[Ads-l] Quote: Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. (Attrib Abraham Lincoln)

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Many thanks to Barry Popik who off-list sent me an excellent citation
in 1944. The speaker was Reverend W. H. Alexander who was also the
speaker in the 1945 citation.

[ref] 1944 December 2, Sooner State Press, “Radio Church Ads Poor”,
Quote Page 2, Column 2, Norman, Oklahoma. (Newspapers_com) [/ref]

https://www.newspapers.com/article/sooner-state-press-time-to-chop-down-a/135325739/

[Begin excerpt]
On preparation he urged his hearers to study and prepare themselves,
relating the instance of the lumberjack who said that if his life
depended upon his ability to cut down a tree in five minutes he would
spend three minutes sharpening his axe.
[End excerpt]

The QI article has been updated and changes should be visible within 24 hours.
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2014/03/29/sharp-axe/

Garson

On Thu, Nov 16, 2023 at 6:19 PM ADSGarson O'Toole
<adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Way back in March 2014 there was a thread about the saying in the
> subject line. On September 26, 2022 Peter Reitan tweeted an excellent
> new citation from 1945:
>
> https://x.com/EsnpcB/status/1574528749621547008
>
> [ref] 1945 January 2, Springfield Leader and Press, Jumping Preacher
> Gives Students Success Ideas, Quote Page 6, Column 2, Springfield,
> Missouri. (Newspapers_com) [/ref]
>
> https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-leader-and-press/110257773/
>
> [Begin excerpt]
> An example he gave for this case was that a very fast wood cutter was
> once asked what he would do if he were told he had only five minutes
> to cut down a tree, or die if he failed. “Well,” said the wood cutter
> “I would spend three of the five minutes sharpening my ax.”
> [End excerpt]
>
> The Quote Investigator article has been updated and Peter has been acknowledged.
>
> Quote Origin: To Cut Down a Tree in Five Minutes Spend Three Minutes
> Sharpening Your Axe
> https://quoteinvestigator.com/2014/03/29/sharp-axe/
>
> Feedback welcome
> Garson

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