Tracing Quotations
Benjamin Disraeli? Prince Jérôme Napoléon? Napoleon III? French Academician? Mr. Snigger? Suffragette? Max O’Rell? Paul Blouët? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: The statesman Benjamin Disraeli was famous for his witticisms and barbs. Reportedly he was once asked about the difference in meaning between the words “misfortune” and “calamity”, and he constructed a jest aimed at his …
Continue reading “What Is the Difference Between a Misfortune and a Calamity?”
Franz Kafka? Anne Rice? Russell Brand? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: The comedian and controversial wild man Russell Brand released the bestselling autobiography “My Booky Wook” in 2007 and the sequel “Booky Wook 2: This Time It’s Personal” in 2010. The sequel had a fascinating epigraph on the first page:[1] 2010, Booky Wook 2: This Time …
Zora Neale Hurston? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: A quotation about success has been attributed to the prominent American author and pioneering folklorist Zora Neale Hurston. Here are two versions: Those who don’t got it, can’t show it. Those who got it, can’t hide it Those that don’t got it, can’t show it. Those that got …
Continue reading “If You Haven’t Got It, You Can’t Show It. If You Have Got It, You Can’t Hide It”
Charlie Chaplin? Albert Einstein? János Plesch? Hans Albert Einstein? Eduard Einstein? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: The entertainer Charlie Chaplin and the scientist Albert Einstein were two of the most famous individuals of the last century. I have heard the following anecdote about a meeting between them in the 1930s. While traveling together they were recognized …
Al Capone? Irwin Corey? Ted Bessell? Robert De Niro? Willie Sutton? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: The notorious gangster Al Capone reportedly had an odd sense of humor and joked about using coercion. Here are three versions of a saying that is attributed to him: You get a lot more from a kind word and a …
Continue reading “You Can Get Much Further with a Kind Word and a Gun than with a Kind Word Alone”
George Bernard Shaw? Abba Eban? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: There is a popular phrase used to criticize individuals and groups. Here are three examples: Some politicians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. He never missed an occasion of losing an opportunity. This group loses no chance to miss an opportunity. Can you determine …
Continue reading “Some People Never Miss an Opportunity to Miss an Opportunity”