[Ads-l] Laid end to end

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Thanks for searching and discovering some fun variants, Peter.
Previously, I posted a QI article about the "economist" variant that
is typically attributed to George Bernard Shaw:

Quote Origin: If All the Economists Were Laid End to End, They Would
Not Reach a Conclusion
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2016/09/13/economists/

There is a precursor in 1925, a strong match in July 1932, and an
attribution to George Bernard Shaw in May 1933.

I also encountered the 1934 citation in "Reader's Digest" that you
mentioned. Here are the details from the copy of the pertinent issue
accessible via the Internet Archive.

Date: February 1934
Periodical: Reader's Digest
Volume 24, Number 142
Article: Patter
Quote Page 107
Publisher: Reader's Digest Association, Pleasantville, New York
Database: Internet Archive

[Begin excerpt]
If all the economists in the world were laid end to end, they would
never reach a conclusion.
[End excerpt]

Garson

On Sun, Jul 13, 2025 at 1:31 AM mr_peter_morris at outlook.com
<mr_peter_morris at outlook.com> wrote:
>
>
> https://quoteinvestigator.com/2025/07/11/end-to-end/
>
> A few more cites
>
> ===============
>
> https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Judge/mmQfNyLUAhcC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=cigarettes+ruined+%22were+laid+end+to+end%22&dq=cigarettes+ruined+%22were+laid+end+to+end%22&printsec=frontcover
>
> If all the cigarettes smoked in one year were laid end to end
> that a large per- cent of them would be ruined by be- ing
>  trampled on
>
> The Judge, circa 1927
>
> ===================
>
> https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Judge/qBpNAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22lot+of+hooch%22+%22were+laid+end+to+end%22&dq=%22lot+of+hooch%22+%22were+laid+end+to+end%22&printsec=frontcover
>
> Of all the college students in the country were laid end to end , it
> would take a lot of hooch
>
> The Judge circa 1927
>
> ====================
>
> https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=JEMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA57&dq=%22were+laid+end+to+end%22+surprise&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwigmbbU-7iOAxUvQEEAHU4pDrMQuwV6BAgGEAc#v=onepage&q=%22were%20laid%20end%20to%20end%22%20surprise&f=false
>
> If all the men who were nominated for President at farewell dinners were laid
> end to end - and politically they soon are.
>
> The Rotarian, March 1933
>
> ======================
>
> https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Forum/85pGAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22were+laid+end+to+end%22+%22be+surprised%22&dq=%22were+laid+end+to+end%22+%22be+surprised%22&printsec=frontcover
>
> If all my biological experiments were laid end to end ot would make
> a positively stupid and practically interminable exhibition
>
> The Forum, circa 1929
>
> =================
>
> https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Reader_s_Digest/kk9cEj8bl3YC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22if+all+the%22++++girls+%22were+laid+end+to+end%22&dq=%22if+all+the%22++++girls+%22were+laid+end+to+end%22&printsec=frontcover
>
> If all the economists in the world were laid end to end , they would never
> reach a conclusion.
>
> Readers Digest circa 1934
>
> =========================
>
> https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Blue_and_Gold/vTrMPzMUMNwC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22if+all+the%22++++girls+%22were+laid+end+to+end%22&dq=%22if+all+the%22++++girls+%22were+laid+end+to+end%22&printsec=frontcover
>
> "If all the garters worn by college men were laid end to end they would stretch."
>
> The Blue and Gold, circa 1926.
>
> =======================
> https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Town_Journal/WcN7xjbwEfUC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22If+all+the+pedestrians+in+the+United+States+were+laid+end+to+end+,+reckless+drivers+would+have+an+easier+job%22&dq=%22If+all+the+pedestrians+in+the+United+States+were+laid+end+to+end+,+reckless+drivers+would+have+an+easier+job%22&printsec=frontcover
>
> If all the pedestrians in the United States were laid end to end , reckless drivers would have an easier job .
>
> Town Journal, circa 1927
>
> ============
> https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Dodo/Xb3O5O_S7moC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22drunks+that+attend%22&dq=%22drunks+that+attend%22&printsec=frontcover
>
> If all the drunks that attend college dances were laid end to end they would lie there all night
>
> Dodo, possibly 1921
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org