Tracing Quotations
Andrej Karpathy? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: The capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) systems have dramatically improved in recent years. One important challenge for AI has been the synthesis of computer programs based on English language descriptions. Apparently, a prominent AI researcher said: The hottest new programming language is English Would you please help me …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: The Hottest New Programming Language Is English”
Albert Einstein? William Miller? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: A famous scientist once stated that it was important to never stop questioning because curiosity has it own reason for existing. I do not recall the exact phrasing. This notion has been attributed to physicist Albert Einstein. Would you please help me to find a citation? …
Lin Yutang? Venita Cravens? Walter Savage Landor? Andrew Marvell? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Exceptional individuals accomplished remarkable feats in past ages. Unhappy critics complain that the current period lacks great figures. The talents and achievements of popular people nowadays are diminutive. Here are two versions of a pertinent metaphorical adage: (1) Little men throw …
Continue reading “Adage Origin: A Small Individual Casts a Long Shadow When the Sun Is Setting”
Branch Rickey? John Milton? Alexander Pope? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Confident people believe that luck is really controlled by human action. Religious people believe that luck is actually controlled by divine action. Here is a pertinent adage: Luck is the residue of design. This statement has been credited to prominent U.S. sports executive Branch …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: Luck Is the Residue of Design”
Susan Ohanian? Thomas Sowell? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Social media is rife with conflict. Comments about sensitive topics produce incendiary responses. I am reminded of this mordant insight: There are only two ways of telling the complete truth—anonymously and posthumously. U.S. economist Thomas Sowell and U.S. teacher Susan Ohanian have received credit for this …
Albert Einstein? Paul Arthur Schilpp? Marilyn Ferguson? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: An overly rigid approach to education is counter-productive because it extinguishes natural inquisitiveness. This viewpoint has been expressed as follows: It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education. The famous physicist Albert Einstein has received credit for this remark, but I have …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: It Is a Miracle That Curiosity Survives Formal Education”
Albert Einstein? Apocryphal? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Solving a difficult problem requires hard work for an extended period. To reinforce this viewpoint people enjoy sharing the following humble remark which has been attributed to Albert Einstein: It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer. I have been unable …
Wilson Mizner? Thomas Aloysius Dorgan? Tad Dorgan? Bill Downing? Wilton Lackaye? Clare Briggs? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: The initial stages of activities can be quite challenging. This hardship is reflected in following saying: the first year is the hardest. When the required period of endurance is extended to multiple years the saying becomes more …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: The First Hundred Years Are the Hardest”
Ernst Levy? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: A prominent musicologist once said that humankind should take art as seriously as physics, chemistry, and money. If this happens then humankind will begin the road to recovery. I do not recall the precise phrasing. Would you please help me to locate this quotation and the name of …
W. H. Wakinshaw? Erma Angevine? Karl Brandt? Harold Davies? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Critics of politicians and regulators complain about the preferential treatment given to some companies which act irresponsibly. A company that makes a risky bet or sells a dubious product is protected from the negative consequences by governmental intervention. Yet the same …
Continue reading “Saying Origin: Socialize the Costs and Privatize the Profits”