Sunday, 12 July 2020

Not a lot of people know that

So said Michael Caine. But apparently it was Peter Sellers who first used it, mimicking Michael Caine on the Micheal Parkinson show. Because he said Caine was always quoting the Guinness Book of Records.  But everyone can hear Caine's voice saying it, as he did in Educating Rita.

That led me to investigate other wrongly attributed sayings. mashable.com tells me that Sherlock Holmes never said "elementary, my dear Watson". George Washington didn't say "I cannot tell a lie". Niccolo Machiavelli was not the first to voice "the ends justify the means". And Albert Einstein is wrongly attributed with saying "insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".

All the things I've ever learned have been trashed. Is nothing sacred?

1 comment:

  1. Well, if you want to be pedantic ‘Something that is sacred is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity or considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspiring awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects (a "sacred artifact" that is venerated and blessed), or places ("sacred ground").’
    So not misattributions although Pilate did say ‘What is truth?’ Although that’s not an object.

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