Re: science for all?

[John Clement <clement@HAL-PC.ORG>]

I think that since similar quotes have appeared prior to Mark Twain's
published quote that the idea was in the air, but who originally said it may
never be discovered.  It certainly sounds like Twain, so he may have
originally said it in an unpublished speech, or Disraeli may have said it in
a similarly unpublished address.  Such wonderful quotes can travel quickly
by word of mouth.  Perhaps it should be credited as a folk saying.  Good
speakers, especially actors, are quite capable of turning stories around to
improve them and then being convinced that the turned around version is the
true one.  Ronald Reagan did that all the time.  Is it a lie when the
speaker is convinced of its truth?

John M. Clement
Houston, TX

> To set this matter to rest: there is no recorded work of Disraeli's,
>   spoken or written which carries this epithet, and no independent
> confirmation of the source.
>   The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations (OUP 1941-1980) shows it
> as an attribution to Disraeli  of Mark Twain's from his
> Autobiography I, 246.
>   Statistically, you might say the attribution is unconfirmed or doubtful.
> "Lie" is probably too strong a word.
>
> Brian W
>
> At 07:49 PM 12/31/01, you wrote:
> > a google search turned up this British URL:
> >
> > http://phrases.shu.ac.uk/meanings/375700.html
> >
> > Which gives Disraeli the credit but does not quote chapter and verse
> > from his writings.
> >
> >
> >
> > At  3:33 PM -0600  on  12/31/01,  Brian Whatcott   wrote
> > > More a propos: that is indeed the quote by Twain.
> > > Where's the quote by Disraeli?
> > >
> > > Brian W