Tracing Quotations
Paul Robeson? William Shakespeare? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: A prominent actor once discussed William Shakespeare’s tragic character Othello and said the following: There could be no greater character to play. This statement has been attributed to Paul Robeson. Would you please explore this topic. Quote Investigator: Paul Robeson played the character Othello in London in …
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William Shakespeare? Henry van Dyke? Alice Morse Earle? Katrina Trask? H. L. Mencken? Lady Jane Fellowes? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: The following lines have been credited to the famous English playwright and poet William Shakespeare: Time is very slow for those who wait Very fast for those who are scared Very long for those who …
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Tallulah Bankhead? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: The famous actress Tallulah Bankhead was an ardent baseball fan, and she was particularly impressed by the outstanding skills of the great athlete Willie Mays. Apparently, she stated that there have only been two authentic geniuses in history: Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare I am not sure if this …
Mark Twain? Oxford Student? Frenchman? Lewis Carroll? Schoolchild? G. K. Chesterton? Israel Zangwill? Charles Lamb? Benjamin Jowett? Aldous Huxley? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: Determining the accurate provenance of famous plays and poems can be a contentious topic. According to tradition the composer of the Iliad and Odyssey has been referred to as Homer, but some …
William Shakespeare? Mark Twain? Oscar Wilde? Winston Churchill? Abby Buchanan Longstreet? Frank Fay? Pierre de Roman? Joey Adams? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: There exists a collection of similar jokes based on word play and the terms: battle, armed, wit, and half-wit. Here are some examples: 1) I would challenge you to a battle of wits, …
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William Shakespeare? Pablo Picasso? David Viscott? Joy Golliver? Emilio Santini? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: A popular adage presents a fascinating answer to a perennial philosophical question about the significance of life: The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away. This statement is often attributed …
William Shakespeare? Arrigo Boito? Jeane Westin? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: I have a question about a quotation depicting communication between lovers. The following words are often ascribed to William Shakespeare: When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew. Sometimes the play Romeo and Juliet is named as the source, …
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Shake? William Shakespeare? Mulleary? Goethe? Henry Cuyler Bunner? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: While studying English in school I heard the following humorous rhyme about The Bard of Avon: Shakespeare was a dramatist of note who lived by writing things to quote. These words are from a longer poem, but I have not been able to …
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