Tracing Quotations
W. C. Fields? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Humorous remarks about Philadelphia are often credited to the well-known actor and comic W. C. Fields. In the past the activities and nightlife in Philadelphia were limited because of strict laws. Hence, time seemed to move slowly, and someone created the following quip: I spent a week …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: I Spent a Week in Philadelphia One Sunday”
Saint Francis of Assisi? La Clochette magazine? Friends’ Intelligencer? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: There is a very popular prayer that is usually credited to St. Francis of Assisi. It begins: Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, Where there is hatred, let me sow love; What is known about this attribution? Is it …
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Shirley Temple? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: There is a funny anecdote about the young superstar Shirley Temple and her visit to Santa Claus when she was six. She began to question the story of toys distributed from the North Pole by Santa. Can you locate a version of this from Temple herself? Reply from …
Continue reading “Anecdote Origin: Shirley Temple Visits a Department Store Santa Claus”
Thomas Merton? Anonymous? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: I’ve been wondering about the authenticity of a quote about happiness I came across some time ago. I’ve been unable to find a source so far. Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony. It was supposedly said by Thomas Merton. …
Albert Einstein? Apocryphal? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Did Albert Einstein say the following? Everyone who is seriously interested in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that a spirit is manifest in the laws of the universe – a spirit vastly superior to man, and one in the face of which our modest powers must …
George Bernard Shaw? SYSTEM magazine? Stanley B. Moore? Charles F. Brannan? Jimmy Durante? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: There is a very valuable insight in the following saying that is credited to George Bernard Shaw: If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange apples then you and I will still …
Ogden Nash? George Bernard Shaw? James Agate? La Liberté? Winston Churchill? Henry James? Oscar Wilde? Georges Clemenceau? Question for Quote Investigator: There is a famous humorous saying about the United States that has been credited to four celebrated wits: George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde, Winston Churchill, and Georges Clemenceau: America is the only country that …
Groucho Marx? George Burns? Jean Giraudoux? Celeste Holm? Ed Nelson? Samuel Goldwyn? Daniel Schorr? Joe Franklin? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: The funniest advice I was ever given as a sales associate was from another seasoned employee: The most important thing is honesty. Once you can fake that, you’ve got it made. Later, I read …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: The Main Thing Is Honesty. If You Can Fake That, You’ve Got It Made”
Locale: San Francisco, California? Paris, France? Duluth, Minnesota? Milwaukee, Wisconsin? Originator: Mark Twain? Horace Walpole? James Quin? R. Q. Grant? Lord Byron? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Living in Menlo Park near San Francisco I have heard the following witticism credited to Mark Twain many times: The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent Was a Summer in San Francisco”
Oscar Wilde? Seneca the Younger? Leon Tec? Question for Quote Investigator: Recently, I came across a quotation in a pub in Germany that was credited to Oscar Wilde. Your help in tracing this expression would be greatly appreciated but there is a twist to this request that will probably increase the difficulty. I have not …