June 26, 2025

If people have to choose between freedom and sandwiches, they will take sandwiches.

Lord Boyd-Orr (1880–1971), British politician, The Cynic’s Lexicon, Jonathon Green, ed. (London: 1986), p.28

How do you view that statement? Cynical? Misguided? Denigrative? A cute joke? All of the above?

When wooing voters over the course of an election campaign (and after as well), never underestimate those who see you only as the purveyor of free food, and the speed and intensity with which they devour whatever is laid before them will tell you much. For some, the freedom to devour free sandwiches is the greatest freedom of all.