Kenneth Boulding? Paul Ehrlich? David Attenborough? Mancur Olson? Wayne H. Davis? Jay W. Forrester? John S. Steinhart? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Population size, energy use, and gross domestic product (GDP) have grown exponentially for limited time periods within some nations; however, these trends are complex. Economies sometimes shrink; per-capita energy use sometimes declines; human …
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Quote Origin: A True Work of Art Takes at Least an Hour
Charles Schulz? Lucy van Pelt? Linus van Pelt? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Recently, while watching videos presenting art tutorials online I was amazed at the quality of rapidly created drawings. Yet, I was reminded of a “Peanuts” comic strip from decades ago that claimed a genuine artwork cannot be created in less than one …
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Quote Origin: It Is Perhaps a More Fortunate Destiny To Have a Taste for Collecting Shells Than To Be Born a Millionaire
Robert Louis Stevenson? Florence Davies? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: The Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson is best known for his famous novels, e.g., “Treasure Island” and “Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde”. He believed that an individual should be invigorated by desires, interests, and aspirations otherwise he or she will lead a …
Quote Origin: If You Seek Revenge You Should Dig Two Graves
Confucius? Japanese Proverb? Chinese Proverb? William Elliot Griffis? Jeff Bezos? Question for Quote Investigator: Seeking vengeance can backfire on an individual and lead to additional pain and suffering. The founding CEO of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, referenced a powerful cautionary proverb about revenge during an interview in 2016 although he expressed uncertainty about its origin: It’s …
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Quote Origin: Time Is What Keeps Everything From Happening At Once
Albert Einstein? Ray Cummings? Mark Twain? Arthur C. Clarke? John Archibald Wheeler? Arthur Power Dudden? Susan Sontag? Question for Quote Investigator: Albert Einstein has received credit for a humorous remark about time: The only reason for time is so that everything doesn’t happen at once. Would you please explore the provenance of this quip? Reply …
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Quote Origin: Tact Is the Art of Recognizing When To Be Big and When Not To Belittle
Zig Ziglar? Charles Thompkins? Dana Robbins? Bob Talbert? Choupique? Bill Copeland? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: There is a fun definition of “tact” that employs a pun which contrasts the terms “be big” and “belittle”. I saw this humorous statement in a book by the prominent motivational author Zig Ziglar. Would you please explore this …
Quote Origin: Fame Is a Vapor; Popularity an Accident; Riches Take Wings
Mark Twain? Horace Greeley? N. D. Hillis? Question for Quote Investigator: Two interesting quotations begin with the same phrases but diverge to emphasize different ideas of impermanence: Fame is a vapor; popularity an accident; the only earthly certainty is oblivion. Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, riches take wings, those who cheer today will …
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Quote Origin: Our Deepest Fear Is Not That We Are Inadequate. Our Deepest Fear Is That We Are Powerful Beyond Measure
Nelson Mandela? Marianne Williamson? Question for Quote Investigator: A mystical motivational speech begins with this line: Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. The speech has been attributed to statesman Nelson Mandela and spiritual author Marianne Williamson. Would you please explore its provenance? Reply from Quote Investigator: In 1977 Marianne Williamson encountered the …
Quote Origin: Ideas, Like Ghosts . . . Must Be Spoken To a Little Before They Will Explain Themselves
Charles Dickens? Henry Southgate? Frank J. Wilstach? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: The popular writer Charles Dickens vividly depicted the neighborhoods, lives, and habits of the disparate social classes of Victorian England. His rich language employed clever similes such as: An idea, like a ghost, must be spoken to a little before it will explain …
Quote Origin: Patriotism Is the Virtue of the Vicious
Oscar Wilde? A. H. Cooper-Prichard? Alvin Redman? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: The Irish playwright Oscar Wilde achieved his greatest fame in London. The historically fractured and deadly relationship between Ireland and England has led some intellectuals of the isles to adopt a skeptical attitude toward patriotic fervor. Intense emotions have been inspired by both …
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