Johann Wolfgang von Goethe? Thomas Mann? André Gide? Arthur Koestler? Garrett Hardin? Horace Mann? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Sometimes a truthful statement can undermine a cherished belief and provide comfort to an adversary. Thus, it is tempting to embrace an untruthful statement that provides temporary solace. Yet, accepting uncomfortable truths leads to personal growth, …
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Quote Origin: What We Have Once Enjoyed We Can Never Lose . . . All That We Love Deeply Becomes a Part of Us
Helen Keller? Anne Sullivan? Sherokee Ilse? Kathy R. Floyd? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: The loss of a companion is heartbreaking. The following viewpoint has provided solace to many: What we have once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes a part of us. These words have …
Quote Origin: There Is Nothing in This World That Someone Cannot Make a Little Worse and Sell a Little Cheaper
John Ruskin? J. A. Richards? The Pure Food Store? White Star Company? Percy D. Hagan? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: It is always possible to manufacture an item using inferior materials and sell it at a cheaper price than a quality item. The buyer who is foolishly guided by price alone becomes the lawful prey …
Quote Origin: A Hero Is No Braver Than an Ordinary Person, But the Hero Is Brave Five Minutes Longer
Marcel Proust? Ralph Waldo Emerson? Lord Palmerston? Duke of Wellington? Japanese Proverb? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: The difference between demonstrating bravery and cowardice can be surprisingly small. Perseverance under extreme duress can lead to success. Here are three instances from a family of sayings about heroism and tenacity: This saying has been attributed to …
Quote Origin: You May Humbug the Town for Some Time Longer as a Tragedian; But Comedy Is a Serious Thing
David Garrick? Thomas Campbell? George Colman? John Simon? Wesley Ruggles? W. C. Fields? Carlotta Monti? Penelope Keith? Rex Harrison? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: Comedy is often lighthearted; hence, it is counter-intuitive to view it as a serious business, yet the creators and participants of humorous works face a harsh and crowded entertainment market; they …
Quote Origin: I Destroy My Enemies When I Make Them My Friends
Abraham Lincoln? Emperor Sigismund? Martin Luther King? Loretta Young? Mark Twain? Cardinal Richelieu? Robert Jones Burdette? John Wooden? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: The leader of a victorious group decided to treat the vanquished people with compassion. Critics of the leader were unhappy because they believed that the enemies deserved destruction. Here are three versions …
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Quote Origin: Nothing Is Certain, Except Death and Taxes
Benjamin Franklin? Mark Twain? Christopher Bullock? Edward Ward? Daniel Defoe? Joseph Reed? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Grumbling about paying taxes is nearly universal. Here are four versions of a pertinent saying: The U.S. statesman Benjamin Franklin and the humorist Mark Twain have received credit for this remark. Would you please explore this topic? Reply …
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Quote Origin: The Smallest Good Deed Is Better Than the Grandest Good Intention
Oscar Wilde? Jacques Joseph Duguet? Claude Joseph Dorat? Henry Ward Beecher? Gaspard Dughet? H. Jackson Brown? John Burroughs? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Hoping and dreaming are not enough; taking action is crucial. Here are two pertinent statements: Would you please examine this family of sayings? Reply from Quote Investigator: The earliest match located by …
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Quote Origin: The Brain Is Merely a Meat Machine
Marvin Minsky? Joseph Weizenbaum? Pamela McCorduck? Edward Fredkin? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: Within computer science the discipline of artificial intelligence (AI) is focused on analyzing and constructing entities that display advanced cognitive behaviors. These entities are designed to learn, solve problems, and achieve goals. Critics of the field contend that machines cannot embody genuine …
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Quote Origin: Freedom Lies In Being Bold
Robert Frost? Anita Brookner? Thucydides? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: The famous poet Robert Frost enjoyed socializing with people who had strong personalities. He highlighted a connection between freedom and boldness. Would you please help me to find a citation? Reply from Quote Investigator: In December 1952 “The New Yorker” magazine published a piece by …