Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Biden’s Virgil

Vice President Joe Biden: “As I said just before the President signed the health care bill, I quoted Virgil, the classic Greek poet, who once said, ‘The greatest wealth is health.’”

Did the classical poet Virgil (or Vergil) “say” — that is, write — anything along these lines? If he did, he did so in Latin. He wasn’t talking Greek, or writing it. This mistake — not the other onethis one is a big, uh, deal.

[Update, March 24, 2010: I can find no evidence that these words belong to Virgil.]

Obama and Biden on newly signed health care law (Chicago Sun-Times)

A tenuously related post
“I ain’t talkin’ Greek”

comments: 4

stefan said...

I thought of you immediately upon hearing Mr. Biden's second gaffe. (I really enjoyed the first one however.)

Michael Leddy said...

I wish I’d heard these gaffes as they happened. Ben and I were out getting an oil change. Getting the car’s oil changed, I mean.

Elaine said...

Too late. I see you with a funnel in one ear...

Michael Leddy said...

No, that’s just my ear trumpet. :)