tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178779736451277146.post6130037281459657097..comments2024-02-25T17:01:10.739+13:00Comments on World of the Written Word: That cutting phraseWorld of the Written Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695926585496640941noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178779736451277146.post-32678569530001212932009-04-05T13:56:00.000+12:002009-04-05T13:56:00.000+12:00Good point! Have you noticed that when they find...Good point! Have you noticed that when they find old portraits they always speculate that the subject was some famous name, without ever considering that it might have been some worthy (and rich) nonentity? But nonentities don't make headlines, or sell news -- or make good anecdotes.World of the Written Wordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10695926585496640941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178779736451277146.post-27365378376718831102009-04-05T13:29:00.000+12:002009-04-05T13:29:00.000+12:00Do you not find that snappy quotes from unknown pe...Do you not find that snappy quotes from unknown people are frequently (and quickly!) attached to better known names, to give them added zing by association?<BR/><BR/>I've even been present when one of my own quotes was attributed to somebody more famous attending the same event!<BR/><BR/>Always read great quotes with a pinch of salt. That mousy lady nobody looks at twice might have said it first, not the lion who's the centre of attention...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178779736451277146.post-17031203977706685282009-03-31T21:57:00.000+13:002009-03-31T21:57:00.000+13:00One of my favourites is about Nabokov... talking t...One of my favourites is about Nabokov... talking to an American friend in the very early seventies, who reported that a nun in one of his lectures had complained that a couple in the class near her were always spooning... and the friend had evidently told the Nun more or less to be grateful that was all they were doing<BR/>Nabokov evidently said "You should have said, 'Sister, be grateful that they were not forking." Not bad, when you consider, English was his second language.maggie@at-the-bay.comnoreply@blogger.com