Source of quote "to a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail"

[Cagey Drifter]

I keep seeing this quote or something like it attributed to Mark Twain, but I have not been able to find this in any verified source. Can anyone help with attribution, and also with getting the exact quote?

[samclem]

Without trying to search exhaustively, it first appears by Abraham Maslow, The Psychology of Science (1966).

[Really Not All That Bright]

Commonly known as "Maslow's Hammer", apparently.

I propose Really All That Bright's Law: Anything clever anyone has ever said will eventually be attributed to Mark Twain.

[urban1a]

Is that the exact quote? I always heard 'If all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail".

Bob

[Really Not All That Bright]

Is that the exact quote? I always heard 'If all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail".

Bob
It's been recast several times. Here's the original quote:
I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.

[Properties of Iron]

Commonly known as "Maslow's Hammer", apparently.

I propose Really All That Bright's Law: Anything clever anyone has ever said will eventually be attributed to Mark Twain.

Y'know, I think you stole that idea from Mark Twain.

[J Cubed]

I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.

Which is ironic, because it's also tempting, if the only tool you have is a hierarchy, to treat everything as if it were a need.

[astro]

Which is ironic, because it's also tempting, if the only tool you have is a hierarchy, to treat everything as if it were a need.

Oh self transcendent snap!

[Raguleader]

Which is ironic, because it's also tempting, if the only tool you have is a hierarchy, to treat everything as if it were a need.

I'd be all ready to back you up on this, but I'm kinda sleepy, so I'm gonna go take a nap.

[muttrox]

I asked this same question here a few years back (I have the quote up in my workspace). I got the same answers - no one knows for sure, but Maslow seems like the best bet.

My SDMB search powers are weak - anyone else want to see if they can find it.

[glee]

If I had a hammer

...

I'd hammer in the morning*

*all together now!

[Thudlow Boink]

I propose Really All That Bright's Law: Anything clever anyone has ever said will eventually be attributed to Mark Twain."I never said most of the things I said." -Yogi Berra

[Really Not All That Bright]

I wonder if I should include Jefferson somehow.

[RiverRunner]

Commonly known as "Maslow's Hammer", apparently.



Bang, bang, Maslow's silver hammer
came down upon the thread.

RR

[Giles]

I propose Really All That Bright's Law: Anything clever anyone has ever said will eventually be attributed to Mark Twain.
Or Oscar Wilde:
Oscar Wilde complimented James Whistler on a quip with the words, 'I wish I'd said that.' Whistler devastatingly replied, 'You will, Oscar, you will.'
http://www.askoxford.com/pressroom/archive/saidthat/

[BubbaDog]

Commonly known as "Maslow's Hammer", apparently.

I propose Really All That Bright's Law: Anything clever anyone has ever said will eventually be attributed to Mark Twain.

Actually Bill Gates said that in a college graduation keynote speech. He got it from George Carlin who lifted it from a Ted Nugent article.

Glad to help

[anson2995]

"I never said most of the things I said." -Yogi Berra

I once edited a book of quotations. Nailing down the actual origin of most quotes is a million times more difficult than you might imagine. Even when the quotes appear in print, it's usually pretty tough to identify the original source. And what's worse, subsequent mis-attributions muddy the water.

[Cagey Drifter]

thanks guys!

[Rube E. Tewesday]

Actually Bill Gates said that in a college graduation keynote speech. He got it from George Carlin who lifted it from a Ted Nugent article.



Nugent, though, was quoting Andy Rooney.

[Uosdwis R. Dewoh]

very very witty (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-4UL9_bZFQ).

[Captain Amazing]

Nailing down the actual origin of most quotes is a million times more difficult than you might imagine.

I bet you wished you had a hammer.

[KneadToKnow]

I don't care who you are, that's funny right there.