Insisted Quotations

As a kid, I was growing up in an era of celebration of the Civil War centennial, with a lot of 'Lost Cause' emphasis on the Confederacy. I used to play Civil War soldiers with my brothers as a child, and my older brother always insisted that he got to be Lee, and I got be Grant. I never knew that Grant won until quite some time had passed.

My father insisted that I and my sisters not be indoctrinated into any religion at any age.

When I was young, I'd fight everyone who insisted I'd be an actress. I'd say, 'No way. I'm going to be a veterinarian. I'm going to work at Wetzel's Pretzels.'

Throughout most of my life, I've tried to downplay my Chinese heritage because I wanted so much to be an American. I was the only Asian kid in my elementary school, and I longed to be like everyone else. I insisted on American food; I was embarrassed by my mother's poor English.

Orthodox theologians insisted that the rest of humankind were only transitory creatures, lost in sin - a view that would support what would become their dominant teaching about salvation, offered only through Christ, and, in particular, through the church they claimed to represent.

Often, I grow irritated before the first tile has been placed on the Scrabble board. This generally occurs when one of my opponents has insisted upon bringing a dictionary to the table, making it clear that he will be consulting it throughout the game.

Ever since the infamous quiz show scandals of the 1950s, the feds had insisted that TV game shows be honest - or that at least they didn't cheat. So as a 'Dating Game' bachelor, I didn't know what I was going to be asked. The other bachelors and I were required to concoct our answers in real time.

We certainly could have voted on making the middle-class tax cuts and tax cuts for working families permanent had the Republicans not insisted that the only way they would support those tax breaks is if we also added $700 billion to the deficit to give tax breaks to the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans. That's what was really disturbing.

Everybody told me that if I insisted on doing rockabilly music, I'd never have a chance of selling any records. In fact, I lost count of how many people told me to ditch it all together, in favour, I guess, of sounding like everybody else.

My mother insisted that I pursue music. I rented out my father's musical equipment and earned some money. As a child, I wasn't sure about a career goal, but I was always fascinated by electronic gadgets, specially musical equipment.

My parents homeschooled my sister and me for many years. Why? Because the local school insisted that I, being three, should go to preschool, and my sister, being five, should go to kindergarten. The problem? You learn your alphabet in preschool, and I was already reading chapter books.

What would life be like if everybody insisted you must have actually built such-and-such a thing by yourself? I'd be an old man and have nothing to show for the aging.

Michael Lewis, author of 'Moneyball,' got special access for a profile of Obama for 'Vanity Fair' - but Obama insisted on redlining his quotes.

In the name of feminism, we denied some essential aspects of our authentic selves. While feminism should have been nothing if not a celebration of our own unique characteristics, we insisted that we had no unique characteristics... that gender differences were hogwash, and a feminine woman was nothing more than a plaything for men.

Years ago, we insisted on a 40-hour week, working 8 to 5. We've become much more flexible in terms of number of hours as well as when employees work. We want to keep people in the work force and adjust to their needs. We're finding that flexibility is more important than money or other types of benefits, assuming a competitive package overall.

Years ago, NPR tried to stop me from going on "The Factor." When I refused, they insisted that I not identify myself as an NPR journalist. I asked them if they thought people did not know where I appeared on the air as a daily talk show host, national correspondent and news analyst. They refused to budge.

We have insisted that (North Korea) cease its long-range missile development, production and export program, ... We are at a critical juncture in our relations with Pyongyang. The choice is for the North to behave in a way that allows for a positive direction in our relations.

Since the very beginning we have insisted upon our rights. The people call for the same thing and will continue the path.

She is not in the form at all. We tried to persuade her to give up all-around but she insisted to give it a try.

One morning I greeted the cast naked in the front drive and insisted that today was to be a nude day. No, we didn't have any nudity problems.

My daughter came to us last night and insisted we contribute in some way to Earth Day.

My father was a doctor, but he was what I would call an intellectual - very well-read and very interested in knowledge. He insisted that I get as much education as my brothers.

Philip insisted it would be wrong for him to break down and be so emotional. But, of course, when we rolled camera, he proceeded to do exactly what he'd argued against. It's what makes his performance feel so real. When he entered a scene, he was no longer thinking like an actor. He was thinking like Truman Capote would think.

But the standards of statecraft insisted upon the untrammeled claim of each nation to uphold its own view of its rights by force and to build whatever armaments it considered necessary for this purpose.

I have always insisted that any assistance offered to us by member states be for our purposes, our legal purposes alone and not for theirs.

For thousands of years, we've insisted that art can make us better people. Unless a brief can be fashioned that, by its very nature, art appeals only to the best in people and never the darkness, which defies both logic and intuition, then we have to acknowledge that art can make some of us worse.

He was unapologetic of the handling of the information and insisted it was appropriate.

He insisted the board members are 100% behind me,

He insisted on watching that Steelers game last week.

He insisted on the respect of law and that the law must prevail in Iraqi political life, with no differentiation among people, whatever their position in the state.

He'd much rather be walking. In college, he had the right to use a cart, and he didn't for two years. He'd drag that leg around during those 36-hole days, refusing to get in a cart. Finally it got to be too much and his coach insisted he ride.

Hawaii is an island state, thousands of miles from anywhere. It's as if we are in a boat, caught in treacherous waters, needing to set sail for a better place. If I were to chart a course north, but you insisted on going south, then we would go nowhere. We would stay stuck exactly where we started.

He (Sharon) also insisted that we must go to early elections as early as possible.

I also have insisted that the report include as much basic data as reasonable and that it be unclassified, since the tragedy that has been Iraq has exacted such a huge cost for so many for so long.

Kim insisted on paying for it herself without the help from the organizers or sponsors.

I think the important thing, ... is the council stood together and insisted Iraq rescind its decision before any other reviews can be undertaken.

Krishna insisted on outer cleanliness and inner cleansing. Clean clothes and clean minds are an ideal combination.

I saw Baby Spice and insisted on talking to her. I tapped her on the shoulder and stood there like a lemon. I wanted to tell her how brilliant she was. Instead I said something like, 'Great woman!' It wasn't my finest moment.

Piper insisted she had to be out of breath when we played this one scene, so she ran around the block. Thank God she wasn't doing a crucifixtion scene; we would have had to nail her to the wall.

Paul built a really excellent squad at Lyon. There were lots of good young players pushing for a place in the side and he often talked about that. In each team-talk, he insisted on the importance of the role played by the substitutes and the other squad members. As long as those guys had the hunger to want to replace us, then we would go far.

I was privileged because my father was a policeman, and we lived in town. Many people in Malawi are from typical villages. My grandmother insisted I should be in both worlds, and so I needed to be acquainted with village life.

When sound came, we found this out--we found this out from our own pictures--that sound didn't bother us at all. There was only one thing I wanted at all times, and insisted on: that you go ahead and talk in the most natural way, in your situations. Don't give me puns. Don't give me jokes. No wisecracks.

Yes, that is true, ... A mutual friend of ours told me that Alexandra wanted to give me that script, so she didn't come out of nowhere. But it did take me a while before I read it. Then she insisted every morning and after a few months I read it and I thought, 'Oh my God, it's very good.'

We had irons and lamps that were 20 years old. He insisted on fixing everything.

We had always insisted on working with actors because they do what they're told. You can make actors play the character exactly as you want him, expressing opinions on politics, religion, all aspects of society. No comedian would do that for fear of alienating their following. Actors brush off criticism by attributing offending mannerisms or material to the role. Besides, comedians argue about the laughs.

We wanted to make the Lacy fight early but they insisted he wasn't ready and he would fight Reid first,

When I first talked about writing with Saul he insisted on the ability to change, to get a serious grip on what was real in your life, ... He was the 20th century's literary wizard, who fused the intellect and the imagination in glorious and comic language that we'd never heard before.

We are in a posture where we want Sean (to get healthy), and we kind of insisted that he get everything taken care of. We want him to take his time. There will be no rush to him coming back -- he's too important to our franchise.

When a Texas school insisted on hoisting the Confederate flag every morning, Governor Bush said it was not a state but a local issue. And they called me slick!

We're kidding on that. One of the things I insisted upon when we went into this project was that we are full partners, going fifty-fifty, both on the money and on the say of what's going on with the books.

Though our building is vintage 1924, we have always insisted on the most current infrastructures. This will be available throughout our hotel, in all of our meeting rooms, and ultimately we'll have wireless access in all of our public spaces as well.

We insisted on getting on the ballot by petition, because ours is a candidacy of the people and not of big money. We intend to represent the interest of the people and not the multinational corporations and banks.

Brown became like a father figure to me who insisted I live the life of a monk, let alone a minister. I had to stay in the hotel he stayed in, stay in my room, and he would almost select my girlfriends. He was very adamant that he had promised my mother that I would not go wayward on the road, and he enforced it. So even though I knew the entertainment world, I was not of the entertainment world -- and not by any choice of my own. He promised my mother that he'd make sure I was never on drugs, that I never lost my head, and that he'd take care of me himself. And he did.

At 6:30, which was when the national news began, my father raised the volume and adjusted the antennas. Usually I occupied myself with a book, but that night my father insisted that I pay attention.

Ellen called me and insisted that I take the children.

Duke insisted that he do his own jump,

Russia has always insisted that as a sovereign state, the DPRK can develop its peaceful nuclear program in keeping with international law,

Rolling Stone magazine would not say anything positive about me, and they were the tastemakers at the time. There were people from the old guard who insisted I wasn't a real rock and roller. Well, O.K., fine -- I'm not a real rock and roller. You got me.

Or it needs only to look back over past centuries and the iniquities alike of populace, nobles, kings, and popes to perceive an almost incomprehensible futility of the beliefs everywhere held and perpetually insisted upon

A raw chicken, covered in wrapping paper... from this fan who always insisted on giving us food

The Bush administration, with its doctrinal commitment to unfettered deregulation, has insisted that this situation can be resolved by allowing the states and utility industry to deal with it by themselves,

Barbara would have insisted that I live my life and that I go on and do the best possible job I could as solicitor general of the United States.

This debate became a source of tremendous embarrassment for South Carolina. The only reason the flag stayed on the statehouse for so long was that a tiny minority of powerful lawmakers dug in their heels and insisted on ignoring the will of the people of the state.

Always, since our birth, we've insisted on another way of doing politics. Now, we had the chance to do it without arms, but without stopping being Zapatistas; that's why we keep the masks on.

There was a three hour differential in performances because the sponsor insisted it be done live for California. You would go on at 8 pm in New York but you would also have to go on at 8 p.m. in California. That meant coming back in to do the show at 11 p.m.

A stunning example of success for the Haitian people. They came out early, they braved the ragged initial disorganization and insisted on voting, and did.

The nuclear options that India insisted on protecting in this deal cast serious doubt on its declared policy of seeking only a credible minimum deterrent.

It looks like they insisted on sending them to us, and we have no choice but to accept them. It shows severe disrespect to us.

Despite China's request, Koizumi insisted on his visit to the shrine, which not only resulted in suspended high-level contacts but also brought new difficulties to the meeting between the two countries' leaders on multilateral occasions.

It's tough because there are times when I just want to rip someone's throat out, but I've taken the approach of trying to steadily build something. The thing is -- and I've been criticized for it -- I've tended to take the positive out of every situation. I've insisted on it. They've called me 'Joey Blue Skies' and said that I'm not seeing what's actually going on here. Well, I am seeing what's really going on here: We're a young team trying to build something, and when it starts to work -- not if, but when -- we'll be a great football team.

They insisted on two things. 'Don't impersonate Coward. And never change his words.' I think we met their demands.

They insisted on two things, ... 'Don't impersonate Coward. And never change his words.' I think we met their demands.

I was 25 when I first started playing for Gloucestershire, because my father had insisted I got a proper qualification before trying to make it as a cricketer,

I'm extremely disappointed that the European Commission has insisted on perpetuating this dispute,

I'm sure they'll be able to provide an answer. But I insisted that we be provided with an opportunity to ask the questions.

If we asked the various families to buy computers, this would only have widened the digital divide. So the school superintendent and the supervisors insisted that this be a grass-roots effort. We wanted to ensure that all the children in the sixth grade would have the opportunity to be a part of this.

I have officially insisted that the autopsy not be carried out in The Hague but in Moscow.

I have worked very closely with Sen. Basnight on this vote every step of the way, ... He has insisted that the rules be followed and has represented himself, the Senate and the state with great integrity. I resent the comments of other senators that imply otherwise.

China also insisted that the U.S. forswear the right to invoke safeguard actions for any other products outside the agreement. That's a deal-killer right there.

I didn't feel comfortable taking the things that people were dropping off, but the people at Crossroads insisted I did. They told me that people brought those things there just for me and that they wanted me to have them.

He told her in no uncertain terms there would be no surgery. He insisted he loves every little wrinkle on her face.

I automatically questioned it, but they insisted they saw something down there.

I beg your lordship's patience till I can procure my papers. I cannot plead until I have those papers that I insisted upon.

The guys were kidding me that I was upset with Mike because he didn't make his bed in the morning, or that he insisted on the aisle seat on the flight back to Montreal.

The Chinese Government has insisted consistently that the Iranian nuclear issue should be appropriately resolved through negotiations and co-operation within the framework of the IAEA.

The company has insisted that last year was an exceptional year. I don't think this (drop in earnings) changes much of their long-term outlook.

And if I came early, I had to help him eat. He just always insisted that I have something.

The market insisted that this is the way to go.