Creator: Friedrich Nietzsche Context: In 1878 Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche published “Menschliches, Allzumenschliches: Ein Buch für Freie Geister” (“Human, All Too Human: A Book for Free Spirits”). He employed an aphoristic style that explicated topics with short numbered passages and sayings. Item number 536 consisted of the following:[1]1878, Menschliches, Allzumenschliches: Ein Buch für Freie Geister (Human, …
Yearly Archives: 2018
I Shall Live Bad If I Do Not Write and I Shall Write Bad If I Do Not Live
Françoise Sagan? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: The French playwright and novelist Françoise Sagan whose best known novel was “Bonjour Tristesse” led a passionate and eventful life. The following remark emphasizing the duality of a literary career has been ascribed to her: I shall live badly if I do not write, and I shall write badly …
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When Audiences Come To See Authors Lecture, It Is Largely in the Hope That We’ll Be Funnier To Look at Than To Read
Sinclair Lewis? Max Herzberg? Bennett Cerf? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: The American writer, social activist, and noble laureate Sinclair Lewis wondered why big audiences came to hear lectures given by authors. He humorously suggested that attendees might be hoping to see funny looking authors. Is Lewis’s self-deprecating observation genuine? Quote Investigator: In 1938 Sinclair Lewis …
I Always Have a Quotation for Everything—It Saves Original Thinking
Creator: Dorothy L. Sayers, prominent English mystery writer, playwright, and poet Context: Sayers published the crime novel “Have His Carcase” in 1932. The quotation was spoken by Lord Peter Wimsey while he was conversing with Harriet Vane. Emphasis added to excerpts:[1] 1975 (Copyright 1932), Have His Carcase by Dorothy L. Sayers, Series: A Lord Peter …
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Civilization Will Not Attain To Its Perfection, Until the Last Stone from the Last Church Falls on the Last Priest
Émile Zola? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: The prominent French novelist and journalist Émile Zola has been credited with an inflammatory anti-clerical statement. Here are three versions in English: Civilization will thrive only when the last stone, from the last church has fallen on the last priest. Civilization will not attain perfection, until the last stone …
A Dollar Saved Is a Quarter Earned
Creator: John Ciardi, U.S. poet, translator, and critic Context: For many years Ciardi was an editor and columnist at “The Saturday Review”. For the May 26, 1962 issue he composed a set of humorously altered versions of well-known adages. Here are three examples:[1] 1962 May 26, The Saturday Review, Manner of Speaking by John Ciardi, …
Universities Are Full of Knowledge; the Freshmen Bring a Little In and the Seniors Take None Away
Abbott Lawrence Lowell? Jonathan Swift? James Pycroft? University of Michigan Students? George Edgar Vincent? Arthur MacMurray? J. Brooks Atkinson? Charles William Eliot? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: The people, laboratories, and libraries of a university embody a vast storehouse of knowledge. How did this knowledge accumulate? A humorous response to this question has often been attributed …
There Is Nothing Wrong With Sobriety In Moderation
Creator: John Ciardi, U.S. poet, translator, and critic Context: For many years Ciardi was an editor and columnist at “The Saturday Review”. He crafted several adages for the piece he published on September 24, 1966. Here is a sampling with emphasis added:[1] 1966 September 24, The Saturday Review, Manner of Speaking by John Ciardi, Start …
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Master Books, But Do Not Let Them Master You. Read To Live, Not Live To Read
Creator: Edward Bulwer-Lytton, popular and prolific English writer Context: Bulwer-Lytton wrote on this theme in 1848 within his novel “The Caxtons” which was serialized in “Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine”. A character in the story employed antimetabole cleverly when imparting guidance. Emphasis added to excerpt:[1]1848 May, Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 63, Number 391, The Caxtons, Part II, …
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It’s Easier To Ask Forgiveness Than To Get Permission
Grace Hopper? Cardinal Barberini? Earl of Peterborough? David Hernandez? Helen Pajama? St. Benedict? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: People who are eager to initiate a task often cite the following guidance. Here are two versions: It’s easier to ask forgiveness than to get permission. It’s easier to apologize than to get permission. This notion has been …
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