Tracing Quotations
Creator: Robert Downey Jr., Hollywood star known for playing comic book hero Iron Man and famous sleuth Sherlock Holmes Context: While living in Los Angles the photographer Karen Hardy Bystedt met with young performers who were launching their movie careers: Amazingly, more than half the actors and actresses I interviewed and photographed between 1987 and …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: Mediocrity is My Biggest Fear”
Isaac Newton? Howard W. Newton? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: The brilliant physicist and mathematician Isaac Newton supposedly coined the following expression: Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy. A variant of this statement uses “knack” instead of “art”. Interestingly, Isaac Newton made some powerful enemies during his lifetime. Do …
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Toni Morrison? Benjamin Disraeli? Mickey Spillane? C. S. Lewis? J. R. R. Tolkien? Janet Fitch? Ann Patchett? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: The prominent American editor, writer, and educator Toni Morrison who authored the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “Beloved” has been credited with an exhilarating remark about the creative process: If there’s a book you really …
Simon Newcomb? John Casey? George McC. Robson? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: The number π is a fundamental mathematical constant which equals the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. Trillions of digits of the decimal expansion of π have been calculated using electronic computers and innovative algorithms. Yet, this precision is not needed …
Olivia Wyndham? Marjorie G. Hellier? Kevin J. Cook? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: I have been attempting to trace an uplifting proverb about adventure and discovery: Life is a treasure hunt. The lesson of this phrase is illustrated by the delight experienced when uncovering early instances of this adage. Would you please help? Reply from …
Ilka Chase vs. Humphrey Bogart? Ilka Chase vs. Anonymous Actress? Sylvia Strum Bremer vs. Cynic? Liz Carpenter vs. Arthur Schlesinger Jr.? Eric Morecambe vs. Ernie Wise? Question for Quote Investigator: For many years ghostwriters have been composing books for well-known celebrities. The following prickly repartee shows that authorship is a sensitive topic: “I enjoyed your …
Creator: Bernard Baruch, U.S. financier, philanthropist, and presidential adviser Context: In 1948 Bernard M. Baruch spoke at a youth forum sponsored by “The New York Daily Mirror” newspaper and offered several rules for success to his listeners including the following. Boldface added to excerpt: Be quick to praise. People like to praise those who praise …
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Benjamin Franklin? H. K. Williams? James H. Hope? E. B. Gregory? Dalton E. Brady? Robert H. Schuller? John Wooden? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Proper planning is fundamental to success. Benjamin Franklin has been credited with an admonitory aphorism. Here are three versions using “plan” and “prepare”: The memorability of this statement is enhanced by …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: If You Fail To Prepare You Are Preparing To Fail”
Creator: Margaret Atwood, prominent Canadian novelist and essayist Context: Atwood’s 2005 novella “The Penelopiad” re-envisioned the myth of Odysseus by re-centering the tale on Penelope who was the wife of the ancient hero. Penelope’s father was King Icarius of Sparta, and her mother was a Naiad, i.e., a water nymph. Commenting on her partially divine …
Nicholas Murray Butler? Tommy Lasorda? John Newbern? Laurence J. Peter? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: There is a humorous three-fold categorization of people. The first group contains those who make things happen. Are you familiar with this saying? Would you please examine its provenance? Reply from Quote Investigator: In March 1931 Nicholas Murray Butler who …