John Florence Sullivan – Quote Investigator®

Quote Origin: A Committee Is a Gathering of Important People Who, Singly Can Do Nothing, But Together Can Decide That Nothing Can Be Done

Fred Allen? John Florence Sullivan? St. Martin’s Review? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Meetings are often ineffective time-wasting exercises. Here are two versions of a popular comical criticism: (1) A committee is a body of people who individually can do nothing but collectively they may decide that nothing can be done. (2) A conference is …

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Joke Origin: A Person Who Makes Puns Should Be Drawn and Quoted

Fred Allen? John Florence Sullivan? Charlie Rice? Red Skelton? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Puns are regularly lambasted, but the complaints are often comical as in the following slyly self-reflexive joke: A person who makes puns should be drawn and quoted. This statement has been attributed to comedian Fred Allen, newspaper columnist Charlie Rice, and …

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