Who Said This?

[RJNorton]

Albert Einstein?

[Eva Elisabeth]

Wow, I've never thought of Einstein as a role model for humanity as he divorced his first wife and hid the existence of his mentally handicapped daughter Liserl from the public in order not to spoil his prospering career. He was also said not having treated his second wife any better or more faithfully.

[RJNorton]

John Burroughs?

[Eva Elisabeth]

Roger, I didn't mean your guess is wrong, I was just surprised. But who knows - many people speak differently (especially in public) than they act (privately).
...
I couldn't resist cheating now - and the wow factor has hit me again, this was said by a truly great person!!! Great question, Laurie.

[Eva Elisabeth]

BTW - "truly great person" is a pun/antithesis in German, as great also means tall...

[L Verge]

Gene's "cheating" gave everyone two important clues in guessing "when" this was said. It was indeed during the 20th century - 1940 to be exact. Eva's hint might help somewhat in identifying who said it also...

Another hint: It was not a speech given before a live audience (as opposed to in person to a crowd). And, what I have posted are only excerpts.

[L Verge]

I want to finish this one up before I go back to work tomorrow and get sidetracked. I was introduced to this wonderful speech yesterday by my grandson, whose history teacher had used it to spark debate on integrity and values.

It comes from the 1940 film. The Great Dictator, which was Charlie Chaplin's venture into the world of talking movies. It was written, produced, scored (with the help of the later The Music Man Meredith Willson), directed, and starred in by Mr. Chaplin and received five Academy Award nominations. This speech has been considered by many to be one of the greatest speeches ever made. And, I found it very timely for today's world! I hope many of you Google "The Great Dictator" and find more information about it.

Here is the version that my grandson shared with me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B92m2aclWHE (about four minutes). Gene found a six-minute version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjOkvxMHapo

[Gene C]

"After looking at the grave and contemplating in silence the mutation of things - death - immortality - God,
I Left, I hope, the grave, a better man - at least if but for one moment."

Who said it, and whose grave was he talking about?

[RJNorton]

Gene, I have no idea - I'll guess Ward Hill Lamon after visiting Abraham Lincoln's grave.

[Gene C]

Good guess, not him

[RJNorton]

I know Abraham Lincoln visited Mt. Vernon. So I will guess this was said by Abraham Lincoln after visiting George Washington's grave.

[Gene C]

No, good try.

A small Hint - Lincoln is not the one making the statement

[Eva Elisabeth]

Somehow sounds/seems Herndon to me, and somehow makes me think of a woman's grave. His first wife?

[RJNorton]

Gene, Eva should get the credit for this. I researched Herndon after reading her post, and I think she's right about Herndon, but it's not his first wife's grave - it's Nancy Hanks Lincoln's grave.

https://books.google.com/books?id=fPJi_3...ve&f=false

[Gene C]

Very good Eva and Roger. Herndon said this at the grave of Lincoln's mother, Nancy.

Herndon also wrote, "God bless her if I could breathe life into her again, I would do it. Could I only whisper in her ear 'Your son was President of the U.S. from 1861 to 1866', I would be satisfied. I have heard much of this blessed, good woman."

My source is "There I Grew Up" by William Bartlett. The original source seems to be an interview/tour with Nat Grigsby and Nancy and Silas Richardson - Herndon's Informants.