Tracing Quotations
Maya Angelou? Oprah Winfrey? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: The true character of a person cannot be hidden for a lengthy period behind a mask of deception. Here are two versions of a pertinent saying: (1) When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.(2) When someone shows you who they are …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: When People Show You Who They Are, Believe Them, the First Time”
Maya Angelou? Samuel Johnson? Sheree Crute? Salman Rushdie? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: A writer, now celebrated, faced harsh criticism in the early days of her career. She responded by acknowledging that she required greater mental focus to succeed: If I wanted to write, I had to be willing to develop a kind of concentration …
Samuel Johnson? James Boswell? William Dodd? Maya Angelou? Arthur C. Clarke? Vermont Royster? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: A prominent literary figure crafted a fascinating statement about concentration. Here are two versions: (1) When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully. (2) Nothing so wonderfully concentrates …
Shona Proverb? G. Fortune? Maya Angelou? Wolfgang Mieder? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: A faultfinder may deliver a harsh criticism and quickly forget it. Yet, the recipient of the barb may create a painful memory. Similarly, a person who causes an injury may forget the incident, but the person who is hurt will likely remember …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: The Tree Remembers What the Axe Forgets”
Maya Angelou? Claudia Tate? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: You will experience many setbacks and reversals in life, but you should never feel defeated. Encountering difficulties will help you to strengthen your power to endure and succeed. The prominent poet and memoirist Maya Angelou said something like this. Would you please help me to find …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: You May Encounter Many Defeats, But You Must Not Be Defeated”
Maya Angelou? Oprah Winfrey? Phil McGraw? Gary Zukav? Ernest Rogers? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: Life requires a complicated incremental process of learning. Agonizing mistakes are inevitable. Here are two versions of a heartfelt response to setbacks: (1) You did what you knew how to do, and when you knew better, you did better. (2) …
Maya Angelou? Bertha Flowers? Bill Moyers? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: Rhyme and rhythm often produce a lovely euphony in poems. This notion has been expressed as follows: Poetry is music written for the human voice. These words have been attributed to Renaissance woman Maya Angelou, but some people assert that she disclaimed credit. Would …
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Maya Angelou? Claudia Tate? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: An insightful simile likens the creative talent displayed by an individual while dancing, composing, teaching, or singing to electricity. This figure of speech has been attributed to Renaissance woman Maya Angelou. Would you please explore this topic? Reply from Quote Investigator: In 1983 Claudia Tate edited …
Maya Angelou? Bill Moyers? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: The prominent memoirist and poet Maya Angelou suffered in her early life, but she did not become bitter. She believed that young cynics were tragic figures. Would you please help me to find her comment on this topic? Reply from Quote Investigator: This article mentions rape, …
Maya Angelou? Odetta Holmes? Velma Gibson Watts? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: The prominent memoirist and poet Maya Angelou overcame great obstacles in her life, and she encouraged others to maintain a positive energetic perspective. She has been credited with this saying: Don’t bring negative to my door. Would you please help me to find …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: Don’t Bring the Negative to My Door”