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Necessity is the mother of invention

Posted by Word Camel on January 28, 2002

In Reply to: Necessity is the mother of invention posted by Grace on January 28, 2002

: Who wrote this/made this quote?

Everyone wants a piece of this one. I have seen this quote attributed to Johnathan Swift, Benjamin Franklin and George Farquhar. I also found listed as an Italian proverb.

Farquhar looks the most reputable.

From Bartlets quotations:
George Farquhar (1678-1707)
QUOTATION: Necessity, the mother of invention. Note 1
ATTRIBUTION: The Twin Rivals. Act i.
(1678-1707)

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