[Ads-l] Saying: It is the first impression that counts - you don't always get a second chance; also thanks to Fred

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Many thanks to Fred for his complimentary words in the Yale Alumni
magazine. Fred's outstanding pioneering work in the YBQ and other
references was a key impetus to my decision to explore quotations.

(Off topic: I mention Fred in my forthcoming book "Hemingway Didn't
Say That". The Amazon editors selected the book for the promotional
program: Kindle First. You may qualify for free early ebook access in
March.)

Recently, an entry in the Dictionary of Modern Proverbs (DMP) was very
helpful. I was sent a third request to examine "You will never get a
second chance to make a first impression".

The first citation in DMP is for a close variant in 1952.

[Begin excerpt]
1952 Harry Simmons, Successful Sales Management (New York:
Prentice-Hall) 127: “Naturally, in calling on prospects, a good first
impression is important--you don’t always get a second chance to
correct a bad first impression.”
[End excerpt]

Building on this information I found two pertinent snippet matches in
Google Books that are probably antedatings. Interestingly, it is very
likely that both were authored by Simmons.

Date: 1936 Jan to Mar (Based on volume num; U. Florida and Yale catalogs)
Periodical: Printers' Ink
Volume: 174
Publisher: New York: Printers' Ink Pub. Co.
Quote Page: GB 84
Yale Catalog: Shelved at LSF

Database: Google Books snippet; data may be inaccurate. There is an
article by Harry Simmons that begins on page 7 according to GB. The
quotation is probably in that article by Simmons (or another article
by him). Page 84 may occur multiple times, so a librarian will have to
look at each page 84 together with nearby pages. If that does not work
then I suggest looking at any articles by Simmons in the table of
contents.

[Begin extracted text]
As between two competing salesmen—one of them carelessly shabby,
down-at-the-heel; the other clean and neat, carefully dressed, shaved
and shined—it is not difficult to agree which man makes the better
first impression. And it is the first impression that counts—you don't
always get a second chance!
[End text]

Simmons also used an instance in a 1944 book he authored. This book is
apparently available in the Univ. Georgia library.

Year: 1944
Book: Successful Selling for the New Day
Author: Harry Simmons
Publisher: New York, London, Harper & Brothers (UGA catalog)
Quote Page: GB 28
Call Number: HF5438 .S592S (UGA catalog) Temp Shelved at Repository

Database: Google Books snippet; data may be inaccurate. This book is
listed in the Univ. Georgia catalog.

[Begin extracted text]
It is easily understood that smartness of appearance is also an asset.
In calling on prospects, first impression is important; you don't
always get a second chance to correct a bad first impression.
[End extracted text]

Barry Popik has also examined the saying, and he has a valuable entry
with a close match in "LIFE" magazine in September 1953: "There's no
taking it back, no second chance to change that burning first
impression."

http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/you_never_get_a_second_chance_to_make_a_first_impression

Garson

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