[Ads-l] Quote Origin: No Snowflake in an Avalanche Ever Feels Responsible (Update)

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

"The New Yale Book of Quotations" has an entry for the saying in the
subject line which cites a collection of aphorisms titled "More
Unkempt Thoughts" (1968) by Polish satirist Stanislaw Jerzy Lec. The
aphorisms were translated from Polish to English by Jacek M. Galazka.

Back in 2022 I created a Quote Investigator article which presented
the 1968 citation; however, the earliest close match I found was dated
January 9,1964. This match was written by popular radio broadcaster
and newspaper columnist Paul Harvey:

[Begin excerpt]
In an avalanche, no one snowflake ever feels responsible.
[End excerpt]

I did not think Harvey was the creator. So, I tried to find earlier
evidence in Polish. Two of my contacts examined books in Polish by
Stanislaw Jerzy Lec dated 1964 and 1966. They could not find the
saying. Yet, I remained confident that Stanislaw Jerzy Lec was the
creator because I could see a snippet match in "Holiday" magazine
circa 1963. Unfortunately, data from snippet matches is unreliable.

Finally, the wonderful people who operate the Internet Archive have
shared pertinent scans of "Holiday" magazine.

Date: 1963 September
Periodical: Holiday,
Article: More Unkempt Thoughts (Book excerpt translated into English)
Author: Stanislaw Lec,
Translator: Jacek M. Galazka,
Start Page 44, Quote Page 45, Column 1,
Publisher: The Curtis Publishing Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Database: Internet Archive

[Begin excerpt]
It is the high priests that have demands—not the gods they serve.
No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.
Percussion wins every discussion.
[End excerpt]

Here is a link to the updated QI article which should display the
changes within a few hours.
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2022/04/26/snowflake/

Feedback welcome
Garson

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