“I remember that a wise friend of mine did usually say, "That which is everybody's business is nobody's business."”

— Izaak Walton, book The Compleat Angler

Part I, ch. 2.
The Compleat Angler (1653-1655)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "I remember that a wise friend of mine did usually say, "That which is everybody's business is nobody's business."" by Izaak Walton?

Izaak Walton28

English author and biographer 1593–1683

Related quotes

“It has been said that everybody’s business is nobody’s business. This is not true with respect to productivity; it is truly everybody’s business.”

Linah Mohohlo (1952–2021) Botswana banker

Source: PRODUCTIVITY WEEK DINNER DANCE ADDRESS https://www.bankofbotswana.bw/sites/default/files/speech-documents/productivity-week-dance-october-25-2001.pdf (October 25, 2001)

“Now I say that with cruelty and oppression it is everybody's business to interfere when they see it." -”

Anna Sewell (1820–1878) English novelist

“The busy man is never wise and the wise man is never busy.”

Lin Yutang (1895–1976) Chinese writer

“It bothers a lot of people, but like you said, it's nobody's business, it came from the Judeo-Christian ethos, especially Saint Paul the bastard, but he was complaining about youngsters who were not really that way, they did it for money, everybody suspects us or knows but nobody says anything about it.”

Gertrude Stein (1874–1946) American art collector and experimental writer of novels, poetry and plays

Stein's comment about homosexuality and homophobia, from a conversation with Samuel Steward recounted in Dear Sammy: Letters from Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas (1977)

“Those who are wise won't be busy, and those who are too busy can't be wise.”

Lin Yutang book The Importance of Living

Source: The Importance of Living (1937), p. 150