GEORGE ADE QUOTES

American writer (1866-1944)

George Ade quote

The serpent is helpless unless he finds an apple to work with.

GEORGE ADE

"The Fable of the Compound Fracture", Hand-Made Fables

Tags: temptation


The first sign of extravagance is to buy trousers that one does not need.

GEORGE ADE

"The Fable of the Old Fox and the Young Fox", True Bills


If a man does not go about his work with enthusiasm, it means that he has not yet found a work that he likes. Every mortal is a busy bee when he comes to the task that Destiny has set aside for him.

GEORGE ADE

"The Fable of the Old Fox and the Young Fox", True Bills

Tags: work, destiny


Those who are entitled to it get it sooner or later.

GEORGE ADE

"The Fable of the Grass Widow and the Mesmeree and the Six Dollars", More Fables


Nothing is improbable until it moves into past tense.

GEORGE ADE

"The Fable of the Polite Poison Counter", Hand-Made Fables

Tags: possibility, past


A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but would not cost half as much during the winter months.

GEORGE ADE

"The Fable of the Old Fox and the Young Fox", True Bills

Tags: roses, flowers


A bird in the hand may be worth two in the bush, but remember also that a bird in the hand is a positive embarrassment to one not in the poultry business.

GEORGE ADE

"The Fable of the Old Fox and the Young Fox", True Bills

Tags: birds


A little learning is a dangerous thing and a good deal of it is suffocating.

GEORGE ADE

"The Juvenile and Mankind", Knocking the Neighbors

Tags: learning


One man's poison ivy is another fellow's spinach.

GEORGE ADE

"The Fable of the Brand that was Plucked and Got Cold", Hand-Made Fables


I got the breaks. Starting from nowhere in the corn belt, I helped edit a country weekly, then was jack-of-all-departments on an obscure daily, so that when I arrived in a big city everything I tackled in the line of column conducting and syndicate peddling and playwriting had to bring promotion, because I had no social standing which could be endangered, no reputation to toss away and no pride which might suffer a setback. Everything I acquired had to be velvet. You cannot lose your silver spoon if you are brought up on pewter.

GEORGE ADE

letter to Ashton Stevens, Apr. 30, 1930


Those who have tried meekness know the importance of being important.

GEORGE ADE

"The Fable of the Two Ways of Going Out After the Pay Envelope", True Bills

Tags: meekness


Opportunity knocks once at every man's door and then keeps on knocking.

GEORGE ADE

"The Undecided Bachelor", Knocking the Neighbors

Tags: opportunity


One smell of brimstone makes the whole world kin.

GEORGE ADE

"The Fable of How the Canny Commercial Salesman Guessed the Combination", True Bills

Tags: Hell


Some are born great; some achieve greatness, and others have it pinned on them.

GEORGE ADE

"The Fable of the Rise and Flight of the Winged Insect", Hand-Made Fables


Every man is the architect of his own fortunes, but the neighbors superintend the construction.

GEORGE ADE

"The Fable of What They Hankered For and What Was Delivered to Them", Hand-Made Fables

Tags: fortune


The wealthy have nothing left except money.

GEORGE ADE

"The Fable of the Misdirected Sympathy and the Come-Back of the Proud Steam-Fitter", True Bills

Tags: money, wealth


Where ignorance is not bliss, get wise!

GEORGE ADE

"The Fable of the Hard-Up Yeoman", Hand-Made Fables

Tags: ignorance, wisdom


After being turned down by numerous publishers, he decided to write for posterity.

GEORGE ADE

"The Fable of the Bohemian Who Had Hard Luck", Fables in Slang

Tags: writing


The only city people are those born so.

GEORGE ADE

"The New Fable of the Lonesome Camp on the Frozen Heights", Ade's Fables

Tags: cities


Anybody can win, unless there happens to be a second entry.

GEORGE ADE

Fables in Slang

Tags: winning