Henry Wadsworth Longfellow? William Nevins? Stephen M. R. Covey? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: The way we judge ourselves often differs markedly from the way others judge us. We tend to evaluate ourselves based on what we are capable of doing, or what we intend to do, or what we say we will do. However, …
Search results for: Ann Frank
Quote Origin: The Philosopher, the Theologian, and the Elusive Black Cat
Julian Huxley? H. L. Mencken? Lewis Browne? Eric Temple Bell? William James? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: The QI website has an article tracing a quip about a problematic absurdist quest: A metaphysician is a man who goes into a dark cellar at midnight without a light looking for a black cat that is not …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: The Philosopher, the Theologian, and the Elusive Black Cat”
Quote Origin: Those Who Love Deeply Never Grow Old
Benjamin Franklin? Dorothy Canfield Fisher? Arthur Wing Pinero? Abigail Van Buren? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: I recently saw an illustration of two people embracing above the following caption: Those who love deeply never grow old; they may die of old age, but they die young. At least three different people have been credited with …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: Those Who Love Deeply Never Grow Old”
Quote Origin: If You Can Read This, You’ve Come Too Close
Dorothy Parker? Lillian Hellman? Ford Model T Label? Frank Sullivan? Apocryphal? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: The witty author Dorothy Parker was once asked to suggest an epitaph for her tombstone. Over the years she crafted several different candidates, and I am interested in the following saying which can be expressed in multiple ways: If …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: If You Can Read This, You’ve Come Too Close”
Quote Origin: Just Close Your Eyes and Think of England
Queen Victoria? Lucy Baldwin? Pierre Daninos? Lady Hillingham? Lady Hillingdon? Jonathan Gathorne-Hardy? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: There is a well-known though unreliable anecdote about the guidance offered to brides in the repressive Victorian era. Supposedly, Queen Victoria was asked by one of her newly married daughters about possible carnal activities in the marriage bed. …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: Just Close Your Eyes and Think of England”
Quote Origin: Time Wounds All Heels
Groucho Marx? Marshall Reid? Fanny Brice? Frank Case? Jane Ace? Goodman Ace? Rudy Vallée? Verree Teasdale? Robert Bloch? John Lennon? Ann Landers? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: The following humorous pun about comeuppance for poor behavior has been attributed to the famous comedian Groucho Marx. The slang term “heel” refers to a contemptible person: Time …
Quote Origin: You Can’t Be a Real Country Unless You Have a Beer and an Airline
Frank Zappa? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: Did the Frank Zappa really say that a proper country needs a beer and an airline? Reply from Quote Investigator: In 1989 “The Real Frank Zappa Book” was published by the well-known songwriter and musician, and it included an instance of the remark mentioned above. Zappa was not …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: You Can’t Be a Real Country Unless You Have a Beer and an Airline”
Quote Origin: Know Your Lines and Don’t Bump Into the Furniture
Spencer Tracy? Noel Coward? Alfred Lunt? Lynn Fontanne? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Some actors engage in elaborate rituals when preparing to perform a role. But the funniest advice about acting that I have ever heard avoids all pretensions. Here are three versions: 1) Speak clearly, and don’t bump into the furniture. 2) Learn your …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: Know Your Lines and Don’t Bump Into the Furniture”
Quote Origin: Art, Like Morality, Consists of Drawing the Line Somewhere
Oscar Wilde? G. K. Chesterton? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: I saw the following remark on the webpage of an educator: Morality, like art, means drawing a line someplace. The phrase was attributed to Oscar Wilde, but I have not been able to find it in his oeuvre. It was listed on websites like Goodreads …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: Art, Like Morality, Consists of Drawing the Line Somewhere”
Quote Origin: A Lie Can Travel Halfway Around the World While the Truth Is Putting On Its Shoes
Mark Twain? Jonathan Swift? Thomas Francklin? Fisher Ames? Thomas Jefferson? John Randolph? Charles Haddon Spurgeon? Winston Churchill? Terry Pratchett? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: An insightful remark about the rapid transmission of lies is often attributed to Mark Twain and Winston Churchill. Here are two versions: (1) A lie travels around the globe while the truth …