[PennBF]

I thought it would be interesting to test the Villager's History knowledge since there are some smart people here. Who was behind the following quotes:
1. "..and that government of the people by the people for the people shall not perish from the earth", 2. "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country" 3. "The only thing we have to fear is fear itselt". I will give the answers after a few responses have been received.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by PennBF

I thought it would be interesting to test the Villager's History knowledge since there are some smart people here. Who was behind the following quotes:
1. "..and that government of the people by the people for the people shall not perish from the earth", 2. "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country" 3. "The only thing we have to fear is fear itselt". I will give the answers after a few responses have been received.

All US President quotes. That's all I will say.

[Rapscallion St Croix]

Those are easy ones.

[mixsonci]

1. Bill Pullman from Independence Day
2. Kennedy
3. Roosevelt???

[PennBF]

These are not as easy as you think but I will leave it at that.

[PennBF]

So far none are correct..!!

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by PennBF

2. "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country"

Plagiarized by JFK from his headmaster - but who knows if he stole it from someone else?

[Lottoguy]

Too easy, Lincoln, JFK, FDR.

[PennBF]

These are not trick questions and are sourced from a solid research study and so far none of the responses are accurate.

[PennBF]

It is interesting that some great statements are not
credited to the true creator's .

Here are the results: The authors and original creator of the famous quotes.

"..Government of the people by the people for the people shall not perish from this earth"

Source: Theodore Parker, A Reforming Minister of the
Unitarian Church. His words and quotations were inspirations to Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther Jr. Etc.

"Ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country"

Source: Oliver Wendell Holmes, Associate of the Supreme court, etc.

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

Source: A reporter for the New York Herald. A political
advisor of President Roosevelt.

[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by PennBF

These are not trick questions and are sourced from a solid research study and so far none of the responses are accurate.

Of course they are "trick questions." When you ask "Who was behind the following quotes:" you have misdirected people to answer with the name of the famous person associated with them.

Until people have your definition of "behind" the quotes, they are taking shots in the dark. "Behind" could mean the ultimate author, or it could mean who was the famous person's speech writer.

By the way........... In 1384, John Wycliffe wrote in the prologue to his translation of the Bible, “The Bible is for the Government of the People, by the People, and for the People”

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by PennBF

These are not trick questions...:

Tough call, but I'd have to side with PennBF on this one.

The "obvious" answers were so easy that clearly one was required to put a little more thinking into it.

We'll never know if the three "correct" answers were the true originators, or if they themselves were paraphrasing something they'd heard, but it is interesting how we are quick to give famous people the credit for things which, often, they have "borrowed" from others.

[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by PennBF

It is interesting that some great statements are not
credited to the true creator's .

Here are the results: The authors and original creator of the famous quotes.

"..Government of the people by the people for the people shall not perish from this earth"

Source: Theodore Parker, A Reforming Minister of the
Unitarian Church. His words and quotations were inspirations to Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther Jr. Etc.

"Ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country"

Source: Oliver Wendell Holmes, Associate of the Supreme court, etc.

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

Source: A reporter for the New York Herald. A political
advisor of President Roosevelt.

Well, history is a slippery thing. If you keep digging you might find that Parker had a source too. Parker was very likely familiar with Daniel Webster's statements referring to "The people's government, made for the people, made by the people, and answerable to the people" in a speech on Foot's Resolution (26 January 1830.)

And, again, Wycliffe predated them all with his 1384 preface to his translation of the Bible into English.

[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

Tough call, but I'd have to side with PennBF on this one.

The "obvious" answers were so easy that clearly one was required to put a little more thinking into it.

We'll never know if the three "correct" answers were the true originators, or if they themselves were paraphrasing something they'd heard, but it is interesting how we are quick to give famous people the credit for things which, often, they have "borrowed" from others.

Arguably, in view of the fact that so many respondents gave incorrect answers, and named the famous individuals with whom the quotes were associated, ...... they were tricked; thus the questions were trick questions.

But, that aside.........it was an interesting exercise.

In that spirit, who was behind the phrase "Nattering nabobs of negativism," referring variously to the news media and to political opponents of President Nixon?

[manaboutown]

Definitely questions to ponder and research...