AuthorPostedbyThomas

Great Historical Figure Created By Accident on the Internet

If you search for the name “Harold Thurman Whitman” on Google you will find about 900 references to his quote:

“Do not ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

Yet try as you might, you will not find any historical information about this great man. That is because he doesn’t exist. This quote has been copied over and over on many websites, even to quotation websites! The sheer number of citations now obscures the fact that the quote is properly attributed to Howard Thurman.

It shows how easy it is to assume that something is correct simply because of it’s prevalence in a search result.

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6 Comments

  1. victoria
    Permalink

    ok, thats like just a little sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. victoria
    Permalink

    but mabye…………..doing it isn't so bad i mean, it feels ok, and + your creating new life.
    JK

  3. Brad
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    Do you know where Howard Thurman said this quote? I can't find a source anywhere.

  4. Brad
    Permalink

    Do you know where Howard Thurman said this quote? I can't find a source anywhere.

  5. Jeremiah Stanghini
    Permalink

    It's quite amazing how things like this can just get bandied about the internet without anyone stopping to question validity. I appreciate this blog post being here on the internet as I hope that those who take the time to 'research' the fictitious name will find it and learn of the inaccuracy.

    With Love and Gratitude,

    Jeremiah

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