Tracing Quotations
William Shakespeare? William Arthur Ward? Rex Beach? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: A miscellaneous collection of lines offering advice has implausibly been attributed to the acclaimed English playwright William Shakespeare. Here are three of the lines: Before you speak, listen.Before you write, think.Before you spend, earn. The Shakespeare ascription is clearly dubious. The lines above …
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Judy Garland? Anne Edwards? Barron Polan? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: The following romantic lines present a declaration of love. They are part of a larger poem: For it was not into my ear you whispered,but into my heart.It was not my lips you kissed,but my soul. These words have been attributed to Judy Garland, …
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Philipp von Jolly? Max Planck? George Gamow? Neil de Grasse Tyson? Richard Feynman? Ian Stewart? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: According to legend, a talented student asked a prominent physicist about the future of his field, and the response was thoroughly discouraging: Almost everything is already discovered, and all that remains is to fill a …
Victor Borge? Mary S. Taylor? Roy L. Smith? Jay Freeman? Walter Winchell? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: The bonds between people can be enhanced when they laugh together. The following saying reflects this viewpoint: Laughter is the shortest distance between two people. This statement has been attributed to the Danish-American comedian and pianist Victor Borge. …
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Rabindranath Tagore? Rabbinic Saying? Arabic Proverb? Talmud? A. Huebsch? Leo Rosten? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Knowledge accumulates, and the education of each generation of children must include the latest information and capabilities. Here are two versions of a saying that expresses this idea: (1) Do not confine your children to your own learning, for …
M. Zimmerman? Paul Dickson? Allan L. Otten? Bob Garing? Futurama? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: The loudest and most voluble commentators often combine relentless criticism with meager praise. An unhappy worker crafted the following adage: Nobody notices when things go right. This statement is sometimes called “Zimmerman’s Law of Complaints”. Do you know anything about …
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Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord? Joseph Fouché? Antoine Boulay de la Meurthe? Napoleon Bonaparte? Jean-Gabriel Peltier? Germaine de Staël? Emmanuel Comte de Las Cases? Walter Scott? Ralph Waldo Emerson? Question for Quote Investigator: In 1804 the Duke of Enghien was accused of aiding Britain and plotting against Napoleon. Enghien was found guilty and executed. This rapid …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: It Was Worse Than a Crime; It Was a Blunder”
Christopher Reeve? David Michael Petrou? Clark Kent? Kal-El? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: An actor who played Superman was asked about the enduring popularity of the character. The actor stated that the appeal was not based solely on power. Instead, true heroism was shown by the wisdom and maturity displayed while wielding power. Would you …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: A Hero Has the Wisdom and the Maturity to Use the Power Wisely”
Wayne Dyer? Max Planck? Benjamin Wheeler? Gilda Wheeler? Wendy Church? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: When you change your viewpoint on life the entire world can be altered. Carefully deciding where to focus your attention and your efforts is crucial to leading a successful life. Here is a pertinent adage: Change the way you look …
William Maxwell? Annabel Davis-Goff? Elmore Leonard? Helen Dudar? Benjamin Dreyer? William Safire? F. Scott Fitzgerald? Sheilah Graham? Christopher Morley? Terry Hersom? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: The stylistically appropriate use of exclamation points is a contentious topic. One writer proposed the following comically extreme self-contradictory rule: Kill all exclamation points!!! Style guides have presented the …
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