The Quote Verifier: Who Said What, Where, and WhenSt. Martin's Publishing Group, 1. apr 2007 - 416 pages Our language is full of hundreds of quotations that are often cited but seldom confirmed. Ralph Keyes's The Quote Verifier considers not only classic misquotes such as "Nice guys finish last," and "Play it again, Sam," but more surprising ones such as "Ain't I a woman?" and "Golf is a good walk spoiled," as well as the origins of popular sayings such as "The opera ain't over till the fat lady sings," "No one washes a rented car," and "Make my day." |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 92
... Verdict: A maxim of obscure origins, put in famous mouths. “If you have to ask how much they cost, you can't AFFORD one.” J. P. Morgan's alleged response to an inquiry about the cost of his yachts is considered the epitome of wealthy ...
... Verdict: Author unknown; possibly Georges Clemenceau. “We are not AMUSED.” The only evidence that Queen Victoria ever made this imperious statement consists of a 1900 diary entry in an anonymously authored 1919 book called The Notebooks ...
... Verdict: A thought in wide circulation long before JFK adopted it. “My center is giving way, my right is in retreat. Situation excellent. I shall ATTACK!” By legend French General Ferdinand Foch sent such a message to Gen. Joseph Joffre ...
... Verdict: Credit Liberace, crying. “Don't let the BASTARDS grind you down.” (“Illegimatinoli carborundum.”) The literal translation of this mock-Latin motto is “Let there not be carborunduming by the illegitimate.” (Carborundum derives ...
... Verdict: David Halberstam's popularization of a phrase with a long heritage. “The BIGGER they are, the harder they fall.” This maxim is sometimes attributed to boxer John L. Sullivan, occasionally to his colleague James Corbett, but ...
Contents
1 | |
BIBLIOGRAPHY | 259 |
SOURCE NOTES | 267 |
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS | 345 |
KEY WORD INDEX | 347 |
NAME INDEX | 375 |
SIDEBAR INDEX | 389 |