“Fools rush in where wise men fear to trade”
"For fools rush in where angels fear to tread" is a famous line in English poet Alexander Pope's "An Essay on Criticism" (1711). A horse-buying parody was popular in 1881:…
“A businessman is someone to whom age brings golf instead of wisdom”
Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) wrote in 1903 about "these cricketers to whom age brings golf instead of wisdom." The Chicago (IL) Tribune in 1905 gave the epigram,…
“Committee work is like a soft chair—easy to get into but hard to get out of”
"Committee work is like a soft chair -- easy to get into but hard to get out of" is a jocular saying about committees. "Committee work is easy to get into but hard to get out of --…
“Hard work is the accumulation of easy things you didn’t do”
A popular statement about hard work is: "Hard work is the accumulation of easy things you didn't do when you should have." The saying has been cited in print since at least 1951. It…
“Fools rush in where wise men fear to trade”
"For fools rush in where angels fear to tread" is a famous line in English poet Alexander Pope's "An Essay on Criticism" (1711). A horse-buying parody was popular in 1881:…
“A businessman is someone to whom age brings golf instead of wisdom”
Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) wrote in 1903 about "these cricketers to whom age brings golf instead of wisdom." The Chicago (IL) Tribune in 1905 gave the epigram,…
Brazilian Big Apple (São Paulo nickname)
São Paulo is the capital city of the state of São Paulo, Brazil's most populous state. The city is often compared to New York City, although São Paulo is larger in area and in population.…
“I like my women like I like my wine…” (joke)
"I like my men like I like my coffee" is a popular meme. American actor and comedian Robin Williams (1951-2014) said in An Evening with Robin Williams (1982): "I like my wine like I…
Sphinx of Wall Street
A sphinx is a mythical creature with the head of a person and the body (usually) of a lion; the famous Egyptian sphinx is known for the "riddle of the sphinx." A person described as a…
“A good driver can make a poor car look good, but not the other way around”
There is an auto racing adage that a good driver can make a poor car look good, but that a bad driver will make any car look bad. The adage doesn't appear to have any particular author or…
“One game doesn’t define a season”
"One swallow does not a summer make" is an old proverb. "One game/loss/win doesn't define a season" is a sports proverb. "I also agree that one ugly loss doesn't…
“How many potatoes does it take to kill an Irishman?”/“None.”
Ireland is known for potatoes, and there is a politically incorrect joke: Q: How many potatoes does it take to kill an Irishman?A: None. The question leads one to believe that an Irishman can…
“A healthy attitude is contagious, but don’t wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier!”
"A healthy attitude is contagious, but don't wait to catch it from others, Be a carrier" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "Dick Edwards says ... Cheerfulness is…
“Give me an athlete and I can turn him into a lacrosse player”
Lacrosse relies on athleticism, but many athletes choose major sports (such as basketball or football) first. Lacrosse coaches often say, "Give me an athlete and I can turn him into a lacrosse…
“In the playoffs, your best players have to be your best players”
"Your best players have to be your best players" is an old sports playoffs adage. In the playoffs, the rotations are shortened and the best players get the most playing time. The best…
“Money talks, wealth whispers”
"Money talks” (meaning that money has influence) is an old financial saying, cited in print in various forms from before 1700. "Money talks" was printed in several American…
Compact of Fifth Avenue (Pact of Fifth Avenue)
Richard Nixon (1913-1994), just before his appearance at the Republican National Convention at Chicago in July 1960, was called over to the Central Park East (Fifth Avenue) 14th floor apartment of…
Compact of Fifth Avenue (Pact of Fifth Avenue)
Richard Nixon (1913-1994), just before his appearance at the Republican National Convention at Chicago in July 1960, was called over to the Central Park East (Fifth Avenue) 14th floor apartment of…
“Liquidity is only there when you don’t need it”
"Liquidity is only there when you don't need it" is a Wall Street adage of unknown origin. "The time to get liquidity is when you don't need it," Citicorp's…
“Prophets are going through the roof” (joke)
"Profits are going through the roof" is an expression meaning that a business is generating a lot of money. A joke has been printed on several images: "I opened a company selling…