Who: Ebenezer Scrooge (played by like a million dudes)
What: Suggesting that poor people would be better off straight-up dead
When: December 1843
Where: Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol"
Why it's a great moment: Near the beginning of "A Christmas Carol," when Scrooge is at his most awesome, a pair of fat guys come to his office asking for some charitable contributions. Scrooge flicks his tongue out of his mouth and slaps them across the face many times, but especially in this portion of the exchange:
"Nothing!" Scrooge replied.
"You wish to be anonymous?"
"I wish to be left alone," said Scrooge. "Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned -- they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there."
"Many can't go there; and many would rather die."
"If they would rather die," said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. Besides -- excuse me -- I don't know that."
And for that, we salute him.
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