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• America may be unique in being a country which has leapt from barbarism to decadence without touching civilization.
  -- John O'Hara...
• Civilization is the lamb's skin in which barbarism masquerades. ALDRICH
• America is the only nation in history which miraculously has gone directly from barbarism to degeneration without the usual interval of civilization.
  -- George Clemenceau (1841-1929) (also attributed to Oscar Wilde)...
• Homer: No one in history has ever done anything this clever!
  On the plan to get back Springfield's Lemon Tree, stolen by Shelbyville, by parking the van illegally, so it is towed into the parking lot where the tree is kept, from which they all sneak out at night....