Tracing Quotations
The Royal Toast Master? Supporters of U.S. President George Washington? William Makepeace Thackeray? Francis Bacon? Randall Munroe? An Anonymous Wit? Question for Quote Investigator: A brilliant toast uses antimetabole and a pun. Here are two versions: Would you please explore the provenance of this expression? Reply from Quote Investigator: The earliest match known to QI …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: Champagne To Our Real Friends, and Real Pain To Our Sham Friends”
George Washington? John Tillotson? Jonathan Swift? James Fenimore Cooper? Frederick Uttley Laycock? Robert Heinlein? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: A cautionary statement about statecraft has often been attributed to George Washington. Here are three versions: 1) Government is like fire, a dangerous servant and a fearful master. 2) Government, like fire, is a troublesome servant …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: Government Is Like Fire, a Dangerous Servant and a Fearful Master”
George Washington? C. S. Wheatley? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: Are you familiar with the “liberty teeth” speech attributed to George Washington? Researchers have been unable to find evidence that Washington delivered this address, and some phrases are apparently anachronistic. Would you please explore its provenance? Reply from Quote Investigator: The earliest evidence located by …