"I'm gonna talk about us — the average guys, the John Does. If anybody should ask you what the average John Doe is like, you couldn't tell him because he's a million and one things. He's Mr. Big and Mr. Small, he's simple and he's wise, he's inherently honest but he's got a streak of larceny in his heart. He seldom walks up to a public telephone without shovin' his finger into the slot to see if somebody left a nickel there. He's the man the ads are written for. He's the fella everybody sells things to. He's Joe Doakes, the world's greatest stooge and the world's greatest strength. Yes sir, yes sir, we're a great family, the John Does. We are the meek who are supposed to inherit the earth. You'll find us everywhere. We raise the crops, we dig the mines, work the factories, keep the books, fly the planes and drive the buses, and when the cop yells, 'Stand back there you,' he means us - the John Does. We've existed since time began. We built the pyramids. We saw Christ crucified, pulled the oars for Roman emperors, sailed the boats for Columbus, retreated from Moscow with Napoleon, and froze with Washington at Valley Forge. Yes sir, we've been in there dodging left hooks since before History began to walk. In our struggle for freedom, we've hit the canvas many a time, but we always bounced back because we're the people — and we're tough."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Imported from EN Wikiquote
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Meet_John_Doe
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Meet John Doe
20 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Meet John Doe →
Related Quotes
"Irving Bacon - Beanie"
"EST. 1862 · The BULLETIN · A free press means a free people."
"They've started a lot of talk about free people goin' soft, that we can't take it. That's a lot of hooey! A free peop…"
"But we've all got to get in there and pitch. We can't win the old ball game unless we have teamwork. And that's where…"
"I know a lot of you are saying to yourselves: 'He's askin' for a miracle to happen. He's expecting people to change a…"
"[to Norton] You mean to tell me you'd try to kill the John Doe movement if you can't use it to get what you want?...W…"
"[in her newspaper column] Below is a letter which reached my desk this morning. It's a commentary on what we laughing…"
"He [John Doe] wants to get a few things off his chest and that's the only way he can get himself heard...So he writes…"
"Now please, John, you won't let me down, will ya? Will ya? Of course you won't. If you'll just think of yourself as t…"
"Please don't give up. We'll start all over again. Just you and I. It isn't too late. The John Doe movement isn't dead…"