Hellen Keller? Anne Sullivan? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: There is an inspirational saying about beginning a task again even when you fail. Eventually, you will accomplish your purpose although it may not be exactly the purpose with which you began. This notion has been attributed to Anne Sullivan who was the brilliant teacher of …
Category Archives: Helen Keller
Quote Origin: Every King Springs From a Race of Slaves, and Every Slave Has Had Kings Among His Ancestors
Helen Keller? Socrates? Plato? Seneca the Younger? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: A person has two genetic parents, four grandparents, and eight great-grandparents. The number of ancestors in a generation roughly doubles when going backwards in time, and this exponential growth implies that each individual has an enormous number of ancestors. This line of reasoning …
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: Keep Your Face Always Towards the Sunshine, and the Shadows Will Fall Behind You
Helen Keller? Walt Whitman? Charles Swain? Celia Burleigh? Lydia G. Worth? Edmund Cooke? M. B. Whitman? Maori Proverb? Question for Quote Investigator: A popular metaphorical framework equates sunlight to positive situations and shadow to unfavorable conditions. Here are two instances of an adage about maintaining an optimistic perspective: This notion has been credited to prominent …
Quote Origin: When One Door Closes Another Opens, But Often We Look So Long Upon the Closed Door That We Do Not See the Open Door
Helen Keller? Alexander Graham Bell? Johann P. F. Richter? Miguel de Cervantes? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: A venerable adage emphasizes the desirability of retaining a positive outlook and flexibility. Plans always encounter difficulties, and a successful person must be able to adapt. Here are two instances of a proverb that employs doorways figuratively: An …
Quote Origin: A Pessimist Sees the Difficulty in Every Opportunity; an Optimist Sees the Opportunity in Every Difficulty
Winston Churchill? Bertram Carr? F. W. Cole? John D. Rockefeller? L. P. Jacks? Helen Keller? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Here are four versions of a popular saying about differing mental attitudes: The statesman Winston Churchill is typically credited with this remark, but I have been unable to find a citation. Would you please help? …
Quote Origin: Many Persons Have a Wrong Idea of What Constitutes True Happiness. It Is Not Attained Through Self-Gratification but Through Fidelity to a Worthy Purpose
Helen Keller? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: A wise statement about true happiness and its connection to the pursuit of a worthwhile objective has been attributed to the blind social activist Helen Keller. Are you familiar with this saying and is the ascription accurate? Reply from Quote Investigator: Hellen Keller maintained a journal during the …
Quote Origin: Life Is Either a Daring Adventure or Nothing
Helen Keller? Van Wyck Brooks? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: An inspirational adage encouraging boldness and audacity has been attributed to Helen Keller who overcame great adversity: Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. Is this accurate? Reply from Quote Investigator: Helen Keller did write a closely matching statement; however, the appended …
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Quote Origin: Alone We Can Do So Little. Together We Can Do So Much
Helen Keller? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: A website on education policy began a recent article with a statement attributed to Helen Keller: Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. No citation was given. Would you please examine this saying? Reply from Quote Investigator: There is good evidence that Helen …
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Quote Origin: I Would Rather Walk With a Friend in the Dark Than Alone in the Light
Helen Keller? Anne Sullivan? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: Helen Keller was once asked about the price she would pay to gain the sense of sight. Her reported response was thoughtful and poignant: I would rather walk with a friend in the dark than walk alone in the light. What were the circumstances surrounding this …