![]() In June 1940 the long-running “Chicago Tribune” column “In the WAKE of the NEWS” by Arch Ward printed an instance in a section called “Thinkograms” and credited “Sonja and Bob” who probably relayed the remark to Ward: 1940 June 29, Chicago Tribune, In the WAKE of the NEWS by Arch Ward, Thinkograms, Quote, Column 2, Chicago, Illinois. ![]() You probably wouldn’t worry about what people think of you if you could know how seldom they do! - Olin Miller In June 1939 the aphorism was printed as a filler item in the mass-circulation “Reader’s Digest” with an ascription to Olin Miller: 1939 June, Reader’s Digest, (Filler item with quotation), Quote, The Reader’s Digest Association. You wouldn’t worry about what people may think of you if you could know how seldom they do.-St. In February 1939 the expression was reprinted in a Clinton, New York newspaper with an acknowledgement to another paper: 1939 February 2, The Clinton Courier, With the Paragraphers (Reprinted from Newsdem), Quote, Column 2, Clinton, New York. You wouldn’t worry about what people may think of you if you could know how seldom they do. In December 1938 a slightly different version of the saying was published as a filler item in the “Evening World-Herald” of Omaha, Nebraska without an attribution: 1938 December 27, Evening World-Herald (Omaha World Herald), (Freestanding filler item), Quote, Column 2, Omaha, Nebraska. In 19 Olin Miller received credit for the adage as noted previously. If any man would consider how little he dwells upon the condition of others, he would learn how little the attention of others is attracted by himself. The common employments or pleasures of life, love or opposition, loss or gain, keep almost every mind in perpetual agitation. (Google Books Full View) linkīut the truth is, that no man is much regarded by the rest of the world, except where the interest of others is involved in his fortune. Here are additional selected citations in chronological order.Īn intriguing thematic precursor about excessive self-consciousness was published in 1751 by the prominent man of letters Samuel Johnson who emphasized that most people were preoccupied with their own affairs: 1752, The Rambler, Issue date: 1751 September 24, Number 159, (Essay by Samuel Johnson), Quote, Printed by Sands, Murray, and Cochran, Edinburgh. Website: The Big Apple, Article title: “You wouldn’t worry about what people may think of you if you could know how seldom they do”, Date on website: September 01, 2013, Website … Continue reading Thanks to top researcher Barry Popik who located the key Winchell citation above and other valuable citations. The linkages to Mark Twain and Eleanor Roosevelt appear to be spurious. The phrasing has varied as the quotation has evolved over the decades. Other individuals such as David Foster Wallace and Ethel Barrett employed the saying after it was already in circulation. QI believes that Olin Miller was the most likely originator of this remark. “You probably,” he submits, “wouldn’t worry about what people think of you if you could know how seldom they do!” Olin Miller’s thought should comfort the victims of self-pity, etc. (NewspaperArchive) The ellipsis was present in the original text of the following: 1937 January 8, The Evansville Courier (Evansville Courier and Press), On Broadway by Walter Winchell, Quote, Column 3, Evansville, Indiana. 1937 January 7, Logansport Pharos-Tribune, Walter Winchell On Broadway, Quote, Column 1, Logansport, Indiana. The second earliest strong match known to QI appeared in the widely syndicated newspaper column of Walter Winchell in January 1937. You probably wouldn’t worry about what people think of you if you could know how seldom they do. Boldface has been added to excerpts below: 1936 December 19, Reno Evening Gazette, Olin Miller’s Comment, Quote, Column 2, Reno, Nevada. The words were credited to a jokesmith named Olin Miller. The earliest strong match located by QI appeared in December 1936. Quote Investigator: David Foster Wallace did express this idea using a different phrasing in his 1996 novel “Infinite Jest”, and the details are given further below. Versions of this statement have also been credited to famous figures such as Mark Twain and Eleanor Roosevelt, but I have not yet seen a precise citation for anyone. You’ll worry less about what people think about you when you realize how seldom they do. David Foster Wallace? Olin Miller? Lee Traveler? Ethel Barrett? Mark Twain? John Steinbeck? Anonymous?ĭear Quote Investigator: An astute quotation about insecurity is often attributed to the novelist and teacher David Foster Wallace:
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |