Sparklers

I was trying to recollect some of the best anecdotes I have read till date and here are some I could remember. I must confess that I had read the first and second ones way back in primary school from a monthly mag called 'Wisdom' (which is not in circulation currently) under a section called 'Sparklers'. It had me in splits back then which also affirms the fact that I remember it to this day ;)

C. Rajagopalachari

Rajagopalachari also popularly known as Rajaji has the unique distinction of being the only Indian Governor-General. He served as Acting Governor-General during November,1947 and he led a very simple life in the viceregal palace. It is known that he used to wash his own clothes. During this time a friend of Rajaji came to visit him. He was surprised to see the acting Governor-General Rajaji polishing his own shoes and asked why a governal general should polish his shoes. Rajaji replied sarcastically "YES, INDEED IT IS MY OWN SHOE AND WHOSE SHOE DO YOU POLISH?".

George Bernard Shaw

A famous motion picture star met GBS on shipboard while traveling to America. She monopolized the conversation for the four days on the water. At the final dinner she stated to Shaw,

"Mr. Shaw, what a wonderful thing it would be for us to get married. Think of the children we could have. Why with my beauty and your brains they would conquer the world."

"Yes, Madam," GBS replied, "BUT WHAT IT THEY HAD MY BEAUTY AND YOUR BRAINS?"

Cary Grant

Cary Grant is said to have been reluctant to reveal his age to the public, having played the youthful lover for more years than would have been appropriate. One day, while he was sorting out some business with his agent, a telegram arrived from a journalist who was desperate to learn how old the actor was. It read "HOW OLD CARY GRANT?." Grant, who happened to open it himself, immediately cabled back "OLD CARY GRANT FINE. HOW YOU?"

Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock's 1944 film "Lifeboat," a drama about eight survivors of a freighter sunk by a German U-Boat, was one of the most popular films of the year (it was also nominated for three Academy Awards). While posing for publicity photographs for the film, actress Mary Anderson approached the director and asked, "What is my best side, Mr. Hitchcock?" His reply was soon being circulated all around Hollywood:

"MY DEAR, YOU'RE SITTING ON IT."

Voltaire

In the mid-1700s, the great French man of letters known as Voltaire was invited by friends to attend an orgy in Paris. Having never participated in such an event, but always open to new experiences, he eagerly accepted the invitation. The next day, as the group rehashed the previous night's activities, the intellectually-curious philosopher reported that he had learned many new things and had greatly enjoyed the experience. Happy to learn that they might have converted the great philosopher to their hedonistic ways, the group invited him to join them again later that evening. Voltaire graciously declined by offering a bon mot that only served to enhance his reputation as a great wit and wordsmith:

"AH NO, MY GOOD FRIENDS, ONCE A PHILOSOPHER, TWICE A PERVERT."

This last one is rather apocryphal, but I'd like to believe it's true (read this a few years ago in TOI).

George W Bush

Reporter: "Mr. President, What is your views on euthanasia"

GWB: "AHEM...YOUTH-IN-ASIA ARE LIKE ELSE WHERE IN THE WORLD"

Source: wikipedia and anecdotage