March 21, 2025

[Of two fellow congressmen] They never open their mouths without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge.

Thomas Brackett Reed (1839-1902), American politician, in Samuel W. McCall, The Life of Thomas Brackett Reed (1914), Jay p.302

Are you an adder or subtractor? Think of two examples—one when you were the former, the other when you were the latter. What were the outcomes? Does anyone remember either?

This is often true, unless, of course, “they” are repeating the words of a more astute colleague. But not even then. Repetition is not addition.