“Speeches are like babies—easy to conceive, hard to deliver”

“Speeches are like babies—easy to conceive, hard to deliver” is sometimes credited to the Greek philosopher Aristotle (384 – 322 BC), but it’s not known that he said it. “To me, gentlemen, speeches are like babies—delightful to conceive, but difficult to deliver” was cited in print in 1936,
 
American actor Pat O’Malley (1890-1966) said in 1937:
 
“I know better than to make speeches. I am reminded of the famous doctor who once said: ‘Speeches are like babies—easy to conceive—hard to deliver!’
 
 
24 September 1936, The Daily Northwestern (Evanston, IL), “Pure Dicta—From the Lawyers” by Jack Korshak, pg. 8, col. 1:
After-Dinner Apology
To me, gentlemen, speeches are like babies—delightful to conceive, but difficult to deliver.
 
21 April 1937, Brownsville (TX) Herald, “On Broadway” by Walter Winchell, pg. 4, col. 3:
Pat O’Malley’s excellent exit speech: “I know better than to make speeches. I am reminded of the famous doctor who once said: ‘Speeches are like babies—easy to conceive—hard to deliver!’”
 
Google Books
The Complete Art of Public Speaking
By Jacob Morton Braude
New York, NY: Bantam Books
1970
Pg. 172:
Speeches are like babies — easy to conceive, hard to deliver.”
   
Google Books
January 1975, The Rotarian, “Blessed Are the Speechmakers” by Leo Aikman, pg. 36, col. 2:
I have talked to the Alabama Welding Association (on the subject of “togetherness”) and to the Southern (U.S.) College of Gynecologists and Obstatricians (whom i told: “Speeches are like babies — easy to conceive, hard to deliver”).
 
Google News Archive
18 December 1987, Sydney (Australia) Morning Herald, “Dave Dale’s America,” pg. 13, col. 2:
... “Speeches are like babies— easier to conceive than to deliver.”
 
Google Books
Effective Speaking
By Cristina Stuart
New York, NY: Nichols Pub. Co.
1988
Pg. 48:
Speeches are like babies - easy to conceive, hard to deliver
Pat O’Malley
 
Twitter
cem kaya
‏@cmlyz58
ARISTOTLE
Speeches are like babies-easy to conceive but hard to deliver.
Attributed.
Science quotes on: (Speech)
11:43 AM - 2 Jan 2015
 
Twitter
Christie Bacal
‏@Chinkai
“Speeches are like babies: Easy to conceive and hard to deliver.” - Pat O’Malley, Author
5:48 AM - 9 Nov 2015