Samuel Johnson, The Idler, 11 Nov 1758
"‘Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.’ But let it be considered, that he did not mean a real and generous love of our country, but that pretended patriotism which so many, in all ages and countries, have made a cloak for self-interest."
James Boswell, Life of Johnson, from a saying on 7 April, 1775
"Truth is the first victim to fear and policy; when matters arrive at that crisis, every one finds a separate interest; mutual confidence, which cannot outlive sincerity, dies next, and all the kindred virtues drop in succession."
Anne MacVicar Grant, Memoirs of an American Lady, 1809
"In war, truth is at a discount and falsehood at a premium."
James Douglas, T.P.’s Weekly of London, December 1915
Stocks once again managed to shake off war jiitters and increased talk of a 50 bp rate hike in March by the Fed.
And so it was Risk On!
The Dollar, gold and silver fell.
The VIX dropped.
We are the world.
Have a pleasant weekend.
