Rudyard Kipling? Mrs. Mallowe? Mrs. Hauksbee? Apocryphal?
Dear Quote Investigator: The following quotation embodies an irrepressible optimism:
I always prefer to believe the best of everybody. It saves so much trouble.
The famous author Rudyard Kipling has received credit for this remark, but I haven’t been able to find a citation. Are these really his words? Would you please explore this topic?
Quote Investigator: In 1888 Rudyard Kipling published the collection “Under the Deodars” which included the story “A Second-Rate Woman”. Two characters named Mrs. Mallowe, and Mrs. Hauksbee exchanged comments about their beliefs. Boldface added to excepts by QI:[ref] 1890 (1888 Previous Edition), Under the Deodars by Rudyard Kipling, Story: A Second-Rate Woman, Start Page 65, Quote Page 76, United States Book Company, New York. (Google Books Full View) link [/ref]
“I am prepared to credit any evil of The Dancing Master, because I hate him so. And The Dowd is so disgustingly badly dressed———.”
“That she, too, is capable of every iniquity? I always prefer to believe the best of everybody. It saves so much trouble.”
“Very good. I prefer to believe the worst. It saves useless expenditure of sympathy.”
Thus, Kipling wrote the remark, but it was spoken by a fictional character. Also, another character immediately presented the opposite viewpoint.
Below are selected citations in chronological order.
In 1899 a writer in the journal “Current Comment” of Topeka, Kansas found Kipling’s dialog noteworthy and reprinted it:[ref] 1899 September 22, Current Comment, “A La Vaudeville”, Quote Page 6, Column 2, Topeka, Kansas. (Newspapers_com) [/ref]
Here are some bright bits from Kipling’s prose: “I always prefer to believe the best of everybody, it saves so much trouble.”
“Very good, I prefer to believe the worst, it saves useless expenditure of sympathy.”
In 1955 “Speaker’s Handbook of Epigrams and Witticisms” compiled by Herbert V. Prochnow included the following entry:[ref] 1955, Speaker’s Handbook of Epigrams and Witticisms, Compiled by Herbert V. Prochnow, Topic: Gossip, Quote Page 124, Harper & Brothers, New York . (Verified with scans) [/ref]
I always prefer to believe the best of everybody; it saves so much trouble. Rudyard Kipling
In 1974 “Instant Quotation Dictionary” compiled by Donald O. Bolander contained this entry:[ref] 1974, Instant Quotation Dictionary, Compiled by Donald O. Bolander, Dolores D. Varner, Gary B. Wright, and Stephanie H. Greene, Topic: Faith, Quote Page 111, Career Institute, Mundelein, Illinois. (Verified with scans) [/ref]
I always prefer to believe the best of everybody—it saves so much trouble.
Rudyard Kipling
In 1997 the same entry appeared in “Reader’s Digest Quotable Quotes: Wit and Wisdom for All Occasions”.[ref] 1997, Reader’s Digest Quotable Quotes: Wit and Wisdom for All Occasions, Quote Page 69, Published by Reader’s Digest Association, Pleasantville, New York. (Verified with hardcopy) [/ref]
In conclusion, Rudyard Kipling deserves credit for the quotation under examination. The words were spoken by a fictional character in the story “A Second-Rate Woman”.
(Great thanks to Alayna Johnson whose inquiry led QI to formulate this question and perform this exploration.)