It’s no secret that I’m not a Twitter fan, but I do have to admit that the Iranian protesters have found a legitimate purpose for it that can’t be equaled by anything else.  While revolution is always a tricky business both in terms of logistics and phrasing, per the musical 1776 “A rebellion is always legal in the first person, such as “our rebellion.” It is only in the third person – “their rebellion” – that it becomes illegal.” But every good offense or defense in history has had quotable calls to arms. Whether this is because the quotes make the event memorable or the memorable events get the press is debatable. How many of those throughout history could be done in 140 characters or less? Here’s a brief survey:

Paul Revere: “The British are coming, the British are coming!” Twitability: room to spare

Patrick Henry: “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death:  Twitability: over the limit although the tag line works

Winston Churchill: “We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the Old.” Twitability: no chance – and that’s all one sentence

And that doesn’t even touch on viral songs – could the French have pulled it off without La Marseillaise?