Control Freak/Quotes

"As a young man said to me, We not only cannot print what we think, but we cannot even say what we think.” Moreover, those who think for themselves find their careers made difficult. This military domination has a childish, unnatural and unmanly side to it. He must have written, about this time, these lines “from the notebook of an American tourist in Germany”:—  Forbidden    “Es ist Strengsten Untersagt ” A Yankee in Deutschland declared: “I know a ﬁne Fräulein here; Of the Bangor girls she’s the peer. I’ll wed her at once,” he declared. “Oh, no,” said the Polizei. Said the Yankee, “Why?” “You cannot at once be wed It is strengthily undersaid; You ﬁrst must be measured and weighed, and then Tell where you were born, and why and when.” Then the Yankee in Deutschland declared: “Well, instead we will go on a spin Through the beautiful streets of Berlin, On our ‘bike,” the Yankee declared. “Oh, no,” said the Polizei. Said the Yankee, “Why?” “You cannot go cycling instead, It is strengthily undersaid; You ﬁrst must be measured and weighed, and then Tell where you would wheel, and why and when.”"

- From Letters of Richard Watson Gilder, p.280