Tracing Quotations
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 …
Continue reading “Joke Origin: I Can Tell You in Two Words: Im Possible”
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 …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: These Are My Principles. If You Don’t Like Them I Have Others”
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 …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: If You Remember the ’60s, You Really Weren’t There”
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 …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: How Do You Get To Carnegie Hall? Practice!”
Albert Einstein? Frederick S. Perls? Anonymous? A Great Astronomer? Question for Quote Investigator: I saw a comic strip that contained a quotation that is usually attributed to Einstein: Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe! I am skeptical because I have not seen a solid citation. …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: Two Things Are Infinite: The Universe and Human Stupidity”
Groucho Marx? Anthony Oettinger? Susumu Kuno? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: The simile “Time flies like an arrow” compares the rapidity of the passage of time to the quickness of a darting arrow. However, there exist alternative interpretations of the phrase. Here are two possibilities: (1) A particular type of flies called “time flies” are …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: Time Flies Like an Arrow; Fruit Flies Like a Banana”
Gary Cooper? Lee Neuwirth? Henry Miller? Moses Hadas? Question for Quote Investigator: I was told that a prominent journal editor would sometimes write a rejection letter to an author that said his or her “paper fills a much-needed gap”. Is this true? Reply from Quote Investigator: This post continues the investigation of the phrase “much …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: This Book Fills a Much-Needed Gap – Part 02”
Question for Quote Investigator: I once read that the funniest book review ever written begins with the sentence: “This book fills a much-needed gap”. Does this book review actually exist? Reply from Quote Investigator: Remarkably, the phrase mentioned does appear in many book reviews and other evaluations. For years writers have been incongruously eager to …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: This Book Fills a Much-Needed Gap – Part 01”
Question for Quote Investigator: There is a great quote by Plato or Socrates about the misbehavior of children in antiquity that I read in the New York Times. The quote shows that the problems between generations are not just a recent occurrence. Instead, the conflicts between parents and offspring are timeless: The children now love …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: Misbehaving Children in Ancient Times”
Charles Dickens? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: In a book on corporate communications I read a quote that supposedly was said by Dickens: Electric communication will never be a substitute for the face of someone who with their soul encourages another person to be brave and true. Charles Dickens I find this quote hard to …