Vincent van Gogh? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: Several self-help books contain a statement about achieving magnificent results via an incremental approach. The saying is attributed to the brilliant and original painter Vincent van Gogh: Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together. And great things are …
Author Archives: quoteresearch
Quote Origin: The Four Most Beautiful Words in the English Language:
Gore Vidal? Stormont Mancroft? Gareth Williams? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: The following quotation has been attributed to the writer and political commentator Gore Vidal: The four most beautiful words in the English language are ‘I told you so’. Was this statement crafted by Vidal? Reply from Quote Investigator: Gore Vidal did employ versions of …
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Quote Origin: War Against a Foreign Country Only Happens When the Moneyed Classes Think They Are Going to Profit From It
George Orwell? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: Lately, I have been seeing the following quotation about warfare attributed to the famous political writer George Orwell: War against a foreign country only happens when the moneyed classes think they are going to profit from it. I am skeptical of this attribution. Is this a genuine statement …
Quote Origin: Speed Reading: I Was Able To Go Through ‘War and Peace’ in 20 Minutes. It’s About Russia
Woody Allen? Herb Caen? Rod Riggs? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: The ability to read and comprehend text quickly is a valuable skill. Several decades ago courses were developed that attempted to teach “speed reading” or “quick reading” techniques. The well-known comedian Woody Allen created a joke about applying speed-reading strategies to Tolstoy’s massive tome …
Quote Origin: People Ask Me Where I Get My Jokes. I Just Watch Congress and Report the Facts
Will Rogers? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: While searching for a quotation on the subject of government in a reference book I came across a quip from the famous cowboy and Native American humorist Will Rogers: I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts. But the supporting citation was dated …
Quote Origin: A Bird Doesn’t Sing Because It Has an Answer, It Sings Because It Has a Song
Maya Angelou? Joan Walsh Anglund? William Hazlitt? Alfred Lord Tennyson? Jimmie Allison? Lou Holtz? Question for Quote Investigator: In 2015 the U.S. Postal Service released a controversial commemorative stamp featuring the prominent author Maya Angelou which displayed the following words: A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a …
Quote Origin: Lovers: They Sing a Song Only You Can Hear
Oscar Wilde? CosmoGIRL? L. G. McVean? William J. Locke? Elizabeth Cooper? Holiday Mathis? Apocryphal? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: There is a popular saying about the intimate connection between people who are in love that has been attributed to the famous wit Oscar Wilde. The closeness is expressed using an auditory metaphor: You don’t love …
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Quote Origin: Make It a Point To Do Something Every Day That You Don’t Want To Do
Mark Twain? Eleanor Roosevelt? Mary Schmich? Ralph Waldo Emerson? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: Mark Twain said something about doing at least one thing each day that you should do despite the fact that it makes you feel uncomfortable. I do not remember precisely how the expression was phrased. Here are two pertinent statements: Do …
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Dialogue Origin: “Which Is My Best Side, Do You Think?” “You’re Sitting On It”
Leon Shamroy? Alfred Hitchcock? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: According to Hollywood legend a vain actor or actress was deeply concerned about being photographed in a flattering manner. The following words were exchanged with a famous director: “You’re not photographing me with my best side to the camera.” “But how can I when you’re sitting …
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Quote Origin: I Can’t Understand How Anyone Can Write Without Rewriting Everything Over and Over Again
Leo Tolstoy? A. B. Goldenveizer? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: November is National Novel Writing Month; a participant is supposed to commit to writing 50,000 words during the 30 days of the month. Sustaining that pace would be difficult for me because I am irresistibly drawn to rewriting. The brilliant Russian writer Leo Tolstoy once …