Tracing Quotations
Mignon McLaughlin? William Butler Yeats? Bertrand Russell? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: The present state of the world might be best explained with the following acerbic remark: The know-nothings of the world are, regrettably, not the do-nothings. I am not sure of the original phrasing. Would you please help me to trace this saying and …
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Mignon McLaughlin? Derric Johnson? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: A clever author once compared the unfulfilled potential of a human to a three-way light fixture which contains a one-way light bulb that never shines with its maximum luminance. Would you please help me to determine the name of the author who crafted this simile? Reply …
Mignon McLaughlin? Curzon Cooper? Robert Byrne? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: Whenever I lose an item it suddenly becomes very important. The item is exactly what I need to complete a vital task. This experience is reflected in the following quip: Anything you lose automatically doubles in value. Would you please determine who originated this …
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Mignon McLaughlin? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: First love is exhilarating. Infatuated lovers feel like they have acquired esoteric knowledge of the universe. This might even be true. The witty journalist Mignon McLaughlin made this point using a different phrasing. Would you please help me to find a citation? Quote Investigator: In 1963 McLaughlin published “The …
Mignon McLaughlin? Alan Sheldon? Stephen R. Covey? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: Receiving criticism is painful even when it is described as constructive. The witty journalist Mignon McLaughlin made a germane comment on this theme. Would you please help me to find a citation. Quote Investigator: In 1960 the unnamed columnist of “Thoughts and Things” in …
Mignon McLaughlin? Leata McQuiston? Barbara Bush? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: “Be yourself” is an ubiquitous platitude. Here is a funny variant: Don’t be yourself—be someone a little nicer. Would you please explore the provenance of this quip? Quote Investigator: The earliest instance located by QI appeared in a newspaper column called “Chatter” by Leata McQuiston published …
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Mignon McLaughlin? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: Feeling discouraged is a natural reaction to the state of the world sometimes. Currently, there is a pandemic curtailing social and economic activity almost everywhere. Yet, these pessimistic feelings will not last forever. My favorite witty person, Mignon McLaughlin, once presented a clever definition of “hope” that is pertinent. …
Continue reading “Hope Is the Feeling We Have That the Feeling We Have Is Not Permanent”
Mignon McLaughlin? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: December is a season of generosity for many, but the eagerness of participants varies. A friend recently joked that she wanted to achieve a reputation for generosity as cheaply as possible. She disclaimed authorship of this quip. Would you please explore its provenance? Quote Investigator: The earliest match known …
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Mignon McLaughlin? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: Imagine reading a constructive, entertaining, and edifying discussion thread on social media. If you travel through the looking glass you can envision six impossible things before breakfast. Now, imagine reading an unconstructive, mind-numbing, and obscurantist exchange. This latter possibility reminds me of a rueful remark from the famous wit …
Mignon McLaughlin? Marshall McLuhan? Wayne Dyer? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: History books laud unconventional thinkers and eccentric characters who faced hardships during their lifetimes. An adage expressing this notion has been credited to magazine editor Mignon McLaughlin and media theorist Marshall McLuhan. Here are two versions: The world values live conformists and dead rebels. Society …
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