Marvin Minsky? Herbert A. Simon? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: A top researcher in computer science in the 1960s contended that the problem of building machines with artificial intelligence (AI) would be largely solved within a generation. A statement of this type has been attributed to Marvin Minsky of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Would …
Yearly Archives: 2021
Quote Origin: What’s Not Going To Change in the Next 10 Years?
Jeff Bezos? Wolfgang R. Schmitt? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: Business leaders in technology-based companies are often asked for ten year predictions of change. Apparently, Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, once responded by spinning the inquiry. He said there was a more important question: What’s not going to change in the next 10 years? He …
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Quote Origin: Find the Good. It’s All Around You. Find It, Showcase It, and You’ll Start Believing in It
Jesse Owens? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: It is easy to find negative stories. News reports constantly highlight them. I prefer the following guidance: Find the good. It’s all around you. Showcase it. This saying has been credited to acclaimed athlete Jesse Owens who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. …
Quote Origin: The Best Way To Become a Billionaire Is To Help a Billion People
Peter H. Diamandis? Ankur Jain? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: One path to achieving great wealth is by building a vital new product or performing a widely needed service. Here are three versions of a pertinent adage: This saying has been ascribed to author and entrepreneur Peter H. Diamandis who founded the XPRIZE Foundation. Would …
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Quote Origin: He Is a Great Rascal. Ah! But He Is Our Rascal
Franklin D. Roosevelt? Abraham Lincoln? Thaddeus Stevens? Benjamin Butler? Philip Cook? Bill Higgins? John Franklin Carter? Justin Herman? Wayne Hays? Alistair Cooke? Cordell Hull? Anonymous? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: A participant in the harsh domain of political power often faces difficult decisions. For example, should one promote a member of one’s party even when …
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Quote Origin: One Must Have a Heart of Stone To Read the Death of Little Nell Without Laughing
Oscar Wilde? Ada Leverson? Hesketh Pearson? Leslie Stokes? Sewell Stokes? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: Charles Dickens published “The Old Curiosity Shop” in 1841. Nell Trent (Little Nell) was the virtuous child protagonist of the tale. The book was extremely popular, and most contemporary readers were saddened when they learned of Nell’s demise. Yet, some …
Quote Origin: You Cannot Define a Person On Just One Thing. You Can’t Just Forget All These Wonderful and Good Things That a Person Has Done
Aretha Franklin? Whitney Houston? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: The reputation and legacy of an individual can be seriously damaged by a single misstep. The advent of social media networks has supercharged the transmission of detrimental material. Apparently, U.S. singer Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, once called for more empathy and understanding. She stated …
Dialogue Origin: “Now That He Is Minister of War I Feel Safe” “Why?” “Well, When He Was Minister of Fuel We Had No Fuel”
Winston Churchill? Alexander Ince? Leonard Lyons? Emanuel Shinwell? John Williams Hughes? Drew Pearson? Eleanor Boardman? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Ensuring the smooth operation of the industry sector that supplies energy to a country is a crucial task. Here is an example of the type of mockery aimed at a politician who botched this important …
Quote Origin: If You Can Pick Up After a Crushing Defeat, and Go On To Win Again, You Are Going To Be a Champion Someday
Wilma Rudolph? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: To achieve victory you must be able to handle defeat without collapsing or becoming discouraged. No one goes through life completely undefeated. Olympic gold-medal-winning runner Wilma Rudolph once indicated that winners must be able to pick themselves up after crushing defeat. Would you please help me to find …
Quote Origin: Talent Is a Dreadfully Cheap Commodity, Cheaper Than Table Salt
Stephen King? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: Years ago the famous horror writer Stephen King was discussing how to become a successful artist, and he employed vivid figurative language that I can still recall. He indicated that talent was as common and cheap as table salt. His bracing insight was that success required great effort …
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