Creator: Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens), famous humorist Context: Understanding the humor in the following passage requires familiarity with the cherry tree legend. A young Washington received a hatchet as a gift and impetuously chopped down a cherry tree owned by his father. When the future president was confronted he said “I cannot tell a lie. …
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Quote Origin: A Little Philosophy Inclineth Mans Mind to Atheism; But Depth in Philosophy, Bringeth Mens Minds about to Religion
Francis Bacon? Theophilus Gale? David Hume? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: The famous English philosopher and scientist Francis Bacon made an intriguing assertion about atheism. Here are three versions: (1) A little philosophy makes men atheists, though a great deal would cure them of Atheism. (2) A little knowledge drives man away from God, but …
Quote Origin: My Drive in Life Is from This Horrible Fear of Being Mediocre
Creator: Madonna Louise Ciccone, American singer, songwriter, and artistic entrepreneur Context: In 1991 “Vanity Fair” published a profile of Madonna within which she discussed her “iron will” and her trepidation. Emphasis added to this excerpt by QI: “And all of my will has always been to conquer some horrible feeling of inadequacy. I’m always struggling …
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Quote Origin: Music Is the Most Unpleasant and the Most Expensive of All Noises
Théophile Gautier? Molière? Alphonse Karr? Alexander Dumas père? A Mathematician? Prince Albert? Joseph Coyne? Honoré de Balzac?Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Operas and orchestra concerts are quite expensive productions. A deprecatory wit once grumbled about the outlays. Here are three versions: This thought has been attributed to the prominent French playwright Molière, …
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Quote Origin: But In Analysing History Do Not Be Too Profound, for Often the Causes Are Quite Superficial
Creator: Ralph Waldo Emerson, prominent American essayist and transcendentalist philosopher Context: In 1836 when Emerson was 33 years old he wrote in his journal about bloody events in Spain and France. Emphasis added to excerpt: But in analysing history do not be too profound, for often the causes are quite superficial. In the present state …
Quote Origin: One Who Has Imagination Without Learning Has Wings Without Feet
Joseph Joubert? Matthew Arnold? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Imagination is crucial to cogitation, but it must be coupled with knowledge to achieve wholeness. Here are two versions of a germane adage: I was reminded of this saying while reading a QI analysis of a tangentially related quotation about roots and wings. Would you please …
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Quote Origin: Love Is a Sort of Divine Accident
Hugh Walpole? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: Radiant love displays “depth, beauty, and joy”, but achieving this extraordinary relationship is challenging. The bestselling English novelist Hugh Walpole apparently said: It is a sort of Divine accident. Would you please help me to find a citation? Reply from Quote Investigator: The book “What is Happiness?” consists …
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Quote Origin: I Haven’t Got as Much Money as Some Folks, But I Have Got as Much Impudence as Any of Them, and That Is the Next Thing to Money
Creator: Josh Billings (pen name of Henry Wheeler Shaw), celebrated U.S. humorist Context: A collection of “Sayings of Josh Billings” appeared in “The Alleghanian” newspaper of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania in 1864. Billings employed phonetic spelling. Here were three of the sayings: I havn’t got as mutch muny az sum folks, but i hav got as much …
Quote Origin: An Editor Is a Person Employed on a Newspaper, Whose Business It Is To Separate the Wheat from the Chaff, and To See that the Chaff Is Printed
Creator: Elbert Hubbard, founder of New York artisan community called Roycrofters, collector and creator of adages Context: The May 1913 issue of “The Philistine: A Periodical of Protest” published by Elbert Hubbard contained a set of humorous definitions for “editor”: EDITOR: A person employed on a newspaper, whose business it is to separate the wheat …
Quote Origin: There Will Be Prayers in Our Schools as Long as There Are Final Exams
Ronald Reagan? Ashley Cooper? Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr.? David Condon? The Farmer’s Daughter? Norine Carman? Sam Levenson? Charles Rose? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: The topic of prayers in schools in the U.S. has been controversial for many years. Humorists have reacted with quips such as: Apparently, U.S. President Ronald Reagan employed this joke. Would …