My father used to quote that phrase when we played 8-ball.
I don't know the origin of the aphorism (?Twain, ?W.C. Fields), but I did find this while searching:
"I spent half my money on booze, women, and gambling. The other half i wasted."
--W C Fields
"Moderate skill in billiards implies a certain amount of mental capacity, but such skill as you have
ReplyDeletedisplayed is clear evidence of a misspent youth."
Attributed to Herbert Spencer, but probably apocryphal. See here:
http://books.google.com/books?id=R9QB0WBUBZoC&pg=PA27&lpg=PA27&dq=a+good+pool+player+is+a+well-rounded+gentleman,+while+an+excellent+palyer+mis-spent+youth&source=bl&ots=WCB1mtw9Hu&sig=9ahMyx4MYdZHoCxZAmbrpczL8LY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=M25ZU8fZBuvesAS5zoDgBg&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=a%20good%20pool%20player%20is%20a%20well-rounded%20gentleman%2C%20while%20an%20excellent%20palyer%20mis-spent%20youth&f=false
And Here:
http://books.google.com/books?id=pojRAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA354&lpg=PA354&dq=%22herbert+spencer%22+%22misspent+youth%22&source=bl&ots=_9cjdQPhGO&sig=PiGoyT10VD-HrwG8tH6orrF1xIQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=lHBZU6OcE_TLsQTE_ILgBg&ved=0CFsQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=%22herbert%20spencer%22%20%22misspent%20youth%22misspent&f=false
and here:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2289&dat=19031106&id=XUEoAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WgUGAAAAIBAJ&pg=812,3380347
And finally:
"Nor was there any truth in the one that
has been constantly quoted in the papers
about him, which states that when on
one occasion he was beaten at billiards he
laid down his cue and remarked to his
adversary, " Moderate skill in billiards
implies a certain amount of mental
capacity, but such skill as you have
displayed is clear evidence of a misspent
youth." Something to this effect was
said by a friend of his to a young military
officer. No doubt Mr. Spencer often
repeated it, as it was just the kind of
story to tickle his fancy. And so it had
come about that the speech was reported
as having been actually made by him."
https://archive.org/details/homelifewithherb00unknuoft at 155
Wow. Thank you, Zak.
DeleteBetter to hang out in pool halls, than in a lot of other places, like the mall, etc. and get into trouble.
ReplyDeleteMy father said the same. Where is yours from?
ReplyDeleteBellwood/Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Delete"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered".
ReplyDelete--George Best, soccer star