It's Not What You Don't Know That Gets You in Trouble Meaning
Mark Twain? Josh Billings? Artemus Ward? Kin Hubbard? Will Rogers? Anonymous?
Dear Quote Investigator: The Oscar-winning 2015 film "The Large Short" begins with a display of the following argument:
It ain't what you don't know that gets yous into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just own't and so.
The bright humorist Marker Twain receives credit, merely I have been unable to observe a solid citation. This quip is very pop. Would you please investigate?
Quote Investigator: Scholars at the Center for Mark Twain Studies of Elmira Higher have found no substantive evidence supporting the ascription to Marking Twain. [1] Website: Center for Mark Twain Studies, Commodity title: The Counterfeit Twain: "Things We Know That Simply Own't So.", Article author: Matt Seybold, Date on website: October vi, 2016, … Continue reading
The ascertainment has been attributed to several other prominent humorists including: Josh Billings (pseudonym of Henry Wheeler Shaw), Artemus Ward (pseudonym of Charles Farrar Browne), Kin Hubbard (pen proper noun of Frank McKinney Hubbard), and Will Rogers. Yet, information technology is unlikely so any of them said it. The creator remains anonymous based on current evidence.
The maxim is difficult to trace because it falls within an evolving family of remarks concerning faulty knowledge and memory. Three processes operate on members of the family to generate new members and ascriptions incrementally:
- Statements are rephrased over time.
- Statements are hybridized together to produce new statements.
- Attributions are shifted from 1 prominent humorist to another.
The family contains some comments with genuine ascriptions. For example, in 1874 a compendium of wit and sense of humour from Josh Billings was published. The piece of work employed dialectal spelling which causes headaches for modernistic researchers who are attempting to discover matches using standard spelling. The post-obit pertinent particular appeared in a section labeled "Affurisms", i.e., "Aphorisms". Emphasis added to excerpts by QI: [2] 1874, Everybody's Friend, Or; Josh Billing'south Encyclopedia and Proverbial Philosophy of Wit and Humor, Section: Affurisms: Sollum Thoughts, Quote Page 286, American Publishing Company, Hartford, … Continue reading
I honestly beleave it iz amend tew know nothing than two know what ain't so.
Here is the statement written with standard spelling:
I honestly believe it is better to know nothing than to know what ain't then.
This remark partially matched the maxim under investigation, and information technology acted every bit a seed in the evolving family of remarks.
Here are boosted selected citations in chronological order.
Billings died in 1885, and in 1899 a religious orator whose words were recorded in the pages of "The Pacific Unitarian" reassigned a rephrased version of the saying from Billings to Twain: [3] 1899 February, The Pacific Unitarian, Volume 7, Number 4, Address of Rev. Charles R. Dark-brown, Start Page 118, Quote Page 119, Column two, San Francisco, California. (Google Books Total View) link
Mayhap, as Mark Twain observed, information technology is better not to know so much than to know so many things that aren't so.
In 1900 "The Dietetic and Hygienic Gazette" printed a statement attributed to Billings with quotation marks surrounding only a segment. The full statement included the primal word "trouble" which occurs in the target maxim: [iv] 1900 October, The Dietetic and Hygienic Gazette, Volume 16, Number ten, Section of Notes and Queries, Offset Page 641, Quote Page 643, The Gazette Publishing Company, New York. (Google Books Full … Go on reading
Upon reading the offset item we are forcibly reminded of the pertinent and pithy remark of the lamented humorist, Josh Billings, that the problem with a great many of u.s.a. is "we know so many things that ain't then."
In 1909 an advertizement inside a book chosen "A Drum'southward Story" ascribed a remark to Twain most old men and memory that contained the key word "trouble": [5] 1909, A Drum'due south Story: And Other Tales by Delavan S. Miller, (Advertizing fabric for the author'south previous book: What Henry Haynie Has to Say in the Boston Times of D. S. Millers … Continue reading
Mark Twain in one case said that "the trouble with old men is they remember then many things that ain't so," just this book of state of war reminiscences is unlike from most of Twain's reminiscences.
In 1911 the well-known author G. K. Chesterton implausibly ascribed to humorist Artemus Ward who died in 1867 a statement that partially matched the target: [vi] 1911 Oct 14, The Illustrated London News, Our Notebook by K. Yard. Chesterton, Commencement Page 615, Quote Folio 615, The International News Company, New York. (Google Books Full View) link
I of the ii or three wisest sayings uttered on this ancient world was the remark of Artemus Ward, "It own't so much men'south ignorance that does the harm equally their knowing so many things that ain't so."
Twain died in 1910, and his friend Albert Bigelow Paine published a multi-volume biography of the luminary in 1912. Paine presented two quotations from Twain that partially matched the maxim being explored: [7] 1912, Mark Twain: A Biography: The Personal and Literary Life of Samuel Langhorne Clemens by Albert Bigelow Paine, Volume iii of 4, Affiliate 239: Working With Mark Twain, Quote Page 1269, Harper & … Continue reading
"When I was younger I could remember anything, whether it happened or not; simply I am getting old, and soon I shall remember simply the latter."
At another time he paraphrased one of Josh Billings's sayings in the remark: "It isn't and so amazing, the number of things that I tin can remember, as the number of things I tin can remember that aren't then."
In 1913 "The Atlantic Monthly" credited Billings with the same statement that Chesterton ascribed to Artemus Ward in 1911: [8] 1913 July, The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 112, My Garden Beasts by Lucy Elliot Keeler, Beginning Page 134, Quote Page 140, Column 2, The Atlantic Monthly Visitor, Boston, Massachusetts. (Google Books Total … Continue reading
One of the wisest sayings uttered on this aboriginal earth was Josh Billings'southward remark, 'It ain't so much men's ignorance that does the harm as their knowing so many things that ain't so.'
In 1915 "The Catholic Globe" attributed a similar statement to Billings: [9] 1915 November, The Catholic World, Volume 102, Number 608, Some Chapters in the History of Feminine Education past James J. Walsh, Thou.D. Ph.D., Start Page 194, Quote Page 194, Published past the Paulist … Keep reading
. . . "It is not so much the ignorance of flesh," Josh Billings said, "that makes them ridiculous, as the knowing so many things that ain't then."
In 1917 a military volume titled "The Unwritten History of Braddock'southward Field" included a chapter by George H. Lamb that credited Twain with a partial friction match containing the discussion "problem": [10] 1917, The Unwritten History of Braddock's Field (Pennsylvania), Prepared by the History Committee Under the Editorship of Geo. H. Lamb for the Celebration of the Gold Jubilee of Braddock, … Go along reading
Members of the committee were reminded of Marking Twain's dictum, that the trouble with reminiscences is not that people know too much, only that they know so many things that aren't and so.
In April 1917 "The Lyceum Magazine" printed another expression attributed to Twain about "erstwhile men" which contained the key give-and-take "trouble: [eleven] 1917 Apr, The Lyceum Mag, Volume 26, Number 11, Dr. Conwell'southward Talks With Platform Workers by Russell H. Conwell (Honorary President I.L.A.), Quote Page 26, Column 2, Chicago, Illinois. … Go on reading
Mark Twain used to say that "the problem with old men's memories is that they remember so many things that ain't so." Since I heard him say that several times I have been careful not to state anything unusual lest my friends should think that Mark Twain'south arraignment is true in my case.
In 1921 a piece in "The Country Admirer" printed a saying ascribed to Billings: [12] 1921 April 16, The Country Admirer, Where Ignorance Is Mis-: Misrepresentation and Misunderstanding Befuddle Our Revenue enhancement Laws by Harry R. O'Brien, Showtime Folio thirteen, Quote Folio 13, Cavalcade 1, The … Keep reading
It own't so much people's ignorance that does the harm as their knowing and so darned much that own't then.—JOSH BILLINGS.
In 1923 B. C. Forbes founder of "Forbes" magazine wrote about a speech delivered by Francis H. Sisson, vice-president of the Guaranty Trust Visitor of New York: [13] 1923 February x, The Buffalo Evening Times, Finance and Business by B. C. Forbes, Quote Page 11, Cavalcade 1, Buffalo, New York. (Newspapers_com)
Last evening Mr. Sisson talked to a large gathering of Iowa editors. His theme was the oft-quoted ascertainment of Josh Billings that "the problem with the American people is non then much their ignorance as the tremendous number of things they know that ain't then."
In 1931 the "Ithaca Journal-News" of Ithaca, New York printed an expression attributed to Billings that was semantically close to the target saying: [14] 1931 July 6, Ithaca Journal-News, "Things Which Own't So" By William Trufant Foster and Waddill Catchings , Quote Folio 4, Cavalcade four, Ithaca, New York. (Newspapers_com)
Information technology ain't what a human don't know-that makes him a fool; information technology's the awful sight of things he knows' that ain't so. Josh Billings said something of that sort, and Josh Billings knew what he was talking well-nigh.
In 1947 the "Janesville Daily Gazette" printed a close syntactic and semantic match ascribed to Twain: [fifteen] 1947 May 21, Janesville Daily Gazette, Editorial Panorama, (Filler item), Quote Page half dozen, Column 2, Janesville, Wisconsin. (Newspapers_com)
It ain't so much the things that people don't know that makes trouble in this globe, as it is the things that people know that own't and so. — Mark Twain.
In 1958 the character Abe Martin received credit for a saying within this family. Cartoonist Kin Hubbard was the creator of Abe Martin: [16] 1958 March 5, San Francisco Examiner, Health for Today: Facts Distorted Into Fads by W. W. Bauer G.D. (Director of Health Pedagogy American Medical Association), Department 2, Quote Page ii, Column four, … Go along reading
Abe Martin's definition of ignorance was "not so much what a person don't know, as what he knows that ain't so." And he is certainly correct.
In June 1964 the "Boston Traveler" of Boston, Massachusetts credited Artemus Ward with a strong syntactic and semantic lucifer: [17] 1964 June 26, Boston Traveler, Family Finance: Statistics Can Be Twisted To Fool Unwary by Dick Miller, Quote Folio 24, Cavalcade 3 and iv, Boston, Massachusetts. (GenealogyBank)
Or, every bit Artemus Ward put information technology, "it ain't and then much the things nosotros don't know that go us into problem. It's the things nosotros know that own't and so."
In November 1964 Ronald Reagan who later became the U.Southward. President delivered a voice communication on goggle box that contained a pertinent instance without attribution: [18] 1964 November ii, Ames Daily Tribune, (Political advertisement titled: Did You Encounter Ronald Reagan's TV Speech communication?), Quote Folio eight, Column iv, Ames, Iowa. (Newspapers_com)
Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is non that they are ignorant, but that they know and so much that isn't so!
In 1977 "Peter's Quotations: Ideas for Our Fourth dimension" by Laurence J. Peter credited Kin Hubbard with a version of the maxim: [xix] 1977, "Peter's Quotations: Ideas for Our Fourth dimension" by Laurence J. Peter, Topic: Ignorance, Quote Page 260, William Morrow and Company, New York. (Verified with hardcopy)
'Tain't what a man don't know that hurts him; it'due south what he knows that just own't so.
—Frank McKinney Hubbard ("Kin Hubbard")
In 1978 "New York Magazine" printed an instance together with an unlikely ascription to funny man Will Rogers: [twenty] 1978 July 10, New York Magazine, Volume 11, Number 28, True or Fake by Randy Cohen, Start Page 29, Quote Page 30, Published by New York Media, LLC. (Google Books Total View) link
The trouble with most people, equally Will Rogers observed, is not that they don't know much just that they know so much that isn't true.
In 1983 former U.S. Vice President Walter Mondale employed the saying while criticizing President Ronald Reagan. Mondale credited the words to Will Rogers: [21] 1983 June 15, San Francisco Examiner, Demos rebut Reagan over school funds (Associated Press), Quote Folio A5, Column 1, San Francisco, California. (Newspapers_com)
"I proceed quoting Will Rogers every bit saying of (former President Herbert) Hoover that it's not what he doesn't know that bothers me, it'southward what he knows for sure that just ain't so," Mondale said.
In 2006 the Oscar-winning documentary about climate alter titled "An Inconvenient Truth" displayed an instance of the saying and credited Mark Twain: [22] Twelvemonth: 2006, Movie: An Inconvenient Truth, Director: Davis Guggenheim, Studio: Paramount, Main Narrator: Al Gore, Video Admission: Amazon Prime Service, (Quotation starts at seven minutes 45 seconds of 1 … Continue reading
What gets us into trouble
is not what we don't know
It's what we know for certain
that but ain't then– Mark Twain
In conclusion, the target proverb evolved incrementally over time. Instances have been attributed to a variety of humorists such equally Marking Twain, Josh Billings, Artemus Ward, Kin Hubbard, and Will Rogers. Still, in that location is no substantive show that the saying was crafted only one of these funny men. The ascription remains anonymous.
The 1874 quotation from Josh Billings: "I honestly beleave information technology iz meliorate tew know nothing than ii know what ain't so" is further explored on this webpage.
The quotation from Marking Twain: "When I was younger I could think annihilation, whether it happened or non; but I am getting quondam, and before long I shall remember only the latter" is further explored on this webpage.
Image Notes: Public domain pic of Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) from the Harvard Theatre Drove. Public domain pic of Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) by Abdullah Frères circa 1867 from the Library of Congress. Public domain picture of Artemus Ward (Charles Farrar Brown) from the Harvard Theatre Collection. Images accessed via Wikimedia Eatables. Images take been resized, retouched, and cropped.
(Great thanks to Tom Beeler, Stephen Dorfman, Francis Neelon, Marcos Tatijewski, Simon Lancaster, Dick Plotz, Lane Greene, and George Dinwiddie whose inquiries led QI to formulate this question and perform this exploration. Special thanks to young man researchers Matt Seybold, Suzy Platt, Ralph Keyes, Fred R. Shapiro, Nigel Rees, and Barry Popik who have explored quotations in this family. Additional thanks to Lane Greene who pointed to the 1964 statement of Ronald Reagan and Dick Plotz who pointed to Walter Mondale'due south 1983 statement.)
Update History: On November 23, 2018 the November 1964 and the June 1983 citations were added.
Source: https://quoteinvestigator.com/2018/11/18/know-trouble/
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