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
(Reposted from 2014)
"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.
DeleteSo did my father (Argentina), and my best friend's father (Malaysia).
Delete"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered".
ReplyDelete--George Best, soccer star
A few days ago, John Virgo died. He was famous in the UK for pool trick shots, and did them on TV for many years.
ReplyDeleteThe web page does not give a date or source for that quote, but does mention that Hubert Smith mentioned it in one of his correspondence:
ReplyDeleteSmith wrote, “There used to be an old saying, ‘A good pool player is a sign of a misspent youth.’ I don’t think that is right because I know an awful lot of fine men that were very good at the game and who are very successful in their chosen fields.”
https://www.hjnews.com/preston/developing-town-memories-of-a-preston-cueist/article_965bbd29-0692-5c4e-851b-1d4b28e89b5e.html
The version I heard was about playing bridge (or perhaps cards in general). "Playing bridge well is a sign of a proper upbringing. Playing too well is a sign of a misspent youth."
ReplyDeleteThis well known saying is attributed to Herbert Spencer, who repeated it after hearing it from Charles Roupell at the Athenaeum Club in London.
ReplyDeleteThat remark is sometimes phrased as "a proficiency at billiards is a sign of a well-rounded education, but a misspent youth".
Link around the paywall:
archive.is/https://www.pressherald.com/2015/01/05/the-universal-notebook-sign-of-a-misspent-youth/ The Universal Notebook: Sign of a misspent youth