Doctor Who (1963) -- 21×03 “Frontios,” Part 2 (1984-01-27) [w. Christopher Bidmead]

Dave — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 20:20:40 +0000

THE DOCTOR: Oh, marvelous. You’re going to kill me. What a finely-tuned response to the situation.

Doctor Who (1963–1989) British science fiction television series, original run (BBC)
21×03 “Frontios,” Part 2 (1984-01-27) [w. Christopher Bidmead]
(Source)

(Source (Video))

Diamond, Jared -- Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, ch. 8 (2005)

Dave — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 19:04:54 +0000

The values to which people cling most stubbornly under inappropriate conditions are those values that were previously the source of their greatest triumphs.

Jared Diamond (b. 1937) American geographer, historian, ornithologist, author
Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, ch. 8 (2005)
(Source)

Talmud -- Babylonian Talmud, Seder Moed, Megillah 10b.26 [Rosten (1972)]

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 18:00:00 +0000

When the Egyptians were drowning in the Red Sea, the angels in heaven began to break forth in songs of jubilation, but the Holy One, blessed be He, silenced them: “My creatures are perishing — and ye are ready to sing!”

בִּקְּשׁוּ מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת לוֹמַר שִׁירָה, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: מַעֲשֵׂה יָדַי טוֹבְעִין בַּיָּם, וְאַתֶּם אוֹמְרִים שִׁירָה

The Talmud (AD 200–500) Collection of Jewish rabbinical writings
Babylonian Talmud, Seder Moed, Megillah 10b.26 [Rosten (1972)]
(Source)

A comment from Rabbi Johanan (d. AD 179), discussing the question whether God rejoices in the downfall of the wicked, referencing the destruction of the pursuing Egyptian army at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-31). Some sources suggest the song to be sung was Isaiah 6:3.

In addition to Megillah 10b, this passage is echoed in Seder Nezikin, Sanhedrin 39b.5:

בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה בִּקְּשׁוּ מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת לוֹמַר שִׁירָה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. אָמַר לָהֶן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: מַעֲשֵׂה יָדַי טוֹבְעִין בַּיָּם וְאַתֶּם אוֹמְרִים שִׁירָה לְפָנַי

(Source (Hebrew; Megillah)). Other translations:

The angels of heaven wanted to sing the usual song, and the Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: My creatures are drowning in the sea, and you want to sing songs!
[tr. Rodkinson / Wise (1896); Megillah 10b]

At that time the angels wanted to sing their song before the Holy One, blessed be He, but He said to them: my creatures are sinking into the sea, and ye want to sing."
[tr. Rodkinson / Wise (1896); Sanhedrin 39b]

When the Egyptian hosts were drowning in the Red Sea, the angels in heaven were about to break forth in songs of jubilation. But the Holy One, blessed be He, silenced them with the words: "My creatures are perishing, and ye are ready to sing!"
[tr. Hertz (1921)]

When the Egyptians were drowning in the Red Sea, the angels in Heaven were about to break forth in songs of jubiliation. God silenced them with the words, My creatures are perishing, and ye are ready to sing!
[tr. Hertz (1935)]

When the Egyptians were drowning, the angels wished to sing. But God said, "My children are dying, and you would sing?"
[comp. Newman (1945); Megillah 10b]

The ministering angels sought to recite a song, [but] the Holy One, Blessed Be He said: The work of My hands is drowning in the sea, and you are reciting a song???
[tr. Steinsaltz (2010), Willam Davidson Talmud; Megillah 10b]

At that time the ministering angels desired to recite a song before the Holy One, Blessed be He. The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to them: My handiwork, i.e., the Egyptians, are drowning in the sea, and you are reciting a song before Me?
[tr. Steinsaltz (2010), Willam Davidson Talmud; Sanhedrin 39b]

The ministering angels wanted to chant their hymns, but the Holy One, blessed be He, said, The work of my hands is being drowned in the sea, and shall you chant hymns?
[Source; Megillah 10b]

In that hour the ministering angels wished to utter the song [of praise] before the Holy One, blessed be He, but He rebuked them, saying: My handiwork [the Egyptians] is drowning in the sea; would ye utter song before me!
[Source; Sanhedrin 39b]

The ministering angels wanted to sing their song, for the angels would sing songs to each other, as it states: “And they called out to each other and said”, but the Holy One, Blessed be He, said: The work of My hands, the Egyptians, are drowning at sea, and you wish to say songs?
[Koren Talmud Bavli; Megillah 10b]

At that time the ministering angels desired to recite a song before the Holy One, Blessed be He. The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to them: My handiwork, i.e., the Egyptians, are drowning in the sea, and you are reciting a song before Me?
[Koren Talmud Bavli; Sanhedrin 39b]

WIST Quotations

Doctor Who (1963) -- 21×03 “Frontios,” Part 2 (1984-01-27) [w. Christopher Bidmead]

Diamond, Jared -- Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, ch. 8 (2005)

Talmud -- Babylonian Talmud, Seder Moed, Megillah 10b.26 [Rosten (1972)]