To whom is the phrase “Able was I ere I saw Elba” often attributed?

Although attributed to him, Napoleon Bonaparte did not say, “Able was I ere I saw Elba.” This well-known palindrome – a word or phrase that reads the same backward and forward – first appeared in 1848, 27 years after Napoleon’s death. Someone named “J.T.R.” came up with the Elba line, along with “Snug & raw was I ere I saw war & guns.”

According to a periodical published in 1821, the year Napoleon died, there was at the time only one known palindrome phrase in English. Even that was “only procured by a quaintness of spelling in one word, and the substitution of a figure for another: Lewd did I live, & evil I did dwel.”

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16 Comments

james parrillo

Ron Harvey, A phrase can be attributed to someone incorrectly. Another QuizzClub question was about Marie Antoinette and "her" quote about letting the people eat cake. The QuizzClub player, Frank, authored that question. His research found that she probably never said it, although people thought she did. The <<National Park Service >> website even says it is difficult to prove George Washington cut down a cherry tree and admitted it, as well. Attributing is giving credit to another person; it may not always be due. Thank you, Christine, James's wife

Jacqueline Tattam

Ron Harvey, “often attributed “ does not mean he actually said it. The answer is correct.

Richard D. Boyle

james parrillo, Christine, thanks for being the voice of reason on this one. The answer is correct. It’s not a real quote. It’s a made up palindrome attributed to Napoleon because of the use of Elba. A minimal level of awareness is assumed.

Margaret O'Neill

My Father taught me so much when I was growing up... I thank him from the bottom of my heart.. and miss him so much... this was on of those pieces of trivia he taught me... he was well read and passed on his knowledge without me really feeling I was learning it was fun!

Mark Gavin

Since when are we accepting "historian novelists" like Shannon Selin as authorities? Meaning no disrespect to the lady, I do not believe that anyone seriously suggests that Napoleon spoke in palindromes. Someone else, to whom the palindrome should be attributed, came up with the phrase, and felt it might apply to Napoleon. That is not the same as attributing the phrase to Napoleon as his original work.

erik hughes

Mark Gavin, if you read the explanation, you will see that it says that Napoleon "did not say" it, but it was "attributed" to him because he was banished there after abdicating the throne. Of course, 10 months later he escaped the island and regained the French crown, which shows he was still quite "able" indeed. The whole thing is a joke, bud, and nowhere is it suggested in the explanation that Napoleon "spoke in palindromes", but the attribution is given to someone only known as "J.T.R."