Quote Investigator® – Tracing Quotations

Dialogue Origin: “What Has Been the Impact of the French Revolution?” “It’s Too Early To Tell”

Mao Zedong? Zhou Enlai? Eduard Shevardnadze? Andre Malraux? Anonymous Official? Apocryphal?

**Storming of the Tuileries during the French Revolution**

Question for Quote Investigator: A popular anecdote claims that a high-level U.S. politician once met with a Chinese official during the 1970s, and they began to talk about the French Revolution. When the Chinese official was asked about the impact of this momentous historical event he replied: “It’s too soon to say”.

This response has been attributed to two important Chinese leaders: Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai. I am skeptical because I have not found any solid citations. Would you please explore this topic?

Reply from Quote Investigator: This anecdote is difficult to trace because the details of the story vary. This article presents a snapshot of current research.

A fascinating precursor appeared in a lecture delivered in 1939 by New Zealand journalist Guy Hardy Scholefield. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:¹

To understand what is happening in the world to-day we must look back at least as far as the revolt of the North American colonies. A Chinese philosopher protested with genuine surprise that it is still too early to know what was the effect of the French Revolution.

This citation shows that the notably equivocal response was being attributed to an anonymous Chinese philosopher by 1939. QI does not know whether the similarity with the 1970s anecdote was coincidental or not.

The earliest close match for the 1970s anecdote located by QI appeared in a 1978 speech by British politician and historian Alun Gwynne Jones delivered in the House of Lords as recorded in the Hansard:²

. . . a story which Dr. Henry Kissinger tells of an experience which he had in Paris at the time of the negotiations about the Vietnam war. One evening after a long and hard day’s negotiating, he and the other diplomats and politicians were sitting around in the home of their French host.

They were discussing the events of the day when the French ambassador, the host, wishing to lift the level of conversation somewhat, asked whether they could have a short conversation about what had been the effect of the French Revolution on the political development of the world.

He turned first to Henry Kissinger and said: “Secretary of State, could you say a word about the effects of the French Revolution on the political development of the United States?” Henry Kissinger, being an expert in this kind of thing, delivered a beautifully rounded lecture mentioning such names as de Tocqueville and Lafayette and reviewing all the political developments in the United States.

It was an enormous success; indeed, so much so that the French ambassador, much emboldened, turned to the Chinese representative, a very wise and ancient gentleman, sitting next to Henry Kissinger. He said: “Tell me your Excellency, what has been the effect of the French Revolution on the development of your country?” After a brief pause the Chinese gentleman said: “It is too early yet to say.”

I think that that example makes a real point, which is that the Chinese feel themselves to be part of a great historical development.

In 2011 an illuminating citation about this anecdote appeared in the “Financial Times” of London. The article by journalist Richard McGregor stated that the quotation was spoken by the Premiere of China Zhou Enlai. The question about the French Revolution was misinterpreted. Zhou Enlai thought the referent was the recent 1968 student riots in Paris and not the 1789 storming of the Bastille. Hence, Zhou Enlai answered, “Too early to say”.

This claim was based on comments from U.S. diplomat and interpreter Chas Freeman who was present during the exchange:³

. . . Chas Freeman, a retired foreign service officer, sought to correct the long-standing error.

“I distinctly remember the exchange. There was a mis-understanding that was too delicious to invite correction,” said Mr Freeman.

He said Mr Zhou had been confused when asked about the French Revolution and the Paris Commune. “But these were exactly the kinds of terms used by the students to describe what they were up to in 1968 and that is how Zhou understood them.”

The article also presented the viewpoint of sinologist Geremie Barme of the Australian National University:

Dr Barme added that Chinese researchers with access to the foreign ministry archives in Beijing said the records made clear that Mr Zhou was referring to the 1968 riots in Paris. The Chinese archives also record Mr Zhou’s conversation as being with Henry Kissinger.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quip Origin: It’s Not the Fall That Hurts You; It’s the Sudden Stop at the End

Douglas Adams? Spike Milligan? Terry Pratchett? Charlie Bates? Harry Harrison? Anonymous?

Question for Quote Investigator: Prominent humorists have been credited with statements from the following family of jokes about collisions. Here are three examples:

(1) Falling doesn’t hurt you; it’s the sudden stop at the end.
(2) It isn’t the speed that kills people; it’s the sudden stop.
(3) Flying isn’t dangerous. Crashing is dangerous.

English author Douglas Adams, Irish comedian Spike Milligan, and English author Terry Pratchett have each received credit for telling jokes in this family. Would you please explore this topic?

Reply from Quote Investigator: This joke is difficult to trace because it can be phrased in many ways. The earliest match located by QI appeared in 1853 within an anecdote published in “The Ladies’ Repository” magazine of New York. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:¹

After a late supper, and two or three extra glasses, Charlie Bates is apt to be somnambulistic. Night before last, being an occasion of this kind, he backed himself out of his chamber window and fell to the pavement, a distance of ten or twelve feet. A passer-by came up to condole with him, remarking, “You seem to have had a bad fall.” “My dear sir,” answered Charlie, “the fall was a trifle not worth mentioning; but the sudden stop was decidedly unpleasant.”

Thus, this family of jokes began many years before Douglas Adams, Spike Milligan, and Terry Pratchett were born.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quip Origin: “What Is the Difference Between a Taxidermist and a Tax Collector?” “The Taxidermist Takes Only Your Skin”

Mark Twain? Merle Johnson? Albert Bigelow Paine?

Question for Quote Investigator: A famous humorist apparently said something like the following about taxation. Here are two versions:

(1) “What is the difference between a taxidermist and a tax collector?” “The taxidermist takes only your skin.”

(2) The difference between a tax collector and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist only takes your hide.

This quip has been attributed to Mark Twain. Would you please help me to determine the correct phrasing?

Reply from Quote Investigator: Mark Twain died in 1910, and the earliest published evidence located by QI appeared in a slim volume of Twain’s one-liners titled “More Maxims of Mark” compiled by Merle Johnson and privately printed in November 1927. The following three items appeared on page fourteen. The original text was all uppercase. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:¹

We all live in the protection of certain cowardices which we call our principles.

We can’t reach old age by another man’s road. My habits protect my life but they would assassinate you.

What is the difference between a taxidermist and a tax collector? The taxidermist takes only your skin.

The quip also appeared in 1935 within “Mark Twain’s Notebook” which was published by Albert Bigelow Paine who was Twain’s literary executor. This book included observations, ideas, and diary-like material from Twain’s collection of notebooks. The following four items appeared in a section dated 1902:²

What is the difference between a taxidermist and a tax collector? The taxidermist takes only your skin.

Only he who has seen better days and lives to see better days again knows their full value.

Circumstances make man, not man circumstances.

You must not pay a person a compliment and then straightway follow it with a criticism.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quote Origin: The Avoidance of Taxes Is the Only Intellectual Pursuit That Still Carries Any Reward

John Maynard Keynes? Dennis Gabor? Alan L. Mackay? Apocryphal? Anonymous?

**Illustration of a calculator with coins from Pixabay**

Question for Quote Investigator: A cynical taxpayer crafted the following remark:

The avoidance of taxes is the only intellectual pursuit that still carries any reward.

This statement has been credited to the famous economist John Maynard Keynes, but I am skeptical because I have never seen a solid citation. Would you please explore this topic?

Reply from Quote Investigator: The earliest match located by QI appeared in the 1970 book “Innovations: Scientific, Technological, and Social” by Hungarian-British physicist Dennis Gabor. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:¹

Even in Britain, where direct taxation has long reached the stage at which, as J. M. Keynes said ‘the avoidance of taxes is the only intellectual pursuit that still carries any award’ and where private households save now only 6 per cent of their income, direct taxation brings in only 40 per cent of the public revenue, which is 38 per cent of the G.N.P.

This version of the quotation used the word “award” instead of “reward”. The statement appeared more than two decades after the death of John Maynard Keynes in 1946. Also, Gabor did not present a citation for the remark. Thus, this evidence is weak.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quote Origin: The One Thing That Hurts More Than Having To Pay Income Tax Is Not Having To Pay Income Tax

Thomas Robert Dewar? Anonymous?

**Picture of a typewriter with a tax form from Unsplash**

Question for Quote Investigator: A wit once said that he disliked paying income taxes, but the alternative of not paying income taxes was even worse. No payment implied no income, and that would be a terrible situation.

This quip has been attributed to Scottish whisky distiller Thomas Robert Dewar. Would you please help me to determine if this ascription is accurate by finding a citation?

Reply from Quote Investigator: In October 1927 Thomas Robert Dewar delivered a speech at the Poultry Club in London. The article about the event in the “Daily Mirror” newspaper of London used the subtitle “Lord Dewar’s Epigrams”. Here is a sampling of five remarks from Dewar’s address. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:¹

Sometimes a pessimist is the man who backed an optimist.

The optimist is certain of going to Heaven; the pessimist is certain he won’t like it even if he gets there.

Experience is what you get while you are looking for something else.

The one thing that hurts more than having to pay income tax is not having to pay income tax.

When the time comes for the meek to inherit the earth, taxes will be so high that they won’t want it.

Articles about Dewar’s speech appeared on the same day in several newspapers including the “Daily Record”² of Glasgow, Scotland and the “Newcastle Daily Journal”³ of Newcastle, England. These articles included the quip about taxes. Thus, there is solid evidence that Dewar spoke this joke in October 1927, but there is also evidence that the joke was already in circulation.

For example, in January 1927 “Smith’s Weekly” of Sydney, Australia printed a column called “The Melting Pot” which contained the following item without attribution. The phrasing was slightly different because it used the word “paying”:⁴

If there’s one thing that hurts more than paying income tax—it’s not having to pay income tax.

Another example of a saying that was in circulation before Dewar’s October 1927 speech is the following which appeared in the “Toledo Weekly Blade” of Toledo, Ohio in May 1923:⁵

Experience is what you get while you are looking for something else.

Hence, QI believes Dewar originated some epigrams, but he also repeated some existing epigrams.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quote Origin: The True New Yorker’s Secret Belief That People Living Anywhere Else Had To Be, In Some Sense, Kidding

John Updike? Henry Bech? Apocryphal?

**Picture of the New York City skyline from Unsplash**

Question for Quote Investigator: People who love living in New York City often believe it is the epicenter of the world. Here are two versions of a statement displaying this attitude:

(1) The true New Yorker secretly believes that people living anywhere else have to be, in some sense, kidding.

(2) He had the true New Yorker’s secret belief that people living anywhere else had to be, in some sense, kidding.

This saying has been attributed to the prominent U.S. literary figure John Updike. Would you please help me to find a citation and to determine the correct phrasing?

Reply from Quote Investigator: In 1982 John Updike published the novel “Bech Is Back”. The main character was a writer named Henry Bech who was able to overcome writer’s block. In the following passage Updike presented the inner-thoughts of Bech. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:¹

The folks downtown looked merry to Bech, and the whole burg on a play scale; he had the true New Yorker’s secret belief that people living anywhere else had to be, in some sense, kidding.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quote Origin: I’d Much Rather Eat Pasta and Drink Wine Than Be a Size Zero

Sophia Loren? Sophia Bush? Sofia Scicolone? Apocryphal?

**Picture of pasta and wine from Unsplash**

Question for Quote Investigator: A person in the public eye was asked about dieting to remain svelte, and the fun-loving reply highlighted the importance of taking pleasure in life:

I’d much rather eat pasta and drink wine than be a size zero.

This statement has been attributed to two popular performers: Sophia Loren and Sophia Bush. Would you please explore this topic and determine whether either of these women delivered this refreshing remark?

Reply from Quote Investigator: In 2007 “People” magazine published a piece titled “3 Questions For Sophia Bush”. The following was the third question and reply. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:¹

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH PRESSURE TO BE THIN?

Life is too short and I’m Italian. I’d much rather eat pasta and drink wine than be a size 0.

Size zero is a small clothing size for women in the U.S. QI believes Sophia Bush is the most likely creator of this quotation. She appeared in the television series “One Tree Hill” (2003-2012) and “Chicago P.D.” (2014-2017). She also appeared in the movies “The Hitcher” (2007), “Chalet Girl” (2011), and “Marshall” (2017).

QI has found no substantive support for the attribution to Sophia Loren (stage name of Sofia Scicolone). This mistake fits a known error mechanism in which an attribution jumps from one person to another person with a similar name. This error is more likely to occur when the latter person is more famous like Loren who starred in many movies including: “Houseboat” (1958), “Two Women” (1961), “El Cid” (1961), “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” (1963), “Arabesque” 1966, and “Pret-a-Porter” (1994).

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quote Origin: Revenge Is a Dish Best Eaten Cold

Eugène Sue? Klemens von Metternich? Charles de Talleyrand? Otto von Bismarck? Susannah Frances Reynolds? Roman Proverb? Klingon Proverb? Anonymous?

**Picture of pumpkin soup served chilled from Pixabay**

Question for Quote Investigator: Individuals who seek revenge often find that careful planning and the elapse of time are required to obtain justice. The following proverb is popular with those who pursue vengeance. Here are four versions:

(1) Revenge is a dish best eaten cold
(2) Revenge is a dish best served cold
(3) Vengeance is best eaten cold
(4) Vengeance should be eaten cold

Would you please explore the provenance of this expression?

Reply from Quote Investigator: The earliest match known to QI appeared in the 1841 French novel “Mathilde: Mémoires D’une Jeune Femme” (“Matilda: Memoirs of a Young Woman”) by Eugène Sue. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:¹

Si j’avais eu le courage de me battre avec Lancry, il me semble que je l’aurais tué, tant je le haïssais; mais je vous l’ai dit . . . je suis nerveux, j’ai attendu . . . Et puis la vengeance se mange très-bien froide, comme on dit vulgairement . . .

Here is one possible translation into English:

If I had had the courage to fight Lancry, it seems to me that I would have killed him, so much did I hate him; but I told you . . . I am nervous, I waited . . . And revenge is best eaten cold, as they say vulgarly . . .

The speaking character did not take credit for the saying; instead, he indicated that it was already in circulation. Thus, Eugène Sue helped to popularize the expression, but the creator remains anonymous.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quote Origin: Nine-Tenths of Painting Will Be Extinguished by the Competition of Photographs

George Bernard Shaw? Henrietta Clopath? Sidney Trefusis? Charles Baudelaire? Apocryphal? Anonymous?

**Silhouette of a person holding a camera from Unsplash**

Question for Quote Investigator: Generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems are now capable of rapidly constructing images, videos, 3d-objects, and text. The current output displays flaws, but the quality and variety continues to improve.

Artists are experiencing a volatile mixture of wonder, anticipation, uncertainty, fear, resentment, and disgust. An analogous technological upheaval occurred as photography matured. Here are two statements of prediction about the disruption that occurred during the 19^th and early 20^th century:

(1) Nine-tenths of painting will be extinguished by the competition of photographs.

(2) Color photography will eventually supersede the art of painting.

The first statement has been linked to the playwright George Bernard Shaw, and the second statement has been linked to the painter Henrietta Clopath. However, I have not seen any solid citations. Would you please explore this topic?

Reply from Quote Investigator: In 1887 George Bernard Shaw published “An Unsocial Socialist” which featured an eccentric protagonist named Sidney Trefusis who was enamored with photography. Trefusis was asked to predict the future of the arts. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:¹

“Photography perfected in its recently discovered power of reproducing colour as well as form! Historical pictures replaced by photographs of tableaux vivants formed and arranged by trained actors and artists, and used chiefly for the instruction of children. Nine-tenths of painting as we understand it at present extinguished by the competition of these photographs; and the remaining tenth only holding its own against them by dint of extraordinary excellence!”

Shaw’s character Trefusis condemned painters and etchers who derided photography:²

“The artists are sticking to the old barbarous, difficult, and imperfect processes of etching and portrait painting merely to keep up the value of their monopoly of the required skill. They have left the new, more complexly organized, and more perfect, yet simple and beautiful method of photography in the hands of tradesmen, sneering at it publicly, and resorting to its aid surreptitiously.”

Of course, Shaw’s personal views may have differed from those of the protagonist in his novel. Today, the number of digital color photographs vastly exceeds the number of paintings and etchings although most photographs are not snapped to display high aesthetic values.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quote Origin: Edison Has Invented Too Many Things

New York Times? Anonymous? Apocryphal?

**Portrait of Thomas Edison and his early phonograph**

Question for Quote Investigator: After Thomas Edison invented the phonograph many praised the device. However, a major newspaper apparently reacted with the following odd remark:

Mr. Edison has invented too many things.

This statement has been attributed to “The New York Times”. Is this quotation accurate? Did it ever appear in the pages of the Gray Lady?

Reply from Quote Investigator: In March 1878 “The New York Times” published a comically exaggerated opinion piece that began with the following preposterous remarks. Boldface added to excepts by QI:¹

Something ought to be done to Mr. Edison, and there is a growing conviction that it had better be done with a hemp rope. Mr. Edison has invented too many things, and almost without exception they are things of the most deleterious character.

He has been addicted to electricity for many years, and it is not very long ago that he became notorious for having discovered a new force, though he has since kept it carefully concealed, either upon his person or elsewhere. Recently he invented the phonograph, a machine that catches the lightest whisper of conversation and stores it up, so that at any future time it can be brought out, to the confusion of the original speaker.

This machine will eventually destroy all confidence between man and man, and render more dangerous than ever woman’s want of confidence in woman.

The author of the piece was not listed. The article mentioned the dangers of voicing a harsh opinion that might be recorded:

Who will be willing, even in the bosom of his family, to express any but most innocuous and colorless views ? and what woman when calling on a female friend , and waiting for the latter to make her appearance in the drawing-room, will dare to express her opinion of the wretched taste displayed in the furniture, or the hideous appearance of the family photographs?

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.