[Ads-l] Saying: There are decades when nothing happens, and there are weeks when decades happen - search request

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

On June 30th Fred mentioned that he had gained access to the ProQuest
database of "Leftist Newspapers and Periodicals". He kindly offered
list members an opportunity to suggest search targets.

The saying in the subject line has been attributed to Vladimir Lenin.
Over the years several people asked me to investigate this topic
including former list member Robin Hamilton. Now the QI website has an
article:

Days Into Which 20 Years Are Compressed
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2020/07/13/decades-weeks/

It is a complex topic, and the QI article includes citations from
Vladimir Lenin, Karl Marx, Homero Aridjis, Carlos Fuentes, Saint
Peter, George Galloway and others. Here are three examples from the
article:

. . . regard 20 years as more than a day where major developments of
this kind are concerned, though these may be again succeeded by days
into which 20 years are compressed. - Karl Marx

There are centuries in which nothing happens and years in which
centuries pass. - Homero Aridjis

There are decades when nothing happens, and there are weeks when
decades happen. - Attributed to Vladimir Lenin by George Galloway

Perhaps the ProQuest database contains some citations showing the
evolution of this family of expressions.

Help from anyone would be welcome. A narrow search or a wide search
might discover interesting material.

Garson O'Toole
QuoteInvestigator.com

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