I’ve compiled a book from the Internet. It’s a book of quotations attributed to the wrong people. ~Jerry Seinfeld
I’ve collected quotations for years. I have books full of them. As a word person myself, I admire when someone states something in just the perfect way. I admire them even more when it happens to be something I think the same way about. It’s one of the reasons I enjoy going back after reading a book and turning on the “highlight” feature on my Kindle, to see what others have found moving, profound, funny, interesting, or just beautifully written. And more than once, just the way someone I’ve never heard of said or wrote something has pushed me to learn about them.
But sometimes I save a quote not only because of what it says, but because of who said it. Some of them wouldn’t have the same impact, were it not for who said them. Sometimes it makes perfect sense, sometimes it’s more of a “WHO said that?” moment. (This is, of course, assuming the attribution is correct, as pointed out by Mr. Seinfeld. Who hasn’t seen the quote along the lines of “One should always check the attribution of quotes found on the internet.” –Abraham Lincoln ) Sometimes it’s because it’s so unexpected, sometimes it’s because it makes us smile and nod because it’s a reinforcement of what we already thought of that person.
Some of my favorites:
Disney, of course, has the best casting. If he doesn’t like an actor, he just tears him up. –Alfred Hitchcock
I wanted to be a consultant but he said “I can’t hire you. You’re a genius and I’m a genius. We would kill each other the first week.” It’s the nicest compliment I ever got. –Ray Bradbury, recalling a conversation with Walt Disney
Literature: Written material that, 100 years after the death of the author, is forced upon high school students. –Tom Clancy
My prediction for next year is that it will come and it will pass. That’s it. –Dennis Quaid
I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody. –Bill Cosby
On being served matzo ball soup three meals in a row: “Isn’t there any other part of the matzo you eat?” –Marilyn Monroe
I can’t say I was ever lost, but I was bewildered once for three days. –Daniel Boone
The nice thing about being a celebrity is if you bore people, they think it’s their fault. –Henry Kissinger
Behind every famous man there’s a woman–telling him he’s not so hot. –Harrison Ford
The reason the All-American boy prefers beauty to brains is that he can see better than he can think. –Farrah Fawcett (at the height of her fame, and beauty)
And perhaps my favorite in this election season:
Just because your voice reaches halfway around the world doesn’t mean you are wiser than when it reached only to the end of the bar. –Edward R. Murrow
Anyone else have a favorite? Something that made you laugh, shake your head, or say “Yes!” out loud?