Quotation Said By: David Lloyd George? Douglas Haig? Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook? Susan Riley? Alan Walters? Barb Aimed At: Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby? John Turner? John Major? Question for Quote Investigator: The opinions and responses of some people are easily swayed by domineering individuals with emphatic goals. Suggestable people may shift viewpoints …
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Quote Origin: Every Joke Is a Tiny Revolution
George Orwell? Jan Kalina? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: A joke which ridicules an oppressive institution can help to undermine it. George Orwell once wrote about the subversive capabilities of humor and stated that a trenchant quip was analogous to a “tiny revolution”. Would you please help me to find a citation? Reply from Quote …
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Quote Origin: Old Age Is Always Fifteen Years Older Than I Am
Francis Bacon? Bernard Baruch? Mary Gordon? Nina Wilcox? Walter A. Clark? John W. Carswell? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: One witty and vibrant individual who maintained a youthful outlook throughout a long life uttered a statement in the following family: This saying has been attributed to pioneering philosopher of science Francis Bacon and U.S. financier …
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Quote Origin: One Writes Out of One Thing Only—One’s Own Experience
James Baldwin? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: According to the prominent author and social critic James Baldwin the craft of writing depends fundamentally on channeling experience. He employed the metaphorical phrase “the last drop, sweet or bitter”. Would you please help me to find a citation for his statement? Reply from Quote Investigator: In 1955 …
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Quote Origin: The Duty of Newspapers Is To Comfort the Afflicted and To Afflict the Comfortable
Mr. Dooley? Finley Peter Dunne? William Randolph Hearst? Willmott Lewis? Frederick W. Burnham? Clare Boothe Luce? Kara V. Jackson? Lawrence Weschler? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Here are four phrases describing the duty of a newspaper or religious institution: Would you please explore which phrase was crafted first and determine the identity of the creator? …
Quote Origin: I Work From About Seven Until About Noon. Then I Go Fishing or Swimming, or Whatever I Want
Ernest Hemingway? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: Did Ernest Hemingway drink heavily while he was writing? How many hours did he spend working each day? Can you find an interview containing quotations that illuminate his drinking and writing habits? Reply from Quote Investigator: Shortly before Hemingway died in 1961, he participated in an interview conducted …
Quote Origin: We Both Were Crazy About Girls
Groucho Marx? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: Groucho Marx apparently once said that he pursued the affections of a woman for two years until he finally discovered that the woman was doing exactly the same thing: pursuing the affections of a woman. Would you please investigate this claim? Reply from Quote Investigator: The 1967 collection …
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Quote Origin: I Don’t Trust a Bank That Would Lend Money To Such a Poor Risk
Robert Benchley? Marc Connelly? Corey Ford? Bennett Cerf? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: A financially unstable comedian once asked his long-time bank for a large loan. He was dumbfounded when his request was granted, and he immediately withdrew all his money from the institution while giving the following explanation: How can I trust a bank …
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Quote Origin: Experts Ought To Be On Tap and Not On Top
Winston Churchill? Harold Laski? George William Russell? Gertrude Mathews Shelby? Felix Frankfurter? Salvador de Madariaga? Robert Cecil? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: When a government or organization faces a difficult decision, its leaders must consult with expert thinkers and scientists; however, the resultant actions should not be dictated solely by the experts. Capable leaders are …
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Quote Origin: Whoever Said Money Can’t Buy Happiness Didn’t Know Where To Shop
Gertrude Stein? Joanna Lee? Fred Neher? Kate Osann? George Gobel? Bo Derek? John E. Gibson? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Twisting timeworn adages produces new comical sayings. Altering a hoary remark about wealth and happiness yields a maxim for shopaholics: Anyone who says money doesn’t buy happiness doesn’t know where to shop. The prominent literary …
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