WIST Quotations

Adams, Franklin P. -- “Nods and Becks”

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

I find that a great part of the information I have was acquired by looking up something and finding something else on the way.

Franklin Pierce Adams (1881–1960) American journalist and humorist ["F. P. A."]
“Nods and Becks”

Adams, Franklin P. -- Nods and Becks (1944)

Dave — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 13:55:13 +0000

The trouble with this country is that there are too many politicians who believe, with a conviction based on experience, that you can fool all of the people all of the time.

Franklin Pierce Adams (1881–1960) American journalist and humorist ["F. P. A."]
Nods and Becks (1944)

See Lincoln.

Adams, Franklin P. -- Nods and Becks (1944)

Dave — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 23:23:21 +0000

Elections are won by men and women chiefly because most people vote against somebody rather than for somebody.

Franklin Pierce Adams (1881–1960) American journalist and humorist ["F. P. A."]
Nods and Becks (1944)

Adams earlier used a similar phrase (not claiming attribution) in his "Conning Tower" column (13 Nov 1916): "Voters went to the polls, as had been observed frequently, with the intention to vote against Somebody rather than for Somebody." See also Fields.

More discussion about the origins of this quotation: I Never Vote For Anybody. I Always Vote Against – Quote Investigator.

Adams, Franklin P. -- Nods and Becks (1944)

Dave — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 01:53:59 +0000

Years ago we discovered the exact point, the dead center of middle age. It occurs when you are too young to take up golf and too old to rush up to the net.

Franklin Pierce Adams (1881–1960) American journalist and humorist ["F. P. A."]
Nods and Becks (1944)

Adams, Franklin P. -- Nods and Becks (1944)

Dave — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 22:42:43 +0000

Years ago we discovered the exact point, the dead center of middle age. It occurs when you are too young to take up golf and too old to rush up to the net.

Franklin Pierce Adams (1881–1960) American journalist and humorist ["F. P. A."]
Nods and Becks (1944)

Originally published in Franklin's "Conning Tower" newspaper column during 1934-1935.

Adams, Franklin P. -- Nods and Becks, “Inside ‘Information, Please!'” (1944)

Dave — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 02:52:00 +0000

When the political columnists say “Every thinking man,” they mean themselves, and when candidates appeal to “Every intelligent voter,” they mean everybody who is going to vote for them.

Franklin Pierce Adams (1881–1960) American journalist and humorist ["F. P. A."]
Nods and Becks, “Inside ‘Information, Please!'” (1944)