Tracing Quotations
Michelangelo? John Ruskin? George F. Pentecost? Boys’ Life Magazine? Orison Swett Marden? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: There is an unlikely tale about the brilliant Renaissance artist Michelangelo. He was asked about the difficulties that he must have encountered in sculpting his masterpiece David. But he replied with an unassuming and comical description of his creative …
Continue reading “You Just Chip Away Everything That Doesn’t Look Like David”
Ralph Waldo Emerson? Muriel Strode? Fred V. Hawley? Andrew Taylor Still? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: A powerful inspirational quote about choosing your own destiny is often attributed to the notable philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson. Here are two versions: Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave …
Continue reading “I Will Go Where There Is No Path, and I Will Leave a Trail”
William Shakespeare? Pablo Picasso? David Viscott? Joy Golliver? Emilio Santini? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: A popular adage presents a fascinating answer to a perennial philosophical question about the significance of life: The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away. This statement is often attributed to …
Victor Hugo? Oscar Wilde? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: There is a popular humorous anecdote about an exchange of letters between Victor Hugo and his publisher shortly after the publication of “Les Misérables”. Each message consisted of only a single character. Are you familiar with this story? Recently, I heard a version of the tale with …
Continue reading “Briefest Correspondence: Question Mark? Exclamation Mark!”
Karl Menninger? Brenda Ueland? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: The following statement about the enormous importance of listening attentively during conversations instead of simply talking is attributed to the psychiatrist Karl Menninger and the writer Brenda Ueland. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand. Ideas actually begin to grow within …
Continue reading “When We Are Listened To, It Creates Us, Makes Us Unfold and Expand”
Speaker: William Allen Butler? Henry Clapp? John Bright? Junius Henri Browne? Howard Crosby? Henry Armitt Brown? Benjamin Disraeli? William Cowper? Topic: Horace Greeley? Benjamin Disraeli? George Law? David Davies? Dear Quote Investigator: Whenever I hear the claim that an individual who has excelled in life is a self-made man or a self-made woman I think …
Continue reading ““He Is a Self-Made Man.” “Yes, And He Worships His Creator.””
Mark Twain? Robert J. Burdette? Apocryphal? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: During this graduation season many who are finishing school are scrambling to try and find a job. The following acerbic words are usually attributed to Mark Twain: Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living; the world owes you nothing, it was here …
Jean Piaget? Eleanor Duckworth? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: The following popular quotation appears on a large number of websites in the educational domain. The statement is attributed to the famous developmental psychologist Jean Piaget: The principal goal of education in the schools should be creating men and women who are capable of doing new things, …
Diana Vreeland? Fran Lebowitz? Erin McKean? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: The following cogent statement about self-ownership, integrity, and image has been shared on social media networks: You Don’t Have to Be Pretty. You don’t owe prettiness to anyone. I have seen an extended version of the remark attributed to the fashion columnist and editor Diana …
Albert Einstein? C. E. M. Joad? Nolan Bushnell? Coco Chanel? Conan O’Brien? Franklin P. Jones? Charles Moore? Bruce Sterling? Joe Sedelmaier? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: I have a difficult challenge for you. Here are three versions of a popular maxim: 1) The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources. 2) Creativity is …
Continue reading “The Secret to Creativity Is Knowing How to Hide Your Sources”