Albert Einstein? William Bruce Cameron? Hilliard Jason? Stephen Ross? Lord Platt? George Pickering? Question for Quote Investigator: Recently I saw a comic strip titled “Baby Einstein” that contained a few quotations that are often attributed to Albert Einstein. I think the following saying is very insightful: Not everything that counts can be counted, and not …
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Quote Origin: If You Want a Friend in Washington, Get a Dog
Harry Truman? Samuel Gallu? Gordon Gekko? Question for Quote Investigator: I love dogs and live near Washington D.C. One of my favorite quotes is attributed to former President Harry Truman who experienced some bruising political battles and said, “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.” Could you please investigate this quote? Reply …
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Quote Origin: A Single Death Is a Tragedy; A Million Deaths Is a Statistic
Joseph Stalin? Leonard Lyons? Beilby Porteus? Kurt Tucholsky? Erich Maria Remarque? Question for Quote Investigator: There is a vivid statement that typifies a heartless attitude toward human mortality: A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic. These words are often attributed to the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, but I have not …
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Quote Origin: Part Went for Liquor, Part for Women; The Rest I Spent Foolishly
Channing Pollock? George Raft? Tug McGraw? Stan Bowles? George Best? Question for Quote Investigator: George Raft was my favorite film star from the Golden Age of Hollywood. He often played gangsters and was memorable in “Some Like it Hot”. Raft was known for his high income in Tinseltown and for his wild profligacy. The quotation …
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Quote Origin: Better to Remain Silent and Be Thought a Fool than to Speak and Remove All Doubt
Abraham Lincoln? Mark Twain? Biblical Proverb? Maurice Switzer? Arthur Burns? John Maynard Keynes? Confucius? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Here are two versions of an entertaining saying that is often credited to Abraham Lincoln or Mark Twain: Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt. It’s …
Maxim Origin: Time is Money
Benjamin Franklin? Apocryphal? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: As an entrepreneur I marvel at the wisdom and concision of the following maxim: Time is money. This is usually credited to Benjamin Franklin, but I have become skeptical about attributions after reading this blog. So, I performed my own exploration for this saying and determined that …
Joke Origin: I Can Tell You in Two Words: Im Possible
Samuel Goldwyn? Charlie Chaplin? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: Samuel Goldwyn, the Hollywood studio chief, was famous for his creatively humorous speech errors. A famous actor once asked if he could be in one of Goldwyn’s new productions. But Goldwyn did not like the actor, and he supposedly said: I can answer you in two …
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Quote Origin: These Are My Principles. If You Don’t Like Them I Have Others
Groucho Marx? American Legislator? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: My favorite quip attributed to Groucho Marx is perfect for describing some politicians: These are my principles. If you don’t like them I have others. Was Groucho impersonating a politician when he said this? Reply from Quote Investigator: It is not clear whether Groucho did employ …
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Quote Origin: If You Remember the ’60s, You Really Weren’t There
Robin Williams? Charlie Fleischer? Paul Krassner? Paul Kantner? Grace Slick? Question for Quote Investigator: I lived through the 1960s, but the only thing I remember about it is the following quotation: If you can remember the 1960s, you weren’t really there. Does anyone recall who said this? Reply from Quote Investigator: Yes, many people think …
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Quote Origin: How Do You Get To Carnegie Hall? Practice!
Jascha Heifetz? Arthur Rubinstein? Generic Maestro? Question for Quote Investigator: How old is that classic joke about one of New York City’s landmark venues? How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice. Reply from Quote Investigator: Tracing jokes can be difficult because they can be told in so many ways. Etymologist Barry Popik …
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