Tracing Quotations
Winston Churchill? Otto von Bismarck? Charles de Talleyrand? Klemens von Metternich? Jozef Pilsudski? Willson Woodside? Seweryn Bialer? Paul Johnson? Thomas L. Friedman? John Lukacs? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: The Russian government’s actions have repeatedly had far‑reaching effects on the rest of the world. Yet, predicting Russia’s future behavior has always been difficult. Here is …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: Russia Is Never as Strong, or as Weak, as She Appears”
Gordon Edgar? John Ross Bowie? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Hippies and punks are two youth subcultures which emerged a decade apart. Both were known for questioning authority, but one wit formulated a cruel comparison. Here are two versions: Punks are nice people pretending to be mean; hippies are mean people pretending to be nice. …
George Washington? Augustus Bedford? Peleg D. Harrison? Jane A. Stewart? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: U.S. flags are displayed on holidays such as Flag Day, Memorial Day, and Independence Day. One of the founding fathers has received credit for the following symbolism explanation: We take the stars from heaven, the red from our mother country, …
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Paul Erdős? Alfréd Rényi? Jane Philcox? Suzy Schultz? Scott Westerfeld? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Three outstanding mathematicians have been credited with the following humorous remark about their profession: A mathematician is a machine for turning coffee into theorems. This statement is usually attributed to the brilliant and prolific Hungarian mathematician Paul Erdős. Yet, it …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: A Mathematician Is a Machine Which Turns Coffee into Theorems”
Victor Hugo? Lorenzo O’Rourke? Agnès Pierron? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: A literary titan commented on the stylized representations employed in theatrical productions. I do not recall the precise phrasing, but this was the gist: The stage does not embody realism. It employs cardboard trees, glass diamonds, gold tinsel, and painted faces. The sun rises …
Warren Buffett? Howard Buffett? Nancy Miller? Henry F. Kletzing? Robert Quillen? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: A positive reputation is fragile. Here are three versions of a popular saying: (A) It takes years to build up a good reputation which may be destroyed in five minutes.(B) It takes 20 years to build a reputation and …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: It Takes 20 Years To Build a Reputation and Five Minutes To Ruin It”
Helen Keller? Anne Sullivan? Nella Braddy Henney? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: When Helen Keller was 19 months old, she lost her sight and her hearing due to an illness. Keller experienced a breakthrough in communication at the age of seven when Anne Sullivan became her teacher and companion. Apparently, Keller gave a remarkable description …
Arthur C. Clarke? Isaac Asimov? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Machine learning techniques have dramatically increased in power during the twenty-first century. Some contemporary thinkers fear the emergence of artificial intelligence systems which will supersede humankind. Yet, a prominent science fiction author of the previous century espoused a surprising position. The author felt no apprehension …
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 …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: Before You Speak, Listen. Before You Write, Think”
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, …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: ’Twas Not My Lips You Kissed, But My Soul”