Humour, communication in which the stimulus produces amusement. The word “flat” was a synonym for “fool”. Yet, it is unlikely then any of them said it.


History, the discipline that studies the chronological record of events (as affecting a nation or people), based on a critical examination of source materials and usually presenting an explanation of their causes.

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....





Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.Starting as a printer’s apprentice, Browne went to Boston to work as a compositor for



For the principal treatment of the…



I am suspicious of the attribution to Lincoln. See more ideas about Ward, Stand up comedians, Buy art print.







Dear Quote Investigator: Here are two versions of an expression I am trying to trace: 1) It’s better to know nothing than to know what ain’t so. Artemus Ward? Would you please examine this topic?There exists a family of closely related expressions with a long history. For example, in 1874 a compendium of wit and humor from Josh Billings was published. Three processes operate on members of the family to generate new members and ascriptions incrementally:The family contains some comments with genuine ascriptions.







April 1834 Date of death: 6.

It’s What You Know for Sure That Just Ain’t SoPeople Who Like This Sort of Thing Will Find This the Sort of Thing They LikeIt Is Better to Know Nothing than to Know What Ain’t So




Get kids back-to-school ready with Expedition: Learn!

History is treated in a number of articles.

Over time the phrasing evolved, and a variety of anecdotes were constructed to accompany the expression.Here are additional selected citations in chronological order.1) It’s better to know nothing than to know what ain’t so.2) It is better not to know so much, than to know so many things that ain’t so.Should these words be credited to Mark Twain, Josh Billings, Artemus Ward, Will Rogers, or someone else?A) I honestly beleave it iz better tew know nothing than two know what ain’t so.B) Wisdum don’t konsist in knowing more that iz new, but in knowing less that iz false.Here are the two sentences written with standard spelling:A) I honestly believe it is better to know nothing than to know what ain’t so.B) Wisdom don’t consist in knowing more that is new, but in knowing less that is falseBelow are additional selected citations in chronological order.Whether Barnum actually used either of these expressions is controversial. Artemus Ward quotes 23 4 Artemus Ward Birthdate: 26.



Here is a sampling together with years of occurrence. This quip is very popular.

The work employed dialectal spelling which causes headaches for modern researchers who are attempting to find matches using standard spelling.







Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox.Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.





March 1867 Charles Farrar Browne was an American humor writer, better known under his nom de plume, Artemus Ward.



The following pertinent item appeared in a section labeled “Affurisms”, i.e., “Aphorisms”. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.The brilliant humorist Mark Twain receives credit, but I have been unable to find a solid citation. ), one of the most popular 19th-century American humorists, whose lecture techniques exercised much influence on such humorists as Mark Twain. Would you please investigate?The observation has been attributed to several other prominent humorists including: Josh Billings (pseudonym of Henry Wheeler Shaw), Artemus Ward (pseudonym of Charles Farrar Browne), Kin Hubbard (pen name of Frank McKinney Hubbard), and Will Rogers.

Feb 27, 2020 - Explore Joel Campbell's board "Artemus Ward", followed by 355 people on Pinterest. Quotes by Artemus Ward (1834 - 1867).