Fred Rogers? Mister Rogers? Joanne Rogers? Mary Lou Kownacki? Anonymous?
Dear Quote Investigator: One empathetic thinker suggested that it was possible to love almost anyone once one heard their full story. This notion has been attributed to U.S. television host Fred Rogers who was best known by the appellation “Mister Rogers”, but I have been unable to find a solid citation. Would you please explore this topic?
Quote Investigator: The earliest strong match located by QI appeared in the 1994 book “More Random Acts of Kindness” by the editors of Conari Press of Berkeley, California. This work contained inspirational stories of kindness together with many quotations such as following. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:[1] 1994, More Random Acts of Kindness by The Editors of Conari Press, Quote Page 75, Conari Press, Berkeley, California. (Verified with scans)
Engrave this upon my heart: There isn’t anyone you couldn’t love once you’ve heard their story.
—Mary Lou Kownacki, OSB
The “OSB” designation signaled Kownacki’s membership in the Order of St. Benedict, a monastic religious order of the Roman Catholic Church. She is the leading candidate for originator of this expression.
Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.
Continue reading There Isn’t Anyone You Couldn’t Love Once You’ve Heard Their Story
References
| ↑1 | 1994, More Random Acts of Kindness by The Editors of Conari Press, Quote Page 75, Conari Press, Berkeley, California. (Verified with scans) |
|---|