"Truer words were never spoken."

[grammar...@gmail.com]

Greetings,

Does anyone here know the origin of
"Truer words were never spoken"? My
googling efforts have gone unrewarded.

I have encountered some debate as to
whether it should be "have never been"
instead. I think I prefer "were never."

It does seem ambiguous, though, doesn't it?

Thank you. Cheers.

[Ross]

The exact wording you give appears in "Poems by Eucsetrof Wehttam"
(1840), but that's not likely to be "the" source. The general
idea is around much earlier:

1630 Bp. J. Hall Occas. Medit. lxxi. 175 There is no truer word
then that of Salomon, There is no end of making many Bookes.

1749 D. Garrick Lethe: Dram. Satire 13 Old Man. I have, to say
the Truth, a little Money—it is that indeed, which causes all my Uneasiness. Æsop. Thou never spok'st a truer Word in thy Life, old Gentleman.

[Harrison Hill]

I'd say "Truer words were never spoke".

[David Kleinecke]

I saw a quotation from Augustine of Hippo says essentially
the same thing. Not worth trying to find where I saw it.

[Peter Duncanson [BrE]]

On Sat, 4 Feb 2017 12:13:46 -0800 (PST), Ross <benl...@ihug.co.nz>
wrote:

Also using the phrase "true word":

c. Proverb. "many a true word is spoken in jest" and variants: an
apparently humorous or light-hearted remark may in fact be
particularly accurate, perceptive, or discerning.

?1655 T. J. Merry Mans Resol. (single sheet) I protest, That
many a true word hath been spoke in jest.
1661 J. Hill Wonder in Stafford-shire 3 Yet there's many a true
word spoake in jest you'l say.
1701 Let. to French King 14 Mocking's catching, Monsieur Lewis,
and many a true Word is spoken in Jest.
1749 J. Swift Tittle Tattle ii. 46 They say many a true Word is
spoken in jest.
<snip>

--
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)

[Paul Wolff]

On Sun, 5 Feb 2017, "Peter Duncanson [BrE]" <ma...@peterduncanson.net>
posted:

This is the 'jest in time' principle of impromptu comedy script-writing.
--
Paul

[johnels...@gmail.com]

a variation appears in The Catcher in the Rye as a musing by the young protagonist, Holden Caulfield.