“To err is human; to blame it on someone else shows management potential”
“To err is human; to forgive, divine” was written by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) in “An Essay on Criticism” (1711). The line is famous and has many parodies. “To err is human; to blame it on the other party is politics” was credited to the cowboy poet S, Omar Barker (1894-1985) in 1958. “To err is human. To blame it on someone else is even more human” was cited by columnist Bert Bacharach in 1968.
“To err is human; to blame it on someone else shows management potential” has been cited in print since at least 2002 and is of unknown authorship. The “management potential” anti-proverb has been printed on several gift items, such as T-shirts, posters and bumper stickers.
Similar anti-proverbs include “To err is human; to forgive is against company policy” and “To err is human; to hedge divine.”
Wiktionary: to err is human
Etymology
From Latin errāre hūmānum est.
Proverb
to err is human
1. Everyone makes mistakes.
Usage notes
The phrase is often used as a part of a longer phrase in English, “to err is human; to forgive, divine” (Alexander Pope, “Essay on Criticism”).
Wikiquote: An Essay on Criticism
An Essay on Criticism was the first major poem written by the English writer Alexander Pope (1688-1744). However, despite the title, the poem is not as much an original analysis as it is a compilation of Pope’s various literary opinions. A reading of the poem makes it clear that he is addressing not so much the ingenuous reader as the intending writer. It is written in a type of rhyming verse called heroic couplets.
The poem first appeared in 1711, but was written in 1709.
(...)
Ah ne’er so dire a Thirst of Glory boast,
Nor in the Critick let the Man be lost!
Good-Nature and Good-Sense must ever join;
To err is human, to forgive divine.
. Lines 322-325. Compare: “To step aside is human “, Robert Burns, Address to the Unco Guid.
12 November 1958, Garden City (KS) Telegram, “The Distaff Side,” pg. 6, col. 1:
Also this one: “To err is human; to blame it on the other party is politics.”
13 November 1958, Casa Grande (AZ) Dispatch, pg. 16, col. 6:
“To err is human; to blame it on the other party is politics.”—S. Omar Barker.
9 April 1964, Aberdeen (SD) American-News, “Earl Wilson’s New York,” pg. 4, col. 5:
REMEMBERED QUOTE: “To err is human. To blame it on somebody else is politics.” George Kirby.
15 January 1967, The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH), “Larry Wolters’ Gag Bag,” Sunday Magazine, pg. 17, col. 1:
David Brinkley: “To err is human. To blame it on the other party is politics.”
4 August 1968, Coshocton (OH) Tribune, “Now See Here!” by Bert Bacharach, pg. 17, col. 7:
Sudden Thought: To err is human. To blame it on someone else is even more human.
28 May 1969, Aberdeen (SD) American-News, “Earl Wilson’s New York,” pg. 4, col. 5:
REMEMBERED QUOTE: “To err is human. To blame it on someone else is even more human.”
8 November 1971, Aberdeen (SD) American-News, “Earl Wilson’s New York,” pg. 4, col. 5:
REMEMBERED QUOTE: “To err is human. To blame it on the other party us politics.” H. L. Mencken.
21 August 1988, Dallas (TX) Morning News, “Some Hither, Others Yon…” by Blackie Sherrod:
Sign in N.Y. Met locker room: To err is human. To blame it on someone else is more human.
PinoyExchange,com
funny taxt messages
markymarkmark
Feb 27, 2002 03:22 AM
(...)
“To err is human, to blame it on someone else shows management potential.”
17 June 2005, Mountain Democrat (Placerville, CA), Bob Billingsley column, pg. A*, col. 4:
“To err is human; to blame it on someone else shows management potential.”
11 May 2007, The Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA), Smiley Anders column:
From Mel Prust: “To err is human. To blame it on somebody else shows management potential.”
Tampa Bay (FL) Times
As we ‘staycation,’ let’s think about ‘heresourcing’
Ernest Hooper, Metro Columnist
In Print: Monday, May 26, 2008
(...)
Seen on a bumper sticker: To err is human, to blame it on somebody else shows management potential.