“Life is the art of drawing without an eraser”

“Life is the art of drawing without an eraser” is an inspirational saying that has been printed on many images. The saying was credited to John Christian (it is not certain who this is) in the Chicago (IL) Tribune on April 10, 1963.
   
“As someone said, life is the art of drawing without an eraser” was printed in the book Personal and Organization Renewal (1984) by John William Gardner (1912-2002), a Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) under President Lyndon Johnson and founder of Common Cause. Gardner usually receives credit, although he obviously was not the first to use it.
 
   
Newspapers.com
10 April 1963, Chicago (IL) Tribune, “In the Wake of the News” by David Condon, sec. 3, pg. 1, col. 8:
Easel Ecstacy
Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.
John Christian
   
Newspapers.com
23 October 1963, Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, WI),  pg. 16, col. 5 ad:
“Life is the art of drawing without an eraser…”
(Park “N” Market—ed.)
 
Google Books
Personal and Organization Renewal
By John William Gardner
Austin, TX: Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, University of Texas
1984
Pg. ?:
As someone said, life is the art of drawing without an eraser. Move on.
   
Google Books 
What Is Life?:
A Bowl of Cherries and Nearly 800 Other Answers
By Ronald B. Shwartz
Secaucus, NJ: Carol Publishing Group
1995
Pg. 75:
Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.
JOHN CHRISTIAN
   
Google Books
Pass It On:
Ultimate Reflections on Life And Death
By Laynee Gilbert and Ann
San Jose, CA: L.O.A. Publications
2005
Pg. ?:
Life is the art of drawing without an eraser
John W. Gardner
   
Google Books
Title Life Is The Art Of Drawing Without An Eraser: 105 Undated Pages: Paperback Journal
Author Grace Ink
Publisher Independently Published, 2019
ISBN 1710958936, 9781710958935
Length 106 pages
 
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Helen Tran
@helentranphotog
“Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.” John W. Gardner #NimbleQuotes
2:35 AM · Mar 4, 2020·Nimble Quotes