"I Don't Trust Air I Can't See"

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Captain Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman)

One of our favorite Smoky Quotes comes from "Crimson Tide" character Commanding Officer Captain Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman) aboard the U.S. nuclear submarine USS Alabama. 

 
“I don’t trust air I can’t see.”
— Capt. Frank Ramsey (Smoking a cigar aboard the U.S. Navy nuclear submarine USS Alabama)

Abraham Lincoln on Vices and Virtues

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Abraham Lincoln is one of the most beloved presidents in history and politics.

Known as "the boy who could not tell a lie" but man, could he give soaring speeches. Abe Lincoln remains one of the most venerated heroes in American history to this day. 

 
“It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues”
— Abraham Lincoln

The Best Cigars

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Ulysses S. Grant is known as a president who had an exceptional combination of "character and policy."

General (and later president) Ulysses S. Grant fought and held command in numerous wars and battles over his career in the military. The zenith of his time in the forces was defeating the Confederate military and effectively ending the Civil war. We can only hope that after all of that, he got to enjoy one of those "best cigars" seemed to appreciate so much.

 
“There is one good thing about being the Commanding General, beyond the pageantry, the ridiculous vanity, something few of them would ever understand. You can get the best cigars.”
— General Ulysses S. Grant

One of the Greatest and Cheapest Enjoyments in Life

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Sigmund Freud pictured with one of the ever-present cigars he enjoyed regularly.

Freud, the famous psychoanalyst, postulator of the existence of libido; libido applies to A LOT of things: it's the energy with which mental process and structures are invested, so not just, you know, what you were thinking of).  He also developed the free association therapeutic technique (I'll say a word. You say whatever comes into your head.) and discovering transference (Stop reacting to me like I’m your mother! I’m not her!!!) and loads of other influential psychiatry as we know it today. Our point, Sigmund knew how to stay sane, take it easy and enjoy life.

 
“My boy! Smoking is one of the greatest and cheapest enjoyments in life, and if you decide in advance not to smoke, I can only feel sorry for you.”
— Sigmund Freud (to Harry his nephew after he'd declined a cigar from Uncle Freud)

Mark Twain

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Mark Twain was an avid smoker and master riverboat pilot among many other things.

Of course we all know the American author and humorist Mark Twain (that was his pen name btw...Samuel Langhorne Clemens was he legal name) for his novel "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and its sequel, "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". Twain himself was often called "the Great American Novel" but did you know he was also a successful public speaker, reporter and a master riverboat pilot? A true Renaissance man in every respect for his eclectic endeavors and life pursuits. Twain's clever witticisms and satire earned him the praise of critics and peers alike. What's more, he enjoyed friendships with presidents, artists, industrialists, and even European royalty. Being successful, popular and an avid smoker (Twain preferred a pipe) he was was bound to have a few quotable quotes for us and indeed he does. Here are few of our favorites.

 
“If smoking is not allowed in heaven, I shall not go.”
— Mark Twain
 
 
“It has always been my rule never to smoke when asleep, and never to refrain when awake.”
— Mark Twain
 
“Eating and sleeping are the only activities that should be allowed to interrupt a man’s enjoyment of his cigar.”
— Mark Twain
 
 
“I have made it a rule never to smoke more that one cigar at a time.”
— Mark Twain