“Tell me who your heroes are and I’ll tell you how you’ll turn out to be.”
[…] No axiom in politics is more certain than this.
Le Coup d'État permanent (1964) Part III
“I’ll play it and tell you what it is later.”
In [So What: The Life of Miles Davis, John, Szwed, Random House, 2012, 9781448106462], and in many other books https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&hl=en&q=%22play+anything+on+a+horn%22+miles+davis#hl=en&q=%22+and+tell+you+what+it+is+later.+%22+miles+davis&tbm=bks
Sometimes rendered as: I'll play it first and tell you what it is later.
During a recording session for Prestige, on the album "Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet" (1956).
1950s
“Tell me what you listen to, and I'll tell you who you are.”
Source: How to Kill a Rock Star
“Tell me how you read and I'll tell you who you are.”
“Tell me how you want to die, and I'll tell you who you are.”
Variant: Tell me how you want to die, and I'll tell you who you are.
Source: Tears and Saints (1937)
“Tell me to what you pay attention and I will tell you who you are.”
Source: Man and Crisis (1962), p. 94.
“Tell me what you see vanishing and I will tell you who you are”
