Tracing Quotations
Ralph Waldo Emerson? Leo Rosten? Thomas Carlyle? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: On Facebook and the web the following quotation has been circulating widely: The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: The Purpose of Life Is Not To Be Happy But To Matter”
Grace Murray Hopper? Apocryphal? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Grace Murray Hopper was a pioneering computer scientist whose work was central to the development of COBOL, one of the foundational high-level programming languages. She worked in a very fast moving technological domain where simply attempting to repeat previously successful strategies was sometimes disastrous. I am …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: The Most Dangerous Phrase Is: “We’ve Always Done It That Way””
Milton Berle? Bob Hope? Eugene P. Bertin? Connie Nelson? Robert Zwickey? Dale Turner? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: The comedian Milton Berle was a major star for decades on radio and then on television. The following insightful adage has been attributed to him: Laughter is an instant vacation. I have also seen these words credited …
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Albert Einstein? Helen Dukas? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: Albert Einstein was asked to explain the abstruse theory of relativity so many times that he reportedly created a comical illustration involving a hot stove and a pretty girl. Would you please explore the provenance of this tale? Reply from Quote Investigator: The earliest evidence located …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: Relativity: A Hot Stove and A Pretty Girl”
Dorothy Parker? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: The notable wit Dorothy Parker constructed several epitaphs for herself. I am interested in the following: Here Lies the Body of Dorothy Parker. Thank God! When did she craft this fateful expression? Reply from Quote Investigator: QI has already examined a collection of epitaphs that have been ascribed …
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Helen Keller? Van Wyck Brooks? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: An inspirational adage encouraging boldness and audacity has been attributed to Helen Keller who overcame great adversity: Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. Is this accurate? Reply from Quote Investigator: Helen Keller did write a closely matching statement; however, the appended …
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Eleanor Roosevelt? Charles Stewart? Henry Thomas Buckle? James H. Halsey? Hyman G. Rickover? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: The following adage is largely used to deride people who are preoccupied with gossip: Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people. The words are attributed to social activist and former First Lady …
Theodor Seuss Geisel? Anita Merina? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: There is an enthusiastic quotation about reading that has been attributed to the famous children’s author Dr. Seuss: You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book & read to a child. I haven’t been able to track down the precise …
John Maynard Keynes? Josiah Stamp? Ernest Brown? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: The most outrageous quotation about education that I have ever heard has been attributed to the famous economist John Maynard Keynes. Here are three versions: 1) Education is the inculcation of the incomprehensible into the ignorant by the incompetent. 2) Education: the inculcation …
Peter De Vries? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: There is an amusing quip that is perfect for National Novel Writing Month. Here are two versions: 1) I love being a writer. What I can’t stand is the paperwork. 2) Writing: I like everything about it but the paperwork. This comment has been attributed to the …
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