“A little nonsense now and then
Is relished by the wisest men.”
Joseph Addison (1672–1719) politician, writer and playwright
This appears to be an anonymous proverb of unknown authorship, only occasionally attributed to Addison.
Misattributed
Letter to Sir Horace Mann (1774); this is derived from an proverb of unknown authorship: "A little nonsense now and then / Is relished by the wisest men".
“A little nonsense now and then
Is relished by the wisest men.”
Joseph Addison (1672–1719) politician, writer and playwright
This appears to be an anonymous proverb of unknown authorship, only occasionally attributed to Addison.
Misattributed
“A little nonsense now and then, is cherished by the wisest men.”
Roald Dahl book Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
Not original to this work, the proverb dates from at least the 18th century.
Source: Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator (1972), Ch. 12, 'Back to The Chocolate Factory' (p.88 in the Paperback edition (1998) from Puffin)
Karel Appel (1921–2006) Dutch painter, sculptor, and poet
a poem of Karel Appel, 1981; from Karel Appel. The Colourful Stranger. Poems and Drawings (Karel Appel. De kleurige onbekende. Gedichten en tekeningen), Amsterdam, 1986
Robert Browning (1812–1889) English poet and playwright of the Victorian Era
"Home-Thoughts, from Abroad", line 14.
Dramatic Romances and Lyrics (1845)
“What if I slept a little more and forgot about all this nonsense.”
Franz Kafka book The Metamorphosis
Variant: How about if I sleep a little bit longer and forget all this nonsense.
Source: The Metamorphosis (1915)
“How about if I sleep a little bit longer and forget all this nonsense.”
Franz Kafka book The Metamorphosis
The Metamorphosis (1915)
Arthur Schopenhauer book Parerga and Paralipomena
“Thinking for Oneself,” H. Dirks, trans.
Parerga and Paralipomena (1851)