“School is punishment for the crime of being young”
"School is punishment for the crime of being young" is a quotation that has been credited since at least 2008 to Nana Lee; it's not known who she is or when she said it.…
“The ladder of success is never crowded at the top”
"The ladder of success is never crowded at the top" means something similar to "there's always room at the top" -- for someone who is talented and who works hard, there is…
“If you cannot do great things. do small things in a great way” (“Small things with great love”)
"If I can not do great things, I can do small things in a great way" was credited in 1902 to American theologian James Freeman Clarke (1810-1888). It's not certain when Clarke said…
“Teapot is on, the cups are waiting” (poem)
A short poem about tea has been cited in print since at least 1999 and is of unknown authorship: "Teapot is on, the cups are waiting, Favorite chairs anticipating, No matter what I have to do,…
“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing”
Entry in progress -- B.P. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) 7 January 1853, Evening Star (Washington, DC), "Scissors and Paste," pg. 3, col. 3:If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are…
“America will never be destroyed from the outside”
"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves" is a quotation frequently attributed to Abraham Lincoln…
“What is a communist? One who hath yearnings for equal division of unequal earnings.”
English poet Ebenezer Elliott (1781-1849) wrote: EPIGRAM.What is a communist? One who hath yearnings For equal division of unequal earnings: Idler, or bungler, or both, he is willing To fork out…
“Every government does as much harm as it can, and as much good as it must”
"Every government will do as much harm as it can and as much good as it must" was written by British journalist Claud Cockburn (1904-1981) in his autobiography A Discord of Trumpets…
“Legalize freedom—vote Libertarian”
The Libertarian Party in the United States was founded on December 11, 1971. The Libertarian slogan "Legalize freedom" has been cited in print since at least 1974; "Legalize freedom…
“A libertarian is a Republican who smokes pot”
"A libertarian is a Republican/Conservative who smokes pot" is a frequently told political joke. American anarchist writer Bob Black spoke in 1984 on "The Libertarian as…
“Tell me and I forget; teach me and I may remember; involve me and I will learn”
"Tell me and I forget; teach me and I may remember; involve me and I will learn" has been frequently credited (since the 1980s) to Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), but Franklin never said…
“Teaching—We’re not in it for the income; we’re in it for the outcome”
"Teachers/Teaching -- We're not in it for the income; we're in it for the outcome" is a saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as posters, buttons and bumper…
“I’m not fat—I’m just easy to see”
"I'm not fat -- I'm just easy to see" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as posters, T-shirts and bumper stickers. The saying has been cited in…
“You can’t be right by doing wrong; you can’t be wrong by doing right”
"You can't be right by doing wrong; you can't be wrong by doing right" is an adage of Thomas S. Monson, the 16th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.…
“If you don’t swear while driving, then you’re not paying attention to the road at all”
"If you don’t swear while driving, then you’re not paying attention to the road at all" is a jocular statement that has been printed on many images. The saying was cited in print…
“Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself”
"Teachers open the door; you enter by yourself" is a popular proverb that has been printed on many gift items, such as posters, T-shirts and bags. "Teachers open the door; you enter…
“The life you live is the lesson you teach”
"The life you live is the lesson you teach" is a saying that has appeared on posters. The saying has been cited in print in 1918, 1919 and 1923, and then it suddenly became popular in…
“Knowledge is the greatest gift”
"Knowledge is the greatest gift" is a popular saying that's often used by schools and libraries. L. Frank Baum (1856-1919) might have coined (or at least popularized) the saying in…
“A teacher takes a hand, opens a mind and touches a heart”
"A teacher takes a hand, opens a mind and touches a heart" has been printed on many gift items, such as posters, mugs, hats and T-shirts. "A teacher takes a hand, opens a mind,…
“Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army”
“Education is a better safeguard for liberty than a standing army. If we retrench the wages of the schoolmaster, we must raise the wages of the recruiting sergeant," said Massachusetts…