On 22 Jun 2005, Allen Esterson wrote: > Stephen wrote: > > Even more grievous, a letter writer contributing a "Rapid Response" > > to the commentary [in BMJ] supplies two more doubtful Einstein quotes, > > equally > > unsourced.
Allen comments: > > One of these unsourced quotes attributed to Einstein is: > "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm > not sure about the former." > http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/eletters/328/7432/153 > > A Google search shows that among the dozens of sites giving Einstein as > the author of the quote, there is one that gives a source - for John > Dryden: > Source: Cymon and Iphigenia (l. 107) I'm gratified to discover that at least one person, Allen E., cares about such matters, and I appreciate his sleuthing. But if it was really Dryden (1631-1700) who said it, his modern-sounding language is most peculiar. A closer look at the site where Allen told me he found it ( http://www.worldofquotes.com/topic/Stupidity/1/) shows that just before Dryden is credited with "Only two things are infinite", he is credited with: "The fool of nature stood with stupid eyes And gaping mouth, that testified surprise." Now that sounds like Dryden. But curiously, the identical reference (Cymon and Iphigenia (l. 107), down to the line number, is given both for the "two things are infinite" quote and for "the fool of nature". Now I think Einstein would tell us that two different things cannot be in the same place at the same time. So I conclude that whoever constructed that website messed up, and applied the reference for what is truly Dryden's quote to the one which is usually (and incorrectly, I'm sure) applied to Einstein. Note also the repetition of the "Einstein" quote in garbled form in the next entry. Whew! I think I'd rather that Einstein was found to be the originator of the "two things are infinite quote" than Dryden. BTW, notice in today's New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/21/health/21beha.html?pagewanted=print there's an article headed "Sometimes it's better just to do less harm" which quotes the well-known Hippocrates' injunction, "First, do no harm". The only trouble, Christine Ruggere (1999) tells us, is that there's no such Hippocratic oath. She says that the closest is where it says "I will keep them [the sick] from harm and injustice". She does note that in another place entirely (Epidemics, book I) he does come close, saying "As to diseases, make a habit of two things--to help, or at least to do no harm". But close isn't good enough. Not for Dr. Ruggere, I'm happy to say (or me). Stephen Ruggere, C. (1999). Quoting the Hippocratic Oath. _Science, 286, 901. ___________________________________________________ Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. tel: (819) 822-9600 ext 2470 Department of Psychology fax: (819) 822-9661 Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Lennoxville, QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Dept web page at http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy TIPS discussion list for psychology teachers at http://faculty.frostburg.edu/psyc/southerly/tips/index.htm _______________________________________________ --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
