What's The Difference? Trivia Quiz

Answer: "A taxidermist only takes your skin"

Mark Twain, the 19th century author of such works as "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and "The Prince and the Pauper", was never short of a witticism. Ever since his humour was launched upon the world, people have never been slow to quote him either.

Twain was fond of "difference" quips: two more of note are;
"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug"; and

"The main difference between a cat and a lie is that a cat only has nine lives."

Answer: Albert Einstein

A very well-known quotation but one that has proved difficult to pin down in terms of its origin. Like many quotes of its type it has been attributed to the 20th century's most recognisable genius, Albert Einstein, even though it seems unlikely that he said it.

It is possibly adapted from another of his quotes: "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."

Answer: "In practice there is."

Yogi Berra, a highly successful baseball player and manager with the New York Yankees and Mets, is another subject who frequently has quotes attributed to him that he may not have uttered himself. It happened so frequently that Berra even entitled a book of his quotations, "I Really Didn't Say Everything I Said".

Answer: Mohandas K. Gandhi

Albert Einstein described Gandhi's views as "the most enlightened of all the political men of our time." His campaign of civil disobedience against what he described as the "tyranny" of the British Empire in India, led the country to independence and established a model of peaceful revolution that many have tried to follow since, with varying degrees of success.

Answer: Oscar Wilde

The words are spoken by Gilbert, the alter ego of Wilde, in his essay, "The Critic as Artist". The essay is written as a Socratic dialogue between Gilbert and the more prosaic Ernest, in which they discuss aesthetics and the role of the critic in the artistic process.

Wilde's career crossed the boundaries between critic and artist on a regular basis. His literature, contrary to his argument, has been widely read, particularly his one novel, "A Picture of Dorian Grey" and his best known play, "The Importance of Being Earnest". His writing, including his journalism, is very readable and often quoted. "The Critic as Artist" contains many a memorable phrase including;

"Anybody can make history. Only a great man can write it."

"Truth, in the matters of religion, is simply the opinion that has survived."

Answer: William Gladstone

Disraeli and Gladstone were bitter rivals. Between them they had six spells as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, with Gladstone's Liberal party twice unseating Disraeli's Conservatives from government through victory in a general election. However, it was more than competitive and political rivalry that informed the war of words between them; they appeared to have a strong personal distaste for one another.

The dislike had its roots in the split caused in the Conservative party by the battle over the repeal of the Corn Laws, during the Irish Potato Famine. Gladstone's great political hero, Sir Robert Peel, was forced to resign as a consequence of the parliamentary battle, leading Gladstone, whom Disraeli described as "an unprincipled maniac", to leave the party to join the Liberals.

Answer: Salvador Dali

No specific source for this quotation can be found but it was written prominently across a wall in the Dali exhibition on London's south bank in 2006.

Similar and conflicting quotes have also been associated with Dali. In the television documentary, "The Essential Dali", Dali said of himself, "The difference between Dali and the crazy man is that Dali is not crazy!"

Answer: Francis Bacon

Many highly contentious claims have been made for Bacon; that he was the true author of the works of William Shakespeare; and that he was the illegitimate son of Queen Elizabeth I of England. However, beyond doubt are his achievements as a philosopher, scientist and statesman. He rose from lowly parliamentarian to become Attorney General and Lord Chancellor in the reign of James I. As a philosopher, he developed the Baconian method, a form of inductive reasoning that was the forerunner of the modern scientific method.

Whilst not universally popular, particularly after being found guilty of corruption late in his career, his death drew plaudits from even those who disliked him. One such person, the dramatist Ben Jonson, said of him that "he seemed to me ever, by his work, one of the greatest men, and most worthy of admiration, that had been in many ages."

Answer: "Press coverage"

Palahniuk places these words in the mouth of Tender Branson, the protagonist and narrator of the 1999 novel, "Survivor: A Novel". Branson is a survivor of a religious cult that sponsored a mass suicide by its members, ten years before the start of the novel.

This quotation was used by American band, Panic at the Disco!, as the title of one of the songs on their 2005 debut album "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out".

Answer: Charles Bukowski

Bukowski was a tad cynical about politics and politicians. In a 1967 interview with the "LA Free Press" he declared; "More often than not, democratic law works to the advantage of the few, even though the many have voted; this, of course, is because the few have told them how to vote."

To be fair to politicians, Bukowski was fairly cynical about most aspects of life. He showed disdain for women ("The female loves to play man against man, and if she is in a position to do it there is not one who will not resist") and people in general: "Who does like people? You show me him and I'll show you why I don't like people."