Herbert Kaufman


Herbert Kaufman was an American writer and newspaperman whose editorials were widely syndicated in both the United States and Canada. During World War I, Kaufman regularly contributed articles and editorials to the Evening Standard, The Times, and other leading British periodicals, along with more than 50 war poems, including the classic The Hell-Gate of Soissons.

Biography

Herbert Kaufman was born in Washington, D.C., on March 6, 1878.
He died at his home in Tarrytown, New York, on September 6, 1947.

Works

Kaufman is the author of several books, including:The Stolen Throne The Winning Fight being perhaps his most popular workDo Something! Be Something! The Efficient Age The Song of Guns The Clock that Had No Hands Neighbors
Kaufman is known for his essays on success, war poetry, and "Kaufmanisms." A "Kaufmanism" is the persuasive rhetorical juxtaposition of words that reverses the subject and object of a phrase often meant to change its context and meaning, typically used to add additional emphasis to both nouns.
Select Kaufmanisms:
  • "A coward can't conquer anything, because he can't conquer himself."
  • "The man who won't go through to the finish has finished at the start."
  • "They who fight in the dark do not shine in the light."
  • "Mind your own business and in time you'll have a business of your own to mind."

Selected magazine bibliography