Eleanor Roosevelt? Charles Stewart? Henry Thomas Buckle? James H. Halsey? Hyman G. Rickover? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: The following adage is largely used to deride people who are preoccupied with gossip: Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people. The words are attributed to social activist and former First Lady Eleanor …
Author Archives: quoteresearch
You’re Never Too Old, Too Wacky, Too Wild, To Pick Up a Book, and Read to a Child
Theodor Seuss Geisel? Anita Merina? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: There is an enthusiastic quotation about reading that has been attributed to the famous children’s author Dr. Seuss: You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book & read to a child. I haven’t been able to track down the precise book …
Continue reading “You’re Never Too Old, Too Wacky, Too Wild, To Pick Up a Book, and Read to a Child”
Education Is the Inculcation of the Incomprehensible Into the Ignorant by the Incompetent
John Maynard Keynes? Josiah Stamp? Ernest Brown? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: The most outrageous quotation about education that I have ever heard has been attributed to the famous economist John Maynard Keynes. Here are three versions: 1) Education is the inculcation of the incomprehensible into the ignorant by the incompetent. 2) Education: the inculcation of …
What I Hate About Writing Is the Paperwork
Peter De Vries? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: There is an amusing quip that is perfect for National Novel Writing Month. Here are two versions: 1) I love being a writer. What I can’t stand is the paperwork. 2) Writing: I like everything about it but the paperwork. This comment has been attributed to the novelist, …
Continue reading “What I Hate About Writing Is the Paperwork”
Always Remember That You Are Absolutely Unique. Just Like Everyone Else
Margaret Mead? Jim Wright? John Peers? Meade? Red Green? Apocryphal? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: A very funny quotation about individuality has been attributed to the influential anthropologist Margaret Mead: Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else. I would like to include this in a book I am preparing, but I have …
Continue reading “Always Remember That You Are Absolutely Unique. Just Like Everyone Else”
What Is Written Without Effort Is In General Read Without Pleasure
Samuel Johnson? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: Whenever I experience difficulties while writing I recall a remark attributed to Samuel Johnson that is both cautionary and encouraging: What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure. I have not been able to find this statement in a book written by Johnson or by his …
Continue reading “What Is Written Without Effort Is In General Read Without Pleasure”
Easy Reading Is Hard Writing
Maya Angelou? Nathaniel Hawthorne? Thomas Hood? Richard Brinsley Sheridan? Charles Allston Collins? Anthony Trollope? Lord Byron? William Makepeace Thackeray? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: Writers should strive to create texts that are informative, interesting, stimulating, and readable. But one of my favorite sayings reveals that this can be a remarkably difficult task: Easy reading is damned …
Easy Writing’s Vile Hard Reading
Richard Brinsley Sheridan? Lord Byron? Ernest Hemingway? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: There are two complementary and intertwined statements about reading and writing that I would like you to investigate: 1) Easy writing results in hard reading. 2) Easy reading requires hard writing. Many different phrases have been used to express these two thoughts, and sometimes …
The Man Who Views the World at 50 the Same as He Did at 20 Has Wasted 30 Years of His Life
Muhammad Ali? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: There is a statement attributed to Muhammad Ali about the natural changes in viewpoint an individual experiences during decades of growth and maturation. Ali stated that a person who does not change his or her perspective over a long period of time has wasted the years. Are you familiar …
If People Don’t Want to Come, Nothing Will Stop Them
Yogi Berra? Sol Hurok? Apocryphal? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: Baseball luminary Yogi Berra is famous for comical pronouncements that contain a kernel of wisdom. One of my favorites is about fan attendance at baseball games: If people don’t want to come out to the ballpark, nobody’s going to stop them. Recently, I heard that renowned …
Continue reading “If People Don’t Want to Come, Nothing Will Stop Them”