I personally and from research think Rhodes said it first or
originated the idea. There are several reasons why I think this:
1) First off he thought along these lines quite often. He was very
pro-British and thought the world would soon be under control of a new
larger Imperial British Empire. He told close associates of his ideas.
He even thought America would be also even though the United States
fought off British imperialism several times.
2) He lived earlier than Kipling and died in 1902. Kipling lived until
1936 and had 3 decades to speak this quote and have the other possible
author not debate it. Even if they both said it, it is just
statistically more likely that Rhodes said it first.
3) Kipling in his life lived in the United States and married an
American who was the sister of a close friend. While you do not have
to hate Americans to think British people are inherently blessed it
certainly would help. Sounds more like Rhodes.
4) Kipling was a friend with Rhodes and could have exchanged and
repeated ideas. In fact his poem “If…” was said to be an extension of
values of Dr Jameson. So slight plagiarism or repeating of ideas was
not totally foreign to him. This could explain that it is true he did
say it, but it might have been originally stated by Rhodes.
Here are some links to read more.
http://www.weeks-g.dircon.co.uk/quotes_by_author_r.htm
Cecil Rhodes
Remember that you are an Englishman, and have consequently won first
prize in the lottery of life. -Cecil Rhodes 1902
1853-1902
That is seen on this quotes site:
http://www.weeks-g.dircon.co.uk/quotes_by_author_k.htm
BTW on the R page for Ripling he is not given any credit for that.
Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)
Kipling was a friend of Cecil Rhodes, of Lord Milner, and of Dr
Jameson, on whose qualities the poem "If-" is said to have been based.
Kipling had written for the Army's newspaper in South Africa,
rediscovering the familiar routines of journalism, and spent many
winters thereafter in a house near Capetown.
Found on this page:
http://www.kipling.org.uk/kip_fra.htm
And
www.cecilrhodes.net
www.kipling.org
Search terms on Google:
Cecil Rhodes
Rudyard Kipling
Englishman born lottery first prize
IN regards to your friends comments:
>The answer is disappointing because it told me what I had already
searched and found out on the Internet,
Questions should really state what they know now and what sites they
know it from. Your question did neither so how are we supposed to
know? This does happen often on Google Answers and can understand your
friends disappointment. I think the Google Answers question form
should have people list sites that they have seen and ask not from
answers from those pages.
>so the service doesn't add any
value.
The whole Google Answers service in general? From one question for the
minimum amount payable?
> Also, it is more likely that Rudyard Kipling said it, because
after I searched on the Internet, I corresponded (base on my search)
with a Brit in the UK who used this quote on his website and who also
agreed with me.
I would say less than 10% think Kipling wrote this. Professors
typically think it was Rhodes.
>Plus, I actually saw the quote attributed to Kipling in a book, my
question was just, was it wrong?
Books have very differing qualities and fields of expertise. I have
done extensive research in books on historical matters and they almost
always contradict themselves on some aspect. One has to delve into
matters to get a good firm idea on something. And that is after
reading debating many sides of the same argument.
>You should pay the USD 2 and forget about it.
>I'll never try any of your recommended websites again, fancypants!
Never try any new websites let alone Google Answers? Wow all from one
question and answer?
Maybe you should repost this with some more pay and ask for an expert
opinion from a historian that has studied this extensively themselves.
I am not that historian but gave some of my thinking above.
Regards,
Insideinfo |
