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Quotes of the Day for 16 January 2005 - Prohibition

On this day in 1919, Nebraska ratified the Eighteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, becoming the 36th and deciding state. One year later, it went into effect, sale and transport of alcohol was prohibited, i.e., the start of Prohibition. Moderate drinking in most families came to an end, wild and frenzied drinking behind closed doors was unaffected, organized crime got its first great source of income, and thousands died from fusel oil in "bathtub gin." These quotes were suggested by this failed experiment.

The prestige of government has undoubtedly been lowered considerably by the Prohibition law. For nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced. It is an open secret that the dangerous increase of crime in this country is closely connected with this.
     - Albert Einstein, 1879 - 1955

People who drink to drown their sorrow should be told that sorrow knows how to swim.
     - Ann Landers, 1918 - 2002

I used often to go to America during Prohibition, and there was far more drunkenness there then than before; the prohibition of pornography has much the same effect.
     - Bertrand Russell, 1872 - 1970

I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day.
     - Frank Sinatra, 1915 - 1998

Find out what whiskey he drinks and send all of my generals a case, if it will get the same results.
     - Abraham Lincoln, reply to comments about General Grant's drinking

My rule of life prescribed as an absolutely sacred rite smoking cigars and also the drinking of alcohol before, after and if need be during all meals and in the intervals between them.
     - Winston Churchill, 1874 - 1965

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