Quote Investigator® – Page 18

Quote Origin: Democracy Is the Worst Form of Government Except For All Others Which Have Been Tried

Winston Churchill? Guy Henson? Plato? Israel Zangwill? William Ralph Inge? Robert Briffault? Herbert Hoover? Anonymous?

Illustration of a ballot box from Unsplash

Question for Quote Investigator: The flaws in the democratic form of government are numerous, yet the alternatives such as oligarchy and autocracy inevitably become oppressive and tyrannical. A famous saying states that democracy is the worst form of government except for all others which have been tried.

Winston Churchill popularized this notion, but I do not know who should receive credit for originating it. Would you please explore this topic?

Reply from Quote Investigator: In November 1947 Winston Churchill delivered a speech to the U.K. House of Commons. He made a memorable remark about democracy, but he employed the prefatory phrase “it has been said”. Thus, he signaled that the remark was already in circulation. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:¹

Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time; but there is the broad feeling in our country that the people should rule, continuously rule, and that public opinion, expressed by all constitutional means, should shape, guide, and control the actions of Ministers who are their servants and not their masters.

Churchill was correct that the saying was circulating before his remark. QI has located a match written by Canadian educator Guy Henson in May 1946 within “A Report On Provincial Support of Adult Education in Nova Scotia”. Henson did not take credit; instead, the attribution was anonymous:²

This dilemma in education depends for solution on the meaning of democracy in practice. This is commonly called the most difficult form of government in the world; it has even been called the worst form of government, except for all others which have been tried. Certainly it is the form of government which our people are agreed to make work.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quote Origin: I Expect To Pass Through This World But Once. If There Be Any Kindness I Can Show, Let Me Do It Now

Stephen Grellet? Eva Rose York? A. B. Hegeman? William Penn? John Wesley? John Townsend? Eliza M. Hickok? Henry Drummond? Quakers’ Motto? Anonymous?

**Red, pink, and white candy hearts from Unsplash**

Question for Quote Investigator: Our time on Earth is remarkably brief. We should not hesitate to express compassion and empathy toward others. This notion has been expressed as follows:

I expect to pass through this world but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing that I can do to any fellow human being, let me do it now.

This quotation has been attributed to two prominent members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers): French missionary Stephen Grellet and English writer William Penn. It has also been credited to English cleric John Wesley, Mrs. A. B. Hegeman, John Townsend, and others. Would you please explore this topic?

Reply from Quote Investigator: The earliest match located by QI appeared in “The Independent” of Oskaloosa, Kansas on October 31, 1868. The creator of the saying was only referred to as an anonymous “wise man”. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:¹

WORTH REMEMBERING.—The following soliloquy of a wise man is applicable to and should be put into practice by every mother’s son and daughter of the race: “I expect to pass through this world but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing that I can do, to any fellow human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it; for I will not pass this way again.”

The second earliest match located by QI appeared in the religious periodical “Friends’ Intelligencer” on November 14, 1868. The text was nearly identical. The word “nor” was changed to “or”. The creator was unnamed:²

I expect to pass through this world but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing that I can do to any fellow human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I will not pass this way again.

During subsequent months the saying appeared in numerous periodicals, but the creator remained anonymous. In 1877 the saying was credited to influential Quaker William Penn, but Penn died in the eighteenth century; hence, this linkage provided very weak evidence. Several other attributions appeared in later years, but QI has not yet found a substantive linkage.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quote Origin: If I Knew What the Meanings of My Books Were, I Wouldn’t Have Bothered To Write Them

Margaret Drabble? George Plimpton? Apocryphal?

Illustration of an open book from Unsplash

Question for Quote Investigator: When novelists are asked to explain the meanings of the stories they create some are happy to comply. However, many are reticent to present a single definitive interpretation to a complex multilayered narrative. The English novelist Margaret Drabble provided a humorously caustic reply. Would you please help me to find a citation for her comment about the meaning of her tales?

Reply from Quote Investigator: In 1978 “The Paris Review” published an interview with Margaret Drabble. She was asked about the letters she had received from members of the public. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:¹

What really annoys me are the ones who write to say, I am doing your book for my final examinations and could you please tell me what the meaning of it is. I find it just so staggering—that you’re supposed to explain the meaning of your book to some total stranger! If I knew what the meanings of my books were, I wouldn’t have bothered to write them.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quote Origin: I Write Because I Want More Than One Life

Anne Tyler? Lee Smith? C. S. Lewis? George R. R. Martin? Louis L’Amour? Apocryphal?

Preparing to write in a notebook from Unsplash

Question for Quote Investigator: A prominent author disclosed a fascinating insight into her prime motivation for writing novels. She desired to live more than one life. Would you please help me to identify this author and find a citation?

Reply from Quote Investigator: U.S novelist and literary critic Anne Tyler has written popular and acclaimed novels including “Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant”, “The Accidental Tourist”, and “Breathing Lessons”. In 1976 she published a piece about writing in “The Washington Post”. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:¹

I write because I want more than one life; I insist on a wider selection. It’s greed, plain and simple. When my characters join the circus, I’m joining the circus. Although I am happily married, I spend a great deal of time mentally living with incompatible husbands.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quote Origin: How Do You Make a Small Fortune in a Risky Domain? Start With a Large Fortune

Elon Musk? Ruly Carpenter? Stanley Kroll? Leo Fuld? Alan Young? Phil Silvers? Joey Adams? Anonymous?

Illustration of gold bars and coins from Unsplash

Question for Quote Investigator: A family of jokes emphasizes the unforgiving economics of risky or expensive activities. Here are four examples:

(1) How do you make a small fortune in social media? Start out with a large one.

(2) The surest way to make a small fortune in the commodity market is to start with a large one.

(3) To leave a casino with a small fortune you should arrive with a big one.

(4) “How do you make a million in the stock market?” “Start with two million!”

Would you please explore this topic?

Reply from Quote Investigator: The first example above occurred in an x-twitter message from Elon Musk dated November 17, 2022.

The earliest member of this family located by QI appeared in February 1950 within the syndicated newspaper column of Earl Wilson. The quip was credited to popular singer Leo Fuld. The ellipsis below occurred in the original text. Boldface added to excepts by QI:¹

TODAY’S BEST LAUGH: Leo Fuld, the Dutch singer who’s become a big hit in England, asks: “Know how to go to England on a visit and leave with a small fortune? … Go there with a large fortune.”

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quote Origin: True Heroism is Not the Urge To Surpass All Others At Whatever Cost, But the Urge To Serve Others At Whatever Cost

Arthur Ashe? Apocryphal?

Tennis racquet and ball lying on a court from Unsplash

Question for Quote Investigator: A famous tennis player once discussed the topic of valor. He stated that heroism was not based on a desire to surpass others, but on a desire to serve others. A statement like this has been attributed to Arthur Ashe. Would you please help me to find a citation?

Reply from Quote Investigator: In 1993 a newspaper in Delaware, Ohio printed an article which contained the quotation. Boldface added to excepts by QI:¹

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost,” Arthur Ashe told the Ohio Wesleyan University class of 1991 in his commencement address.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quote Origin: If One Person Says It’s Raining and Another Says It’s Not Raining Then the Journalist Should Look Out the Window and Report the Truth

Hubert Mewhinney? Sam Kinch? ‎Stuart Long? Adam J. Schiffer? Jack Z. Smith? Rick Sanchez? Anonymous?

Depiction of a rainy night in a city from Unsplash

Question for Quote Investigator: Journalists are taught to value fairness and objectivity. If there are two sides to an issue then fairness demands that both sides should be presented in an article. Yet, sometimes only one side makes sense. The other side is deceptive or delusional. Unfortunately, a timid journalist may be reluctant to express a strong stance.

The proper attitude of a good journalist can be summarized with a parable. If one person says it is raining and another person says it is not raining then a journalist should not simply quote them both. Instead, a journalist should look outside to ascertain the truth and relay it to the public.

Would you please explore the origin of this parable?

Reply from Quote Investigator: In 1974 journalists Sam Kinch and ‎Stuart Long published a book about Texas politics. The book credited “Texas Spectator” journalist Hubert Mewhinney with formulating the didactic tale under examination in the late 1940s. The tale referred to the two most powerful Texas politicians during that era. Boldface added to excepts by QI:¹

It was designed as a criticism of the then current attitude of Texas newspapers—that you quote what the man says, and that’s all.

“If Jimmy Allred says it’s raining, and W. Lee O’Daniel says it isn’t raining.” Mewhinney wrote. “Texas newspapermen quote them both, and don’t look out the window to see which is lying, and to tell the readers what the truth is at the moment.”

Mewhinney’s tale clearly suggested that a good journalist should look out the window and report the truth. QI has not yet been able to search an archive of the “Texas Spectator” in the 1940s. So QI has not verified the presence of text above in a specific newspaper issue.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quote Origin: Never Let a Fool Kiss You, and Never Let a Kiss Fool You

Joey Adams? Yip Harburg? Evan Esar? Judge Magazine? Anonymous?

Painting of “The Last Kiss of Romeo and Juliet” by Francesco Hayez

Question for Quote Investigator: A loving kiss is wonderful, but it should be with the right person. A deceptive kiss is perilous.

A family of quips about the dangers of osculation uses a rhetorical device called antimetabole. Words in the first half of a statement are reordered in the second half. Here are two instances:

(1) Never let a fool kiss you, and never let a kiss fool you.
(2) She let that fool kiss her; even worse she let that kiss fool her.

This joke has been attributed to U.S. comedian Joey Adams and U.S. lyricist Yip Harburg. I have not found a solid citation. Would you please explore this topic?

Reply from Quote Investigator: The earliest match located by QI appeared in the New York humor magazine “Judge” in September 1927 without attribution. Boldface added to excepts by QI:¹

Advice to Damsels—Never let a fool kiss you and never let a kiss fool you.

Thus, an editor at “Judge” crafted this joke or heard this joke from an unnamed contributor.

During the ensuing decades other humorists have employed this jest. For example, Joey Adams included the quip in a 1961 compilation, and Yip Harburg placed the joke into a 1965 compilation.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quote Origin: There May Be a Great Fire In Our Soul, Yet No One Ever Comes To Warm Themselves At It. Passers-By See Only a Wisp of Smoke from a Chimney

Vincent van Gogh? Joni Mitchell? Justin Lee Collins? Nellie Hermann? Apocryphal?

Burning logs in a fireplace from Unsplash

Question for Quote Investigator: A personal website enables an artist to achieve inexpensive worldwide distribution of a large digital portfolio. Yet, the greatest challenge for an artist today is convincing others to pay attention to their artworks.

In the late nineteenth century an artist who later became famous experienced this same problem of bleak obscurity. The artist lamented that there was a great fire in his soul, but others were unaware. No one chose to warm themselves at this fire. This notion has been attributed to the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh. Would you please help me to find a citation?

Reply from Quote Investigator: In 1880 Vincent van Gogh penned a letter in French to his brother Theo. The following excerpt rendered into English is from the 1978 edition of “The Complete Letters of Vincent van Gogh”. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:¹

Do our inner thoughts ever show outwardly? There may be a great fire in our soul, yet no one ever comes to warm himself at it, and the passers-by see only a wisp of smoke coming through the chimney, and go along their way.

Look here, now, what must be done? Must one tend that inner fire, have salt in oneself, wait patiently yet with how much impatience for the hour when somebody will come and sit down near it—maybe to stay? Let him who believes in God wait for the hour that will come sooner or later.

The mention of salt corresponds to the biblical verse Mark 9:50. In this case, it means energizing oneself and persevering.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quote Origin: We Are All Such a Waste of Our Potential, Like Three-Way Lamps Using One-Way Bulbs

Mignon McLaughlin? Derric Johnson? Anonymous?

Light bulb image from Alessandro Bianchi at Unsplash.

Question for Quote Investigator: A clever author once compared the unfulfilled potential of a human to a three-way light fixture which contains a one-way light bulb that never shines with its maximum luminance. Would you please help me to determine the name of the author who crafted this simile?

Reply from Quote Investigator: Mignon McLaughlin was a writer and editor at magazines such as “The Atlantic Monthly”, “Glamour”, and “Vogue” for four decades from the 1940s to the 1970s. In 1963 she published “The Neurotic’s Notebook” which contained miscellaneous aphorisms such as the following three statements. Boldface added to excepts by QI:¹

Hope is the feeling we have that the feeling we have is not permanent.

We are all such a waste of our potential, like three-way lamps using one-way bulbs.

The know-nothings are, unfortunately, seldom the do-nothings.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.