In the heat of many an argument, be it women’s rights, Middle Eastern politics, sanctions on South Africa, or any other of her pet topics, she would often say with complete sincerity:
“Well if you had read your Gibbon you would know….”
Since almost no one has read all six volumes of Edward Gibbon’s “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, let alone even one, that might just have been the end of the argument.
No doubt Di had read her Gibbon.
She would also pull out something like “well look at what’s happening in Bolivia!” completely out of context.
Well I don’t know what’s happening in Bolivia! Do you?!
OR: “as [name of famous person that, unaccountably, she has a personal connection to] said to me….”
As in “When I was going out with Menachem Begin….”