{"id":658,"date":"2015-11-15T05:01:28","date_gmt":"2015-11-15T05:01:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/repeatright.com\/engine\/?p=658"},"modified":"2018-10-09T02:53:50","modified_gmt":"2018-10-09T02:53:50","slug":"astor-nancy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.repeatright.com\/engine\/astor-nancy\/","title":{"rendered":"ASTOR, Nancy"},"content":{"rendered":"
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1453315804311{margin-top: -40px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_tta_tabs style=”modern” shape=”square” active_section=”1″][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-book” add_icon=”true” title=”Citation” tab_id=”1449531588223-e020d87d-f7dd094f-cf635381-89e5b5f2-43de”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

\u201cAn ideal is of no more use than a headache unless you strive to put it into action.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

~Nancy Astor<\/strong>, American-British politician<\/p>\n

\u201cMother Spirit Among Nations Is Hope of World\u2019 (1922) People\u2019s <\/em>Home Journal<\/em>, essay reprint in Rochester Democrat and Chronicle<\/em>, 19 February 1922, section 3, p. 13 [p. 35 full edition .pdf]; online via Newspapers.com, www.newspapers.com<\/a><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-plus-circle” add_icon=”true” title=”Context” tab_id=”1449531588755-96303790-852e094f-cf635381-89e5b5f2-43de”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

Extended excerpt\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>[Speech addressing the role of women as social reformers & politicians \u2013 \u2018Lady Astor\u2019 was an American who became a English politician & was elected to the British Parliament.]:<\/p>\n

\u201cAbove all do not let us start with a single ideal and let our efforts end there. An ideal is of no more use than a headache unless you strive to translate it into action.<\/span> Now is our opportunity. Let us pray God that we may be worthy to seize it.\u201d (p. 13, column 4)<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-search” add_icon=”true” title=”Source Link” tab_id=”1449531589797-29580b31-8c50094f-cf635381-89e5b5f2-43de”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

Source link<\/em><\/strong><\/span>: \u201cMother Spirit Among Nations Is Hope of World\u201d (19 February 1922) Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, online via Newspapers.com [subscription service] https:\/\/www.newspapers.com\/image\/135552727\/?terms=%22ideal%2Bis%2Bof%2Bno%2Bmore%2Buse%2Bthan%2Ba%2Bheadache%22<\/a><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_tabs][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_tta_tabs style=”modern” shape=”square” active_section=”1″][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-book” add_icon=”true” title=”Citation” tab_id=”1453315829087-ce67c619-0fbc5381-89e5b5f2-43de”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

\u201cI married beneath me, as most women do.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

~Nancy Astor<\/strong>, American-British politician<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cLady Astor Attacks \u2018Filthy Comics\u2019 In Talk to N.C. Legislators\u2019 Wives\u201d (9 March 1955) Associated Press, in The Index-Journal, <\/em>Greenwood, South Carolina, column 1, p. 15; online via Newspapers.com [subscription service]\u00a0www.newspapers.com\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-ban” add_icon=”true” title=”Re-Quote” tab_id=”1453315829287-33b1178b-1c815381-89e5b5f2-43de”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

Misattibution notes<\/em><\/strong><\/span>:<\/p>\n[\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-plus-circle” add_icon=”true” title=”Context” tab_id=”1453315829475-7c82a017-1e625381-89e5b5f2-43de”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

Extended excerpt <\/em><\/strong>[Newspaper coverage of Astor speech highlights]:<\/p>\n

\u201cSamples of wit from Lady Astor\u2019s talk: \u201cThe more I see of men, the more I think of women.\u201d \u201cA good woman can make a good man, and a bad women \u2013 well, I won\u2019t go into that.\u201d \u201cI married beneath me, as most women do.<\/span>\u201d \u201cThe British radio may be dull as ditch water, but at least it\u2019s decent.\u201d \u201cDrink and sex are two things you don\u2019t have to advertise. Why advertise what they\u2019re going to get without urging?\u201d (columns 1-2, p. 15)<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-search” add_icon=”true” title=”Source Link” tab_id=”1453315829682-63e8fade-cf4c5381-89e5b5f2-43de”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

Source link<\/strong><\/em><\/span>:\u00a0\u201cLady Astor Attacks\u2026\u201d (9 Mar. 1955) Index-Journal<\/em>, via Newspapers.com: https:\/\/www.newspapers.com\/image\/69637885\/?terms=%22I%2Bmarried%2Bbeneath%2Bme%22%2B%2B%2BAstor<\/a><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_tabs][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1453316221301{margin-top: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_tta_tabs style=”modern” shape=”square” active_section=”1″][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-book” add_icon=”true” title=”Citation” tab_id=”1453315828001-b5e2e52e-ea1e5381-89e5b5f2-43de”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

\u201cReal education should educate us out of self into something far finer \u2013 into a selflessness which links us with all humanity.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

~Nancy Astor<\/strong>, American-British politician<\/p>\n

Speech, New York League for Political Education \u2018Farewell Dinner\u2019 (22 May 1922) Hotel Astor, New York, NY; text in collection of essays & speeches, My Two <\/em>Countries<\/em>, Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Page & Co., 1923, p. 75; online via Open Library [free subscription service] openlibrary.org<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-plus-circle” add_icon=”true” title=”Context” tab_id=”1453315828385-86abfac4-79bf5381-89e5b5f2-43de”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

Extended excerpt\u00a0<\/em><\/strong> [Speech]:<\/p>\n

\u201cReal education should educate us out of self into something far finer \u2013 into a selflessness which links us with all humanity.<\/span> Political education should do the same. The more I see of life the more I see that the only way is the narrow way and the broad view.\u201d (p. 75)<\/p>\n

Additional source<\/em>: A reprint of Astor’s speech can also be found in \u201cLady Astor\u2019s Adieu A Plea for Europe\u201d (23 May 1922) The New York Times<\/em>, Vol. LXXI, No. 23,495, New York, NY: New York Times Co., p. 1, column 5; online via Newspapers.com [subscription service] www.newspapers.com<\/a><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-search” add_icon=”true” title=”Source Link” tab_id=”1453315828572-dac97b48-68e05381-89e5b5f2-43de”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

Source link <\/em><\/strong>[Astor speech text]<\/span>: My Two Countries<\/em> (1923) online via Open Library [free subscription service]: https:\/\/archive.org\/stream\/mytwocountries1954asto?ref=ol#page\/n81\/mode\/2up<\/a><\/p>\n

Source link <\/em><\/strong>[Additional source \u2013 contemporary newspaper coverage]<\/span>: \u201cLady Astor\u2019s Adieu a Plea for Europe\u201d (23 May 1922) The New York Times<\/em>, online via Newspapers.com [subscription service]: https:\/\/www.newspapers.com\/image\/26754855\/?terms=%22real%2Beducation%2Bshould%2Beducate%2Bus%2Bout%2Bof%2Bself%22<\/a><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_tabs][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_tta_tabs style=”modern” shape=”square” active_section=”1″][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-book” add_icon=”true” title=”Citation” tab_id=”1449531591105-7edf5f39-feaa094f-cf635381-89e5b5f2-43de”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

\u201cT<\/strong>he first time Adam had a chance he laid the blame on women.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

~Nancy Astor<\/strong>, American-British politician<\/p>\n

Speech, League of Women Voters (c.1922) New York, text in My <\/em>Two Countries<\/em>, Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Page & Co., 1923, p. 13; online via Open Library [free subscription service] openlibrary.org<\/a><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-plus-circle” add_icon=”true” title=”Context” tab_id=”1449531591631-43861bc7-da28094f-cf635381-89e5b5f2-43de”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

Extended excerpt\u00a0<\/em><\/strong> [Joking, in speech to League of Women Voters. The remark \u2018we will leave Adam\u2019 = changing the subject]:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have no record of Adam murmuring against the fruit \u2013 of his doing anything but eat it with docility. In passing, also, I would like to say that the first time Adam had a chance he laid the blame on woman<\/span> – however, we will leave Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Source note<\/em><\/strong>: In My Two Countries<\/em>, Astor noted that the speech was delivered before the League of Women Voters in New York, but no date is specified. Astor did participate in a week-long annual League of Women Voters convention in Baltimore & Washington, D.C. in late April 1922, but the speech does not appear to be from that event.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-search” add_icon=”true” title=”Source Link” tab_id=”1449531592891-f39e055b-a66e094f-cf635381-89e5b5f2-43de”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

Source link<\/em><\/strong><\/span>: My Two Countries<\/em> (1923) online via Open Library [free subscription service]: https:\/\/archive.org\/stream\/mytwocountries1954asto?ref=ol#page\/n19\/mode\/2up\/search\/Adam<\/a><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_tabs][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1453316221301{margin-top: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_tta_tabs style=”modern” shape=”square” active_section=”1″][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-book” add_icon=”true” title=”Citation” tab_id=”1524251094204-0584df75-2598″][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

\u201cWe women do talk too much, but even then we don\u2019t tell half we know.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

~Nancy Astor<\/strong>, American-British politician<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Politics to Help the Men, Lady Astor Tells the Editors\u201d (26 April 1922) Speech to annual Associated Press luncheon, New York, NY, Waldorf hotel, cited in\u00a0The New York Times<\/em>, Vol. LXXI, No. 23,468, column 2, p. 3 (story begins on page 1); online via The\u00a0New York Times archives, timesmachine.nytimes.com<\/a> [subscription service]\n

\u00a0<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-plus-circle” add_icon=”true” title=”Context” tab_id=”1524251094292-0194ecfc-5892″][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

Extended excerpt\u00a0<\/em><\/strong> [From Astor’s speech to an annual Associated Press luncheon, as reported in The New York Times.<\/em>]:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe women feel we have moral courage and a sort of vision,\u201d she added. \u201cWe don\u2019t enter politics because of ourselves. To raise you men perfectly we\u2019ve got to do a great many disagreeable things\u2014to spank you when a spanking is needed and to love you when that is needed. Now we are ready to enter the political arena\u2014don\u2019t be frightened, and don\u2019t try to discourage us too much.\u00a0<\/strong>We women do talk too much, but even then we don\u2019t tell half we know.<\/span>\u201d (p. 3, column 2)<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-search” add_icon=”true” title=”Source Link” tab_id=”1524251094376-61dec0c8-564e”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

Source link<\/em><\/strong><\/span>: \u201cIn Politics to Help the Men, Lady Astor Tells the Editors\u201d (26 Apr. 1922) The New York Times<\/em> [subscription service]: http:\/\/timesmachine.nytimes.com\/timesmachine\/1922\/04\/26\/99016102.html?pageNumber=1<\/a><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_tabs][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_tta_tabs style=”modern” shape=”square” active_section=”1″][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-book” add_icon=”true” title=”Citation” tab_id=”1524251094594-eebdf060-697e”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

Misattributed to Nancy Astor –
\n<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe penalty of success is to be bored by the attentions of people who formerly snubbed you.<\/span>\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

~Original author unknown<\/span>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Quote has been in circulation since at least the early 1880s, when frequently-credited “sources” like editor M.W. Little<\/strong> and<\/span> politician Nancy Astor <\/strong>were still young children. <\/span><\/span>Please see “Misquote” tab for additional details.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-ban” add_icon=”true” title=”Misquote” tab_id=”1453315829287-33b1178b-1c815381-89e5b5f2-43de”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

Misattibution notes<\/em><\/strong><\/span>:<\/p>\n

Modern sources tend to attribute the “penalty of success” quote (and variations of it) to editor M.W. Little<\/strong><\/span> (Mary Wilson Little<\/strong><\/span>) or to the American-born, British politician Nancy Astor<\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n

The quote, however, predated both Little (1875-1952) and Astor (1879-2014) and was in print circulation not long after both women were born. To date, we have not been able to definitively trace the original author of this quote. A few examples of early use include:<\/p>\n

1880<\/u><\/strong><\/span> – Harrisburg Daily Independent <\/em> -The quote appeared in a list of sayings, quips, and short news briefs in the newspaper\u2019s \u2018City and Vicinity\u2019 feature: \u201cThe penalty of success is to be bored by the attentions of people who formerly snubbed you<\/strong>.<\/span>\u201d This quote was then repeated in similar \u2018filler\u2019 features in American newspapers between 1880-1881.<\/p>\n

[Source<\/em>: \u201cLocallettes\u201d (10 August 1880) \u2018City and Vicinity\u2019 feature, Harrisburg Daily Independent<\/em>, Vol. VIII, No. 20, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, p. 4, column 1; online via Newspapers.com [subscription service] www.newspapers.com<\/a>]<\/span><\/p>\n

1897<\/u><\/strong><\/span> – Mary Wilson Little<\/strong><\/span> did include the quote in Reveries of a Paragrapher<\/em>, her 1897 collection of epigrams, aphorisms, and other pithy sayings. Little did, however, preface her book with this disclaimer: \u201cMany of the paragraphs of which this little book is composed, originally appeared in many papers; not a few here have been extensively copied. I have collected, revised, and published them in their present form at the earnest solicitation of my enemies. All rights reserved \u2013 even the right to dramatize.\u201d<\/p>\n

[Source<\/em>: Mary Wilson Little (M.W.L.), Reveries of a Paragrapher<\/em> (1897) London: T. Fisher Unwin, p. 7; online via Google Books, books.google.com<\/a>]<\/span><\/p>\n

1953<\/u><\/strong><\/span> \u2013 Nancy Astor<\/strong><\/span> was attributed with a version of the quote in a 1953 \u201cThey Say\u201d newspaper feature without any additional attribution: \u201cThe penalty of success is to be bored by people who snub you<\/strong>.<\/span>\u201d This quote was later repeated in a range of newspapers throughout the late 1950s. To date, Repeat Right has not been able to confirm whether or not Astor ever repeated wrote or repeated the quote…but we are certain she was not the original source.<\/p>\n

[Source<\/em>: \u201cThey Say\u201d (25 August 1953) The Daily Notes<\/em>, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, p. 4, column 1; online via Newspapers.com [subscription service] www.newspapers.com<\/a>]<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-plus-circle” add_icon=”true” title=”Context” tab_id=”1524251094696-82b9e6a5-d988″][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

Extended excerpt<\/em><\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Although we know the “penalty of success” quote was in circulation as early as 1880, Repeat Right has not located the original origin of the quote, nor have we found an early example of the quote used in context of a spoken or written work. Please see “Misquotes” tab for additional details.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-search” add_icon=”true” title=”Source Link” tab_id=”1524251094810-478a4e7c-8bcf”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]\n

Source link<\/em><\/strong> [Earliest source located to date -1880]<\/span>: \u201cLocalettes\u201d (10 August 1880) Harrisburg Daily Independent<\/em>, via Newspapers.com [subscription service]: https:\/\/www.newspapers.com\/image\/82917317\/?terms=%22penalty%2Bof%2Bsuccess%2Bis%2Bto%2Bbe%2Bbored%22<\/a><\/p>\n

Source link <\/em><\/strong>[M.W. Little re-quote \u2013 1897]<\/span>: Reveries of a Paragrapher<\/em> (1897) online via Google Books: https:\/\/books.google.com\/books?id=JD0rAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA7&dq=%22who+formerly+snubbed+you<\/a><\/p>\n

Source link <\/em><\/strong>[Astor attribution – 1953]<\/span>: \u201cThey Say\u201d (25 August 1953) The Daily Notes<\/em>, via Newspapers.com [subscription service]: https:\/\/www.newspapers.com\/image\/53663199\/?terms=%22The%2Bpenalty%2Bof%2Bsuccess%2Bis%2Bto%2Bbe%2Bbored%22%2B%2B%2BAsto<\/a>r[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_tabs][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\n

Resources<\/h4>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”none” el_class=”Wrapper-Author-Resources”]Learn more about Nancy Astor <\/strong><\/span>| Here are a few good places to start –<\/p>\n