--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thirteen states with a population less…" description: "\"Thirteen states with a population less than that of New York State alone can prevent repeal [of prohibition] until Halley's comet returns. One might as..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28f/clarence-darrow-1714_comets_thirteen-states-with-a-population-less-t_426370.png" --- # Thirteen states with a population less than that of New… ![“Thirteen states with a population less than that of New York State alone can prevent repeal [of prohibition] until Halley's comet returns. One might as well talk about a summer vacation on Mars.” quote by Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28f/clarence-darrow-1714_comets_thirteen-states-with-a-population-less-t_426370.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28f/clarence-darrow-1714_comets_thirteen-states-with-a-population-less-t_426370.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28f/clarence-darrow-1714_comets_thirteen-states-with-a-population-less-t_426370.png) > “Thirteen states with a population less than that of New York State alone can prevent repeal \[of prohibition\] until Halley's comet returns. One might as well talk about a summer vacation on Mars.” [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlighting the absurdity of comparing trivial issues to massive, impossible events. **In simple terms:** Comparing small problems to huge, impossible ones is absurd. Key Takeaway Recognize realistic scales before debating. Themes politics exaggeration logic comparisons Mood skeptical ironic critical Type satirical political commentary When to use this quote - policy debates - public discourse - media analysis Key Concepts hyperbole satire critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - Are you using exaggeration to make a point? - Does this comparison help solve the problem? A Different Perspective Such analogies can distract from genuine issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comets/) [Halley 's comet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/halley-s-comet/) [Manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manners/) [Mars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mars/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [New york state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york-state/) [Prohibition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prohibition/) [Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summer/) [Summer vacation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summer-vacation/) [Thirteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirteen/) [Vacation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vacation/) [York State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/york-state/) ## Related quotes > [“By 1955 thirteen states had passed laws regulating the publication, distribution, and sale of comic books. Leading intellectuals, including C. Wright Mills, praised Wertham's efforts.70”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-patterson/by-1955-thirteen-states-had-passed-laws-regulating-the-publication/) [James T. Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-patterson/) > [The late rebellion in Massachusetts has given more alarm than I think it should have done. Calculate that one rebellion in thirteen states in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-late-rebellion-in-massachusetts-has-given-more-alarm-than-i-think/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [You might be a redneck if your favorite T-shirt is offensive in thirteen states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/you-might-be-a-redneck-if-your-favorite-t-shirt-is-offensive-in/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [Let Americans disdain to be the instruments of European greatness! Let the thirteen States, bound together in a strict and indissoluble Union, concur in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/let-americans-disdain-to-be-the-instruments-of-european-greatness-let/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Barry Goldwater has definitely decided to be a candidate in '64. He will campaign in all thirteen states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/barry-goldwater-has-definitely-decided-to-be-a-candidate-in-64-he/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“The Constitution was a compromise between slaveholding interests of the South and moneyed interests of the North. For the purpose of uniting the thirteen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/the-constitution-was-a-compromise-between-slaveholding-interests-of/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [The Thirteen States are Thirteen Sovereign bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/the-thirteen-states-are-thirteen-sovereign-bodies/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [“A year earlier, representatives of thirteen states had assembled in Philadelphia and declared their intention to form a more perfect union, but what had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-ketchum/a-year-earlier-representatives-of-thirteen-states-had-assembled-in/) [Richard M. Ketchum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-ketchum/) > [Our rockets can find Halley's comet, and fly to Venus with amazing accuracy, but side by side with these scientific and technical triumphs is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-gorbachev/our-rockets-can-find-halley-s-comet-and-fly-to-venus-with-amazing/) [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-gorbachev/) > [In the year 1456 ... a Comet was seen passing Retrograde between the Earth and the sun... Hence I dare venture to foretell, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmond-halley/in-the-year-1456-a-comet-was-seen-passing-retrograde-between-the/) [Edmond Halley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmond-halley/) > [You are heaven's Halley's comet; we have one shot at seeing you shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-are-heaven-s-halley-s-comet-we-have-one-shot-at-seeing-you-shine/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [There are people in our lives whom we love, and lose, and unfailingly long for. They orbit our hearts like Halley’s Comet, crossing into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-ford/there-are-people-in-our-lives-whom-we-love-and-lose-and-unfailingly/) [Jamie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-ford/) > [I was born with Halley's Comet and I expect to die upon its return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-was-born-with-halley-s-comet-and-i-expect-to-die-upon-its-return/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Success is like Halley's comet, you know. Every now and then it just comes around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-perot/success-is-like-halley-s-comet-you-know-every-now-and-then-it-just/) [Ross Perot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-perot/) > [I had always wanted to name a daughter Hailey, after Halley's comet from Once in a Lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-grace/i-had-always-wanted-to-name-a-daughter-hailey-after-halley-s-comet/) [Nancy Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-grace/) ## More by Clarence Darrow > [We know life is futile. A man who considers that his life is of very wonderful importance is awfully close to a padded cell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/we-know-life-is-futile-a-man-who-considers-that-his-life-is-of-very/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Great wealth often curses all who touch it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/great-wealth-often-curses-all-who-touch-it/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Punishment as punishment is not admissible unless the offender has had the free will to select his course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/punishment-as-punishment-is-not-admissible-unless-the-offender-has/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [“One of the bravest, grandest champions of human liberty the world has ever seen. {Darrow on the great Robert Ingersoll }”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/one-of-the-bravest-grandest-champions-of-human-liberty-the-world-has/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [I cannot tell and I shall never know how many words of mine might have given birth to cruelty in place of love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/i-cannot-tell-and-i-shall-never-know-how-many-words-of-mine-might/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [“As long as the world shall last there will be wrongs, and if no man objected and if no man rebelled, those wrongs would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/as-long-as-the-world-shall-last-there-will-be-wrongs-and-if-no-man/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/i-have-never-killed-a-man-but-i-have-read-many-obituaries-with-great/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Lost causes are the only ones worth fighting for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/lost-causes-are-the-only-ones-worth-fighting-for/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [One believes in the truthfulness of a man because of his long experience with the man, and because the man has always told a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/one-believes-in-the-truthfulness-of-a-man-because-of-his-long/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Physical deformity, calls forth our charity. But the infinite misfortune of moral deformity calls forth nothing but hatred and vengeance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/physical-deformity-calls-forth-our-charity-but-the-infinite/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Men have always been obliged to fight to preserve liberty. Constitutions and laws do not safeguard liberty. It can be preserved only by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/men-have-always-been-obliged-to-fight-to-preserve-liberty/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [“ Robert G. Ingersoll was a great man. a wonderful intellect, a great soul of matchless courage, one of the great men of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/robert-g-ingersoll-was-a-great-man-a-wonderful-intellect-a-great-soul/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Everybody is a potential murderer. I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/everybody-is-a-potential-murderer-i-ve-never-killed-anyone-but-i/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [The first half of our lives are ruined by our parents and the second half by our children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/the-first-half-of-our-lives-are-ruined-by-our-parents-and-the-second/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [If there is a soul, what is it, and where did it come from, and where does it go? Can anyone who is guided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/if-there-is-a-soul-what-is-it-and-where-did-it-come-from-and-where/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) [Explore all 213 Clarence Darrow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) ## More Comets quotes > [“The star we're looking for isn't so very friendly," said Moomintroll. "Quite the contrary, in fact." "What did you say?" said Sniff. Moomintroll went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/the-star-we-re-looking-for-isn-t-so-very-friendly-said-moomintroll/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [It is always wonderful to be a curious comet wandering in the galaxy of a good book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/it-is-always-wonderful-to-be-a-curious-comet-wandering-in-the-galaxy/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Human history, like all great movements, was cyclical, and returned to the point of beginning. The idea of indefinite progress in a right line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bellamy/human-history-like-all-great-movements-was-cyclical-and-returned-to/) [Edward Bellamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bellamy/) > [So that, were it the purpose of God to produce comets as signs of his wrath it would be true to say that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bayle/so-that-were-it-the-purpose-of-god-to-produce-comets-as-signs-of-his/) [Pierre Bayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bayle/) > [Human society is part of the general order, and the more our knowledge increases the less we are inclined to believe that the birth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-alfred-lynch/human-society-is-part-of-the-general-order-and-the-more-our-knowledge/) [Arthur Alfred Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-alfred-lynch/) > [Once I got into space, I was feeling very comfortable in the universe. I felt like I had a right to be anywhere in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/once-i-got-into-space-i-was-feeling-very-comfortable-in-the-universe/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [That beautiful sister of mine was an overwhelming and volatile mixture. One had the feeling that she'd been shot from a canon and showered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-bennett/that-beautiful-sister-of-mine-was-an-overwhelming-and-volatile/) [Joan Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-bennett/) > [Bayle, when writing on "Comets," discovered this; for having collected many things applicable to his work, as they stood quoted in some modern writers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-d-israeli/bayle-when-writing-on-comets-discovered-this-for-having-collected/) [Isaac D'Israeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-d-israeli/) > [“Comets are like cats: they have tails, and they do precisely what they want.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-levy/comets-are-like-cats-they-have-tails-and-they-do-precisely-what-they/) David H. Levy > [What is there in places empty of matter? and Whence is it that the sun and planets gravitate toward one another without dense matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/what-is-there-in-places-empty-of-matter-and-whence-is-it-that-the-sun/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [Consider, I pray, whether you are not renouncing all shame and sincerity to advance such principles. Because a comet appears in a group of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bayle/consider-i-pray-whether-you-are-not-renouncing-all-shame-and/) [Pierre Bayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bayle/) > [By being seldom seen, I could not stir But like a comet I was wondered at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/by-being-seldom-seen-i-could-not-stir-but-like-a-comet-i-was-wondered/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [One didn't issue instructions to comets. Grown children did what they had to do, and parents could only grit their teeth and watch and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-alther/one-didn-t-issue-instructions-to-comets-grown-children-did-what-they/) [Lisa Alther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-alther/) > [“But imagine,” said Mars, “being a comet. I want you to imagine a divine force in someone that pushes them through the world, infinitely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kristian-flores/but-imagine-said-mars-being-a-comet-i-want-you-to-imagine-a-divine/) [Karl Kristian Flores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kristian-flores/) > [When you look at Earth from that one picture, the one from space, it's really a rather attractive thing. I have nothing against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/when-you-look-at-earth-from-that-one-picture-the-one-from-space-it-s/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) [Browse all 152 Comets quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comets/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Thirteen states with a population less than that of New York State alone can prevent repeal [of prohibition] until Halley's comet returns. 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