Stephen R. Covey? Thomas Merton? Allen Raine? Anne Adaliza Evans? Mae Maloo? H. Jackson Brown? Sarah Frances Brown? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: The metaphorical notion of climbing a ladder of success was in use by writers in the nineteenth century. Here is an intriguing cautionary twist about faulty objectives: When you get to the …
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Quote Origin: Tell ’Em What You’re Going To Tell ’Em; Next, Tell ’Em; Next, Tell ’Em What You Told ’Em
Aristotle? Dale Carnegie? J. H. Jowett? Fred E. Marble? Royal Meeker? Henry Koster? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: For many years I have been encouraged to split my speeches into three parts. Here are two versions of the guidance: (A) Tell the audience what you’re going to say, say it; then tell them what you’ve …
Quote Origin: First They Ignore You, Then They Laugh at You, Then They Attack You, Then You Win
Mohandas Gandhi? Jean Cocteau? Robbie Williams? Julian Beck? Earl B. Morgan? Tony Benn? Peter D. Jones? Louis Agassiz? Arthur Schopenhauer? Question for Quote Investigator: Mahatma Gandhi famously employed nonviolent strategies during the struggle for Indian independence. A quotation often attributed to him asserts that popular movements pass through four stages: First they ignore you. Then …
Quote Origin: The Will To Win Is Not Worth Much Unless You Have the Will To Prepare To Win
Vince Lombardi? Bobby Knight? Fielding H. Yost? John Cooper? Joe Paterno? Vernon Law? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: A popular sports maxim highlights the importance of preparation. Here are three versions: This saying has been attributed to several prominent coaches including: Bobby Knight who led the Indiana Hoosiers basketball team, Vince Lombardi who led the …
Quote Origin: There Are No Strangers Here; Only Friends You Haven’t Yet Met
William Butler Yeats? Will Rogers? Edgar Guest? Margaret Lee Runbeck? Dorothy C. Wegner? Roberta Lieberman? Mitch Albom? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: The Nobel Prize winning Irish poet William Butler Yeats often receives credit for the following sentiment: There are no strangers here; only friends you haven’t yet met. Is this ascription accurate? Reply from …
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Quote Origin: Some of My Best Leading Men Have Been Dogs and Horses
Elizabeth Taylor? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor was paired with many high-profile costars such as Paul Newman, Richard Burton, Montgomery Clift, Rock Hudson, and James Dean during her long career. Nevertheless, she humorously once said that her best leading men were animals, e.g., dogs and horses. Would please help me to …
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Quote Origin: I Wanted To Change the World. But I Have Found That the Only Thing One Can Be Sure of Changing Is Oneself
Aldous Huxley? William C. Hunter? Jacob Feuerring? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: When Aldous Huxley, the author of the famous dystopian novel “Brave New World”, was young he was eager to change the world. Yet, as he grew older he concluded that he could only change himself with any confidence. Would you please help me …
Quote Origin: A Great Literary Masterpiece Is Only a Dictionary in Disorder
Jean Cocteau? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: The prominent French writer Jean Cocteau has been credited with the following humorously skewed definition. Here are three versions: Would you please help me to find the original citation in French? Reply from Quote Investigator: The statement appeared twice in the Cocteau’s 1924 work “Le Potomak, 1913-1914: Précédé …
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Quote Origin: Put Fire Into This Speech? You Should Put This Speech Into the Fire
Winston Churchill? Henry Ward Beecher? Professor Matthews? Elias J. MacEwan? Question for Quote Investigator: According to legend a young Member of Parliament approached Winston Churchill with a copy of an address he was planning to deliver and asked him how he could put more fire into it. Churchill responded: Put fire into this speech? I …
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Quote Origin: I Got My Plots in the Tub, the Old-Fashioned, Rim Kind — Just Sitting There Thinking, Undisturbed, and Lining the Rim with Apple Cores
Agatha Christie? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: The brilliant mystery writer Agatha Christie is one of the most popular authors in history. Apparently, she once stated that the plots for her books were constructed and refined while she was pursuing quotidian activities such as washing dishes, bathing, eating apples, and walking. Would you please help …