparently the quote appears – as “Be _kind_ for everuyone you meet is fighting a great battle” – in her book **Going Rogue** , page 24. > [@](#): > > I had previously heard an almost identical quotation, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle,” attributed to Philo of Alexandria, a philosopher who lived from 20 BCE to 40 BCE. > > I first heard the quotation in a sermon about a decade ago and have repeated it in conversations many times since then. > > My first instinct, while reading Palin’s book, was to criticize. > > I turned to my wife, and, in a self-righteous tone of voice, said something snide about how whoever fact checked Palin’s book must have missed that one. Aha! So it bothered someone else, too! > **[The difference between diatribe and dialogue](https://poststar.com/news/opinion/columns/behind-scenes/article_4e13e0a2-4667-11df-84ca-001cc4c002e0.html)** > > There it was on Page 24. Sometime between the book at the speech, “kind” morphed into “nice”. It strikes me as an extremely vapid quote, pseudo-profound and taking different interpretations, as the mood strikes. But with “nice” in it, it sounds like it belongs on a poster with rainbows and unicorns. ---
**Author:** ![ricksummon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ricksummon/32/3333_2.png) [@ricksummon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricksummon)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-a-coulter-and-now-s-palin/536264/58 "2010-04-16T18:03:02Z")
“S. Palin”? Is she perhaps related to Mr. S. “Sodoff” Baldrick? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-a-coulter-and-now-s-palin/536264/59 "2010-04-16T18:03:55Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I’m _very_ suspicious. I could as easily believe Nietzche saying “Be Nice” as Plato. It was Mencken, trust me. She picked Plato because “Now, people will think I have gravy-tas.” ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-a-coulter-and-now-s-palin/536264/60 "2010-04-16T18:07:37Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > But apparently the quote appears – as “Be _kind_ for everuyone you meet is fighting a great battle” – in her book **Going Rogue** , page 24. You’re saying she actually read it? :dubious: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-a-coulter-and-now-s-palin/536264.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-a-coulter-and-now-s-palin/536264.md?page=4)