Who is the author of the quote: 

"No man ever said on his deathbed I wish I had spent more time in the office."

I've seen it attributed to Barbara Bush but I have a hunch it predates her.

Gooru-ga

Gooru..

Thanks for your question about a quote that I have heard and
appreciated, but never knew the source.

"No man ever said on his deathbed I wish I had spent more time in the
office" is attrributed to a friend of Senator Paul Tsongas of
Massachusetts when, after being diagnosed with, Senator Tsongas
decided not to run for re-election.  It received widespread fame when
author Anna Quindlen referenced it in a commencement speech given at
Villanova University.

You can find the full text of the speech at:
http://www.aboutschool.com/graduation.htm

If you need any additional clarification, please let me know.

Regards,

-THV

Search Strategy:
No man ever said on his deathbed I wish I had spent more time in the
office

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Request for Answer Clarification by gooru-ga on 25 Oct 2002 15:41 PDT

Tar Heel,


Correct!  It appears that the author was a “friend of Paul Tsongas.”

I just drilled down a bit with the google search: “Tsongas deathbed”
and found that the quote appeared Tsongas’ book “Heading Home.”  I
wasn’t able to find the full text of the book online but Senator Carl
Levin referenced the book when giving a memorial speech on the floor
of the senate when Tsongas died in 1997.

------------ quote on ---------

However, he will be remembered best for his years after the Senate. He
retired from the Senate in 1984 after learning that he had cancer,
pledging to devote more time to his family. In the book, "Heading
Home", about his decision to leave the Senate, he wrote: "On their
deathbed, no one ever said, 'I wish I had spent more time with my
business.'."

---------- quote off --------------

Source: Congressional Record
http://levin.senate.gov/floor/012197.htm

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Clarification of Answer by tar_heel_v-ga on 25 Oct 2002 16:17 PDT

Gooru..

Well done!  Congrats on winning your bet!  Glad I could help!

-THV

Not bad, I spent $2.00 and just won a $10.00 bet.

This definitely predates the Tsongas speech.  I heard it used in a
pastor's sermon, unattributed, and I haven't attended church since
1983.