Quote Investigator® – Page 18

Quote Origin: Activism – It Pays the Rent on Being Alive and Being Here On the Planet

Alice Walker? Claudia Dreifus? Michael Franti? Alex Walker? Peter Noonan? Apocryphal?

Question for Quote Investigator: A prominent social activist was asked to explain the rationale underlying her sustained efforts. Here are two versions of the response:

(1) Activism is my rent for living on this planet.
(2) My activism pays the rent on being here on the planet.

This reply is usually attributed to Alice Walker who won the Pulitzer Prize for penning the novel “The Color Purple”. I do not know the precise phrasing. Would you please help me to find a solid citation.

Reply from Quote Investigator: In August 1989 Alice Walker was interviewed by Claudia Dreifus in “The Progressive” magazine. Dreifus asked Walker about her history of activism. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:¹

Q: More than many writers, you are known as a political activist. What do you get from activism?

Walker: Well, it pays the rent on being alive and being here on the planet. There are things that you really owe, I feel. I think if I weren’t active politically, I would feel as if I were sitting back eating at the banquet without washing the dishes or preparing the food. It wouldn’t feel right to me.

The question and answer format made it difficult to present Walker’s statement as a self-contained quotation. Strictly speaking, the word “activism” was spoken by Dreifus and not by Walker. Nevertheless, “The Progressive” magazine credited Alice Walker with a streamlined version of her remarks on the page showing the table of contents:²

‘My activism pays the rent on being alive and being here on the planet. If I weren’t active politically, I would feel as if I were sitting back eating at the banquet without washing the dishes or preparing the food.’

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quote Origin: They Said It Couldn’t Be Done, But the Fool Didn’t Know It, So the Fool Went Ahead and Did It

Albert Einstein? Mary O’Hara? Raymond S. Tompkins? B. P. Fullerton? E. V. Allen? Anonymous?

The Wright Flyer together with Orville and Wilbur Wright

Question for Quote Investigator: Persistent incorrect beliefs can be a major barrier to discovery and invention. A humorous adage reflects this viewpoint. Here are two versions:

(1) Everyone knew it was impossible, until a fool who didn’t know came along and did it.

(1) People said it couldn’t be done; but the fool didn’t know it, so he went ahead and did it.

This notion has been attributed to the famous physicist Albert Einstein and the popular novelist Mary O’Hara; however, I have never seen a proper citation, and I am skeptical. Would you please explore this topic?

Reply from Quote Investigator: There is no substantive evidence that Albert Einstein wrote or spoke this statement. It is not listed in the comprehensive reference “The Ultimate Quotable Einstein” from Princeton University Press.¹

Mary O’Hara did employ the saying in her 1941 novel “My Friend Flicka”, but the saying was already in circulation.

This saying is difficult to trace because it can be expressed in many ways. The earliest match located by QI appeared in February 1919 as a banner on the top of the front page of “The McClain County News” of Blanchard, Oklahoma. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:²

They said it couldn’t be done, but the poor fool didn’t know it, so he went ahead and did it.–Co-op

QI believes that the saying was probably already in circulation, and the original creator remains anonymous.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quote Origin: Three Stages of Discovery: First, They Deny It Is True; Second, They Deny It Is Important; Third, They Deny It Is New

Alexander von Humboldt? Voltaire? Samuel Eliot Morison? Timothy Ferris? Bill Bryson? Apocryphal?

Depiction of Earth as seen from the moon

Question for Quote Investigator: Time is required for a society to fully comprehend and accept a major discovery. Resistance to a breakthrough occurs in a series of phases. Here are two versions of a cogent saying:

Three degrees of doubt: First, deny the discovery itself; Second, deny the importance; third, deny the novelty.

Three stages of discovery: first, people doubt its existence; second, they deny its importance; third, they credit someone else.

This saying has been attributed to German geographer and naturalist Alexander von Humboldt. Would you please explore this topic?

Reply from Quote Investigator: The earliest match known to QI appeared in an 1836 book by Alexander von Humboldt titled “Examen Critique de L’Histoire de La Géographie du Nouveau Continent” (“Critical Examination of the History of Geography of the New Continent”). This passage in French is followed by an English translation. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:¹

A toutes les époques d’une civilisation avancée, il en a été des découvertes géographiques comme des inventions dans les arts, et de ces grandes conceptions dans les lettres et les sciences, par lesquelles l’esprit humain tente de se frayer une route nouvelle; on nie d’abord la découverte même ou la justesse de la conception; plus tard on nie leur importance, enfin, leur nouveauté. Ce sont trois degrés d’un doute qui adoucit, du moins pour quelque temps, les chagrins causés par l’envie . . .

In all periods of an advanced civilization, there have been geographical discoveries as well as inventions in the arts, and these great conceptions in letters and sciences, by which the human mind attempts to forge a new path; we first deny the discovery itself or the accuracy of the conception; later we deny the importance, finally we deny the novelty. These are three degrees of doubt which soften, at least for a while, the sorrows caused by envy . . .

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quote Origin: Your Room Is Not Your Prison. You Are

Sylvia Plath? Karen V. Kukil? Ronald Hayman? Apocryphal?

Public domain illustration of a bell jar

Question for Quote Investigator: A prominent literary figure who was experiencing bouts of intense anxiety wrote about feelings of restriction. Here are two versions:

(1) Your room is not your prison. You are.
(2) It isn’t your room that’s a prison, it’s yourself.

This notion has been attributed to acclaimed U.S. poet and novelist Sylvia Plath. Are either of these statements genuine? Would you please help me to determine the correct phrasing and a citation?

Reply from Quote Investigator: Sylvia Plath kept journals for many years which she filled with her private thoughts. She recorded the fact that she had both contemplated and attempted suicide.

Plath attended Smith College from 1951 to 1955. The following passage from 1953 employed a tone of self-reproach. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:¹

Stop thinking selfishly of razors & self-wounds & going out and ending it all. Your room is not your prison. You are. And Smith cannot cure you; no one has the power to cure you but yourself.

The excerpt above appeared in “The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath 1950-1962” edited by Karen V. Kukil published in 2000. The entry was written between June 19, 1953 and July 14, 1953.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quote Origin: When Colombus Promised a New Hemisphere, All Said That It Could Not Exist. When He Found It, All Said It Had Been Known Long Before

Voltaire? Abraham Hayward? Alexander von Humboldt? Apocryphal?

Question for Quote Investigator: The resistance to new ideas is tenacious. Yet, there is a breathtaking reversal in attitude once a new idea is established.

The philosopher Voltaire has received credit for presenting the following example regarding Christopher Columbus. When the explorer proposed an expedition to reach a new hemisphere he was told that the place he envisioned did not exist. When his expedition reached the new hemisphere he was told that everyone already knew it existed.

Would you please help me to find a citation?

Reply from Quote Investigator: In 1756 Voltaire (pen name of François-Marie Arouet) published “Essai Sur Les Mœurs et L’Esprit des Nations” (“Essay On the Morals and Spirit of Nations”). The essay included the following passage about Christopher Columbus. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:¹

Lorsque Colombo avait promis un nouvel hémisphère, on lui avait soutenu que cet hémisphère ne pouvait exister; & quand il l’eut découvert, on prétendit qu’il avait été connu depuis long-temps.

Here is one possible translation into English:

When Colombus promised a new hemisphere, he was told that this hemisphere could not exist; & when he discovered it, it was claimed that it had been known for a long time.

Of course, the hemisphere was not a new discovery to its many existing inhabitants. Voltaire’s statement was from the perspective of a European.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quote Origin: The Person Who Never Quotes Will Never Be Quoted

Charles Haddon Spurgeon? Apocryphal?

Question for Quote Investigator: Employing quotations enlivens your writings and speeches. The best quotations are forceful, witty, eloquent, authoritative, and persuasive. Here are three versions of a pertinent statement:

(1) You will never be quoted if you never quote.
(2) He who never quotes will never be quoted.
(3) He who never quotes, is never quoted.

This remark has been credited to a famous preacher. Would you please help me to trace it?

Reply from Quote Investigator: In 1863 the popular English preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon delivered a sermon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. Spurgeon spoke about the necessity of reading and quoting. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:¹

The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted; he who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains proves that he has no brains of his own! Brothers and sisters, what is true of ministers is true of all our people. You need to read.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quip Origin: Only On Days Ending With the Letter “Y”

Norman Jacobshagen? Joe Murphy? Robert Orben? Alfred Sheinwold? Anonymous?

Question for Quote Investigator: A popular family of quips is based on the curious uniformity in the spelling of the days of the week. Here are two examples:

(1) Don’t play bridge on any day ending in a “y”
(2) Play golf just on those days ending with “y”

A moments reflection reveals that every day of the week terminates with the letter “y”. Would you please explore the history of this joke?

Reply from Quote Investigator: The earliest match known to QI appeared in 1931 within “The Messenger” weekly newspaper which was published by high school students in Wichita, Kansas. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:¹

Advice to Lovelorn from Norman Jacobshagen: “I would say that it is unwise to get married on any day ending in the letter ‘Y’—Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday.”

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quote Origin: I Am a Fugitive From a Daisy Chain Gang

Dorothy Parker? Tiffany Thayer? Apocryphal?

Group of daisies forming a heart shape from Pixabay

Question for Quote Investigator: The popular 1932 movie “I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang” was about an innocent man who was sent to prison and escaped from a chain gang. A humorist wrote a scathing review of an erotic book which suggested that the shoddy novel should have been called “I Am a Fugitive from a Daisy Chain Gang”. Would you please help me to determine who coined this comical expression?

Reply from Quote Investigator: In 1933 the prominent wit Dorothy Parker published a review of Tiffany Thayer’s book “An American Girl” in “The New Yorker” magazine. Parker lambasted Thayer’s depiction of carnality:¹

He is beyond question a writer of power; and his power lies in his ability to make sex so thoroughly, graphically, and aggressively unattractive that one is fairly shaken to ponder how little one has been missing.

Tiffany Thayer was an eccentric figure who penned erotica, fantasy, and science fiction. He helped found the Fortean Society in New York City. Parker presented an alternative title for the book she reviewed. Boldface added to excerpt by QI:

Only in the friendliest spirit is it suggested that for later editions he might care to change his present rather pastel title to the possibly more provocative “I Am a Fugitive from a Daisy Chain Gang.”

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quote Origin: Mother — One of the Highest-Salaried Jobs in Any Field, Since the Payment is Pure Love

Mildred B. Vermont? Marian Inman? Apocryphal?

Question for Quote Investigator: Motherhood is stressful and tiring, but the rewards are remarkable. One delighted mother said something like the following:

Being a mother is one of the highest salaried positions since the payment is pure love.

Would you please help me to determine the author and find a citation?

Reply from Quote Investigator: Mildred B. Vermont was an editor at a national magazine when she became pregnant at the age of thirty-three. She initially planned to return to her job after giving birth. However, she decided to spend more time with her child who was named Peter. She continued to work part time as a freelance writer. She described her experiences in a piece published in “Today’s Health” magazine in March 1954. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:¹

I have gained, not lost, by this new orientation toward my family. I have not given up my work. I simply arrange the schedule so that I can spend several hours each day at my typewriter . . .

Someday when Peter is grown up, I shall perhaps think again of the old career, the full-time job in the vigorous “outside world.” Until then I am content to be a full-time mother, one of the highest-salaried jobs in any field, since the payment is pure love.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

Quote Origin: Those Who Do Not Want To Imitate Anything, Produce Nothing

Salvador Dali? Eleanor R. Morse? Apocryphal?

Person looking at pictures in an art gallery from Unsplash

Question for Quote Investigator: Neophyte artists must learn from the works of established artists, but imitation is controversial. A famous creator presented the following adage:

Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.

This statement has been attributed to the prominent Spanish surrealist painter Salvador Dalí. Is this quotation genuine? Would you please help me to find a citation?

Reply from Quote Investigator: In 1970 Salvador Dalí published “Dali par Dali” in French. An English translation by Eleanor R. Morse under the title “Dali by Dali” also appeared in 1970. Dalí wrote about the surprising consequences of imitation. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:¹

During the Renaissance, when they wished to imitate Immortal Greece, they produced Raphael. Ingres wished to imitate Raphael, and became Ingres. Cézanne wished to imitate Poussin, and thus became Cézanne. Dali wanted to imitate Meissonier and THE RESULT WAS DALI. Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.