“Optimist, n. A proponent of the doctrine that black is white.”
The Devil's Dictionary (1911)
Help us to complete the source, original and additional information
Ambrose Bierce204
American editorialist, journalist, short story writer, fabu… 1842–1914Related quotes
Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968) American clergyman, activist, and leader in the American Civil Rights Movement
"Social Justice and the Emerging New Age" address at the Herman W. Read Fieldhouse, Western Michigan University (18 December 1963)
1960s
Simon Hoggart (1946–2014) English journalist and broadcaster
Hoggart's Guardian column 9 Feb 1980 http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/1980/feb/09/zimbabwe.simonhoggart
Eden ahbez (1908–1995) American songwriter and recording artist
As quoted by Joe Romersa (c. 1992)
Shadowbox Studio
James H. Cone (1938–2018) American theologian
Source: Black Theology and Black Power (1969), p. 16
“[I]n the words of Chairman Mao, 'It's darkest before it's totally black.”
John McCain (1936–2018) politician from the United States
In response to a reporter's question, "Which is more likely: making progress in Iraq or you winning the nomination?" (July 2007) <br class="br">2000s, 2007 <br class="br">Source: Liasson, Mara. McCain Nearly Broke But Stays Course http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12000037. National Public Radio. July 7, 2007.
Horace Greeley (1811–1872) American politician and publisher
HORACE GREELEY’S VIEWS ON VIRGINIA 2 https://archive.org/stream/horacegreeleysvi00gree#page/2/mode/2up (1872) <br class="br">1870s
“And finds, with keen, discriminating sight,
Black ’s not so black,—nor white so very white.”
George Canning (1770–1827) British statesman and politician
New Morality.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)
Humphrey Lyttelton (1921–2008) English jazz trumpeter
OK who's going to identify that?
The Guardian, Saturday 26 April 2008
“The world is not black and white. More like black and grey.”
Graham Greene (1904–1991) English writer, playwright and literary critic
London Observer (January 2, 1983)