Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. This political philosopher and president was the smartest person ever! When John F. Kennedy addressed Nobel Prize winners at the White House, he rhapsodized about his guests, to be sure, but he was downright hyperbolic about which former president, saying "I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered together at the White House, with the possible exception of when -------- dined alone." Who was this most intelligent American political figure ever?
2. This British leader was the most inspiring person ever! Colorful London mayor Boris Johnson was probably being modest when he said "I've got more in common with a three-toed sloth than I have with -------". Which imposing, non-surrendering figure of British history did he contrast himself with in this way?
3. This writer used the longest, most complicated words and sentence structures ever! In fact, he attacked his rival Hemingway by saying "He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to a dictionary," to which Hemingway replied "[he thinks] big emotions come from big words". Whatever you prefer, who is this writer of the biggest words ever?
4. This prolific author was *constantly* writing, or so it seemed. In fact, there are two attributions of a quote calling his "bout with writer's block" the "worst ten minutes of his life." Which author, best known for science fiction, wrote series after series, including the seven "Foundation" novels but also a wide array of nonfiction on top of his famous fiction?
5. Wait, correction, maybe *this* guy wrote the most books ever! Which author, whose horror works were spoofed on "Family Guy", was depicted with a joke about how he finished an entire book between getting hit by a car and rolling to his feet after the impact? He actually was involved in a car accident that inspired a famous novel of his.
6. While we've been focusing on quotes about people, there are some people who are just damn quotable in their own right, of course - in fact, this woman is the most quotable person ever! In fact, playwright George S. Kaufman said that "Everything I've ever said will be credited to" her, though we can be sure that she herself did coin many classics, including "Men seldom make passes/At girls who wear glasses". Which wordsmith was this?
7. Who was the quietest person to ever live? Maybe this president, who apocryphally said "you lose" to a woman who bet a friend she could get him to say three words. However, a definite quote about this terse man was from the inimitable Dorothy Parker, who when discussing his death simply asked "How can they tell?"
8. She's the most powerful, willful female leader of all time! Who was this woman who John Biffen called "A tigress surrounded by hamsters," and many others called far worse, including "the biggest bastard we have ever known" (Sinn Fein leader Danny Morrison), and someone who "behaves with all the sensitivity of a sex-starved boa constrictor" (Tony Banks)?
9. This was the most incredible escapist of all time! Arthur Conan Doyle rhapsodized "Nobody has ever done and nobody in all human probability will ever do such reckless feats of daring" about which man who did magic as well as supernatural debunking through his career?
10. This American political figure was the most influential person ever - or at least he seems so according to a 21st-century musical theater hit. Which person is described as a "bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a Scotsman" who grew up to be a "hero and a scholar" among other fantastic accomplishments driven home over the course of the show?
Source: Author
merylfederman
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor
bloomsby before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
