"The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge…

“The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn” is a popular saying that has been printed on posters and ecards. “One of the many difficult decisions one has to make these days is figuring out which bridge to cross and which to burn” was cited in print in October 1977. David Russell has frequently been credited since at least October 1979, but it’s not clear who of the many people with this name should be credited. Authorship remains unclear.

Ruth M. Walsh was credited in The Rotarian in November 1978, with “learn” made to rhyme with “burn.” In many versions of the saying, however, “learn” is replaced with “know.” “Which Bridge to Cross (Which Bridge to Burn)” (1994) is a song by American country singer Vince Gill.

26 October 1977, Atchison (KS) Daily Globe, pg. 3, col. 8:
One of the many difficult decisions one has to make these days is figuring out which bridge to cross and which to burn.

1 January 1978, Roswell (NM) Daily Record, pg. 24, col. 1 ad:
The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn.
(Wilmot’s Inc.—ed.)

Google Books
November 1978, The Rotarian, pg. 47, col. 2:
Bridgework?
The hardest thing
In life to learn
Is which bridge to cross
And which to burn.
—Ruth M. Walsh

26 October 1979, Frederick (MD) Post, pg. 1, right masthead:
Good morning!
The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn.
David Russell

14 May 1984, The Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ), “Bridge” by Bobby Wolff, pg. 19, col. 5:
“The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn.”—David Russell.

Google Books
The Reader’s Digest
Volume 141, Issues 843-848
1992
Pg. 138:
THE HARDEST THING in life to learn is which bridge to cross and which to burn. — David Russell, quoted by Laurence |. Peter in The Peter Plan (Morrow)

OCLC WorldCat record
When love finds you
Author: Vince Gill
Publisher: Universal City, CA : MCA Records, 1994.
Edition/Format: Music CD : CD audio : English
Contents:
Which bridge to cross (Which bridge to burn) (4:15)—

Google Books
The Woman Encyclopedia (Woclopedia)
By J. K. Monday
AuthorHouse
2014
Pg. ?:
“The hardest thing in life is to know which bridge to cross and which to burn.” – David Russell

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“The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn.” - Bertrand Russell
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11:03 AM - 26 Oct 2015