
“How many times can a man turn his head pretending he just doesn't see?”
Song lyrics, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963), Blowin' in the Wind
Song lyrics, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963), Blowin' in the Wind
“How many times can a man turn his head pretending he just doesn't see?”
Song lyrics, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963), Blowin' in the Wind
Recollection by Gilbert J. Greene, quoted in The Speaking Oak (1902) by Ferdinand C. Iglehart and Latest Light on Abraham Lincoln (1917) by Ervin S. Chapman
Posthumous attributions
Song lyrics, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963), Blowin' in the Wind
Source: 2000s, Promises to Keep (2008), Page 208
“Man must first live before he can live abundantly.”
In Place of Fear (William Heinemann Ltd, 1952), p. 40
1950s
“Before a man can do things there must be things he will not do.”
Eugene H. Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, IVP, start of Ch 2.
Attributed
Source: Also quoted elsewhere and attributed to Mencius as "Only when there are things a man will not do is he capable of doing great things," again with no source.
Harbours of Memory (1921), p. 236
Paraphrased variant: A man must let his ideas grow, not be continually rooting them up to see how they are getting on.