Comments for Quote Investigator

Comment on Writing Is Easy; You Just Open a Vein and Bleed by Nate Davis

Nate Davis — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:42:33 +0000

Thanks for the research! I’ve heard this one a lot in writing circles, and it’s such a visceral and unforgettable metaphor, that it’s good to know the real source, especially given the oft-shady provenance of much information online.

Comment on Compound Interest Is Man’s Greatest Invention by James

James — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:43:24 +0000

It’s an interesting coincidence, though, that compound interest and nuclear chain reactions are both examples of the same type of function in calculus, exponential growth. Exponential growth means that the rate of growth in any particular moment is proportional to the quantity in that moment.
So in the case of nuclear decay, any positive rate of growth, no matter how slow at first, leads to a nuclear explosion. If compound interest is positive, the account holder must eventually get rich (assuming he/she lives long enough, and assuming the interest rate of growth exceeds the inflation rate of shrinkage, inflation being an example of a negative exponential growth function).
Whether Einstein said anything to that effect, I have no idea, but the similarity between the two is not often mentioned, so I wonder if any search for quotes with the keyword “exponential” rather than “compound” might turn up anything.

Comment on An Eye for an Eye Will Make the Whole World Blind by Josh Caviness

Josh Caviness — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:18:04 +0000

It is foolish to stretch Gandhi’s philosophy to say that he, or anyone adhering to similar beliefs, believes that criminals should go unpunished. It is not any man’s right to kill another, even when that person has committed a great atrocity. Having a criminal’s freedom restrained is an entirely different matter, as long as the law under which he is convicted is just. As Gandhi says, unjust laws are a species of violence, and it is our duty to protest them.

Comment on None of This Nonsense about Women and Children First by Nelson Bridwell

Nelson Bridwell — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:44:24 +0000

Mr O’Toole:

Thank you for your invaluable website. I will be making frequent reference to it in the future!

Nelson

Comment on None of This Nonsense about Women and Children First by Garson O'Toole

Garson O'Toole — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:49:52 +0000

Nelson Bridwell: Many thanks for visiting the Quote Investigator website and leaving a comment with valuable information. I have updated the article to reflect the statement from Richard M. Langworth. Also, thanks for pursuing the truth and linking to the QI website.

Comment on None of This Nonsense about Women and Children First by Nelson Bridwell

Nelson Bridwell — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:42:34 +0000

From a Churchill historian:

Churchill’s words to his wife about the Titanic serve equally to show how out of character would be his supposed remarks now circulating the Internet:

“The strict observance of the great traditions of the sea towards women and children reflects nothing but honour upon our civilization…. I cannot help feeling proud of our race and its traditions as proved by this event. Boat loads of women and children tossing on the sea – safe and sound – and the rest Silence. Honour to their memory.”

http://richardlangworth.com/cruiseship#comment-659

Comment on None of This Nonsense about Women and Children First by Sarah Morgan

Sarah Morgan — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:19:05 +0000

Thanks for the in-depth background

Comment on Everything Should Be Made as Simple as Possible, But Not Simpler by Theano

Theano — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:14:54 +0000

Everything should be made as simple as it is possible to make it without losing its essential functionality. For example the fraction 20/60 can be simplified to 2/6, or further simplified to 1/3 without losing its meaning, and this should be done… but it cannot be further “simplified” to 13.

Comment on Some Spirit is Manifest in the Laws of the Universe, One that is Vastly Superior to that of Man by Dave Wyman

Dave Wyman — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:27:51 +0000

I, too, would like to know the truth about this.

A couple of years ago, Meg Whitman, candidate for governor of California, used a bogus Einstein quote, about the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

I’m suspicious of any quote attributed to Einstein, especially on the topic of religion. Reality can be a slippery thing. . This is a good example of trying to decide how we know what we think we know.

Comment on Prayer Credited to St. Francis of Assisi by Andrea

Andrea — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:03:56 +0000

furthermore, st. Francis’d never used the concepts and words “I” or “me” in any of his prayers…