[Ads-l] Quote: The one thing more painful than learning from experience is not learning from experience

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Mardy Grothe inquired about the provenance of the saying in the
subject line which has been attributed to the American poet Archibald
MacLeish and quotation compiler Laurence J. Peter. Here is a quick
analysis. Perhaps a list member can find earlier citations.

In 1966 the expression appeared as an anonymous "Remembered quote" in
the widely syndicated column of Earl Wilson:

[ref] 1966 April 28, Reno Gazette-Journal, It Happened Last Night:
Oscar-Winner Lee Marvin Has Bit of Bogart in His Style by Earl Wilson,
Quote Page 17, Column 3, Reno, Nevada. (Newspapers_com)[/ref]

[Begin excerpt]
REMEMBERED QUOTE:
"The only thing more painful than learning from experience is not
learning from experience."
--Anon.
[End excerpt]

In 1968 Evan Esar included the saying without ascription in one of his
compilations:

[ref] 1968, 20,000 Quips and Quotes by Evan Esar, Quote Page 286,
Topic: Experience, Doubleday, Garden City, New York. (Verified on
paper)[/ref]

[Begin excerpt]
There's only one thing more painful than learning from experience, and
that is not learning from experience.
[End excerpt]

In 1978 Archibald MacLeish received credit in a newspaper filler item:

[ref] 1978 November 12, Green Bay Press-Gazette, Quotes (Filler item),
Quote Page B7, Column 5, Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Newspapers_com)[/ref]

[Begin excerpt]
There's only one thing more painful than learning from experience, and
that is not learning from experience. -- Archibald MacLeish.
[End excerpt]

In 1982 Laurence J. Peter placed the saying in "Peter's Almanac" where
it was grouped with miscellaneous unattributed remarks within the
entry for September 21.

[ref] 1982, Peter's Almanac by Laurence J. Peter, Date: September 21,
William Morrow and Company, New York. (Verified with scans)[/ref]

[Begin excerpt]
A sense of humor makes the world a comedy—a sense of honor, a tragedy.

There is one thing more painful than learning from experience, and
that is not learning from experience.

A fool and his money are soon parted—but were sure lucky to get
together in the first place.
[End excerpt]

Below is a 1904 precursor written by Eleanor Hoyt in "Everybody's
Magazine". The meaning is different, but the template is similar. It
uses the phrase "only one thing more painful".

[ref] 1904 September, Everybody's Magazine, Volume 11, Number 3, A
Little Sister to the East Side by Eleanor Hoyt, Start Page 324, Quote
Page 324, The Ridgway-Thayer Company, New York. (Google Books Full
View) link [/ref]

https://books.google.com/books?id=b8ZZAAAAYAAJ&q=%22to+be+understood%22#v=snippet&

[Begin excerpt]
To be misunderstood is always painful. Possibly there is only one
thing more painful. That is to be understood.
[End excerpt]

Garson

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