If you could summon five persons from any time period for a dinner party at your house, whom would you invite?

Question

And since you're the host or hostess, you can steer the conversation in any direction you like. What would you talk about? Oh, and what would you serve? :-)

Assume that language would not be a problem.

My party:

Aristotle
Jesus of Nazareth
Robert Green Ingersoll
Albert Einstein
Jimmy Stewart

Thank you all for your wonderful responses. Some of your lists put mine entirely to shame. It was fun, wasn't it?

I can't pick a best answer, so I'm going to let all of you vote for your favorite.

Answer 1

Akiba
Moses
Issac Luria
King David
Maimonides

Can I get a Sixth
Rashi

Answer 2

Wow! A time travel party with the re animated, and I'm driving! Okay then, I guess there's no speed limit so we'll take the Acura. Someone is going to have to sit in someone else's lap but we'll figure that out as we go. First we should pick up Madame Curie, I bet She'd have plenty to say! Probably likes wine so a nice robust red for Her. Next stop we're going to grab the always ebullient Mark Twain, I know; but if that's what He wants to be known by who the heck am I to tell Him different. I thinks something a little stronger for Him, let's fix Him up with some Jack Daniels ( Yuck! But whatever! ). Moving right along I'd scoop up Henry the eighth; King of England and disputed Duchies in Europe. That fat Cat liked everything and His favorite topic was religion so He's in for sure. Man not much room left after King H is in, better get Him in the front. Oh and as long as were in Britain let's get Boadicea Queen of the Celtic tribe that ravaged the Romans! She liked to party and was not known for holding back! Perhaps a nice cauldron of mead for Her, God knows She'll probably finish it. Last, but by far not least; we'll pick up Mary Magdalene, I just have to know if Her and the Big J; well you know what I want to ask; I'm sure! Dr. Pepper for Her, what the heck I'll have one too. Food should be those nice little canopies, finger sandwiches and such. Perhaps a few sweets as well. No sharp objects on the table in case of disagreement amongst the guests. Topic? Why dancing of course! Nothing gets the gang dancing quicker than talking about it, and we could all do our moves! It would be a blast, King Henry could do the shuffle with Marie, I'd show Queen Boadicea how to do the bump; Mr. Twain could B move with Mary; oh my what a time we'd have! First tune "Give it up" by Marvin Gaye! Nice question, fun too!

Answer 3

I would be serving an assortment of aged wines and fine cheeses. Also those cute mini quiches. I would invite Jane Austen, the witty Georgian novelist who wrote such classics as Pride and Prejudice. As an anthropology student, I think I had better invite Margaret Mead so we could talk about the discipline. I would bring Carl Sagan to talk about the direction earth is headed in and the possibility of alien life. Next, I'd invite Jesus just to see what he thinks about the way he's been portrayed all these two thousand years. Maybe they've got him all wrong? I'll make sure to ask about that Magdalene character ... And finally Thomas Jefferson to get his opinion on the state of politics in the country. Maybe he can dispel some of the myths about the founding fathers too.

Answer 4

1. Thomas Paine
2. George III of England
3. John Locke
4. Urban II
5. Jean-Paul Sartre

I wouldn't try to steer the conversation. We've got mad king George for an icebreaker, and from there I'd just sit back and watch the fireworks.

I'd probably serve a wild mushroom tart for the first course, butternut squash soup for the second, pan-fried potato wrapped halibut with chardonnay sauce for the entree, and creme brulee for dessert. My partner's a chef. I'll take any excuse for her to get all fancy in the kitchen.

Answer 5

GOD
Tupac Shakur
Malcolm X
Dr. Martin Luther King
Biggie Smalls AKA Christopher Wallace

Answer 6

Interesting question.

Leonardo Da Vinci - One of the most forward thinking geniuses n history

Nikola Tesla - A genius generally overlooked by history because he didn't want to "play ball" with the mainstream political influences of his time.

Lao-Tse - The founder of Taoism who spent his life searching for a way that would avoid the constant feudal warfare and other conflicts that disrupted society during his lifetime.

Jesus of Nazareth - The messiah. The literal "king of the Jews" living in a time of Roman domination.

Samuel L. Clemens (aka. Mark Twain) - An extremely quick witted social commentator who lived during an era when technological expansion was quickly changing the world around him.

We would generally talk about the impact of technological development on or social and political attitudes and their relation to our system of government.

I would serve a 5 course meal with each course chosen to give a nod to the time period and region from whence one of each of my guests hails.

Answer 7

Moses and Hitler, just because those two would be the LIFE OF THE PARTY together!
Dorothy Parker, member of the famed 20's Algonquin Table, for her razor sharp wit and conversational skills. I'd have to lock my medicine cabinet and make sure she wouldn't try to off herself with my meds, though.
Queen Elizabeth I, because she was thoroughly amazing
And last but certainly not least, the most esteemed Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain. I think he and I would have lots to talk about.

For dinner, I'd have a kosher selection available for Moses and some sauerkraut and bratwurst for Hitler--everyone else, I'm sure they're fine with whatever I serve as long as I keep the liquor flowing.

Answer 8

Oscar Wilde
Alfred Hitchcock
Socrates
Elizabeth I
The Dali Lama

Answer 9

Abraham Lincoln
Jesus the Nazarene
Nikola Tesla
George Patton
My Dad

Answer 10

Claudio Sanchez
Travis Stever
Joshua Eppard
Mic Todd
and...
Ozzy Osbourne.

Answer 11

Jesus
Crazy Horse
Mother Theresa
Enoch
Abraham Lincoln

Who cares what we talked about, it would be interesting. Would definately not serve pork or shellfish, so would probably go with a lot of fresh fruit, veggies, mashed potatioes, biscuits, gravy & chicken. Southern food is the ticket, everyone would be too full to actually get into any fights.