“My toils in the quotation field have led me to formulate two or three laws about the way people use and abuse quotations. My first law is: When in doubt, ascribe all quotations to Bernard Shaw - which I don't mean to be taken literally, but as a general observation of the habit people have of attaching remarks to the nearest obvious speaker. Churchill, Wilde, Orson Welles and Alexander Woollcott are other useful figures upon whom to father remarks when you don't know who really said them.” PeopleKnowsWayFirstsMeanSaidTwoUseLawThreeFatherTakenDoubtFiguresFieldsHabitAbuseObviousObservationSpeakersQuotationsToilRemarksWhen In DoubtWildeBernard ShawUse And Abuse Author:Nigel Rees
“The enormous influence of novelty--the way in which it quickens observations, sharpens sensations, and exalts sentiment--is not half enough taken note of by us, and is to me a very sorrowful matter. And yet, if we try to obtain perpetual change, change itself will become monotonous.” IfsWayTryingMatterEnoughHalfTakenInfluenceNotesEnormousObservationSensationsSentimentsPerpetualNoveltyMonotonousSorrowful Book:Modern Painters: pt. 4. Of many things Source: Modern Painters: pt. 4. Of many things
“I've spent more time than many will believe [making microscopic observations], but I've done them with joy, and I've taken no notice those who have said why take so much trouble and what good is it?” BelieveSaidDoneJoyTakenTroubleObservationMore Time Author:Antonie van Leeuwenhoek
“...academic credentials are neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for having your ideas taken seriously. If a famous professor repeatedly says stupid things, then tries to claim he never said them, there's no rule against calling him a mendacious idiot - and no special qualifications required to make that pronouncement other than doing your own homework.Conversely, if someone without formal credentials consistently makes trenchant, insightful observations, he or she has earned the right to be taken seriously, regardless of background.” IfsTryingSaidIdeasTakenSpecialConditionsStupidCallingClaimsBackgroundsObservationIdiotSufficientInsightfulProfessorsAcademicConsistentlyFormalHomeworkQualificationsStupid ThingsCredentials Author:Paul Krugman
“I was taken to the hospital for observation. I stayed several days, didn't observe anything, and I left.” LeftTakenObservationHospitals Book:The Best of Brain Droppings Source: The Best of Brain Droppings