Fred Shapiro is associate librarian and law professor at the famous Yale University—and he loves quotes. The 68-year-old has made it his job to examine quotes and make sure they're accurate. He shares his findings with the public in the "Yale Book of Quotations", which has been published by Yale University Press since 2006 and has been published in revised form as the "New Yale Book of Quotations" since last year. The collection contains more than twelve thousand famous quotes from politics, history, culture, science, sport and all other areas of human activity. And for each new issue, Shapiro compiles the top ten most memorable quotes of the year.
For example, in 2007, the phrase "Don't tase me, bro!" ("Don't Taser Me Bro!") at the top of the list. The student Andrew Meyer had summoned him when security forces dragged him out of an event hall at the University of Florida after critical questions to the then Democratic US Senator John Kerry, using a stun gun. The incident, captured on camera, became one of the first viral video moments in internet history. Within two days, "Don't tase me, bro!" one of the most popular phrases on Google and one of the most viewed videos. The phrase also appeared on ringtones and t-shirts, and the New Oxford American Dictionary declared "tase" or "taze" its 2007 Word of the Year.
Ten years later, Kellyanne Conway, then-President Donald Trump's campaign manager, topped the rankings with her statement, "Sean Spicer, our press secretary, gave alternative facts". Spicer had previously falsely claimed that Trump's inauguration attracted more viewers than any presidential swearing-in ceremony. The dispute over audience size was the first major public dispute over the truthfulness of the White House on President Trump's first day of office.
Last year, Shapiro chose the quote, "The voters, the courts, and the states have all spoken," ("The voters, the courts, and the states have spoken") as the winner. The most notable words of 2021 come from Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. He said it on Jan. 6 -- just hours before a Trump-incited mob stormed the Capitol to prevent ratification of the election results. "That was a very important quote. He's a great Republican leader, but even he acknowledged the election was a done deal," Shapiro said.
For the latest edition of the New Yale Book of Quotations, Shapiro has again compiled what he considers to be the most remarkable quotations of the year. In the photo gallery you will find the top ten from 2022.
Quellen: Yale University Press, Associated Press, "Ceoworld Magazine", "Washington Examiner", "Gainesville Sun"
