Changes

Sometimes, even a subtle change in wording can radically change what the speaker meant to say. For example, Charles E. Wilson, president of [[General Motors]] from 1941 to 1953, is often slightly misquoted as having said

Sometimes, even a subtle change in wording can radically change what the speaker meant to say. For example, Charles E. Wilson, president of [[General Motors]] from 1941 to 1953, is often slightly misquoted as having said

:"What's good for General Motors is good for the country."

:"What's good for General Motors is good for the country."

The context was his confirmation hearing before the [[Senate]] for his appointment as [[Secretary of Defense]]. He was asked whether, as a [[government official]], he would be capable of making a decision that would adversely affect General Motors. What he said in full was:

The context was his confirmation hearing before the [[United States Senate|Senate]] for his appointment as [[Secretary of Defense]]. He was asked whether, as a [[government official]], he would be capable of making a decision that would adversely affect General Motors. What he said in full was:

:"Yes, sir, I could. I cannot conceive of any because for years I thought what was good for the country was good for General Motors, and vice versa."<ref>Keyes, Ralph (1992): ''Nice Guys Finish Seventh: False Phrases, Spurious Sayings, and Familiar Misquotations,'', p. 8</ref>

:"Yes, sir, I could. I cannot conceive of any because for years I thought what was good for the country was good for General Motors, and vice versa."<ref>Keyes, Ralph (1992): ''Nice Guys Finish Seventh: False Phrases, Spurious Sayings, and Familiar Misquotations,'', p. 8</ref>

It's not totally unfair to translate the "vice versa" into "What's good for General Motors is good for the country," but chopping off the "for years I thought" and "what was good for the country was good for General Motors" is; it transforms a forthright statement into a piece of fatuous arrogance.

It's not totally unfair to translate the "vice versa" into "What's good for General Motors is good for the country," but chopping off the "for years I thought" and "what was good for the country was good for General Motors" is; it transforms a forthright statement into a piece of fatuous arrogance.