“The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places”—that is, there will be many temptations causing people to stop short of their goals—is a saying that has been printed on many images. “The road to success is dotted with tempting parking places” was printed in 1942 newspapers. Authorship is unknown.
American humorist Will Rogers (1879-1935) has been credited with the saying since about 2000, but is not credited in the earliest citations. There is no evidence that Rogers ever said it.
17 February 1942, The Robesonian (Lumberton, NC), pg. 6, col. 4:
“The road to success is dotted with tempting parking places.”
9 July 1942, Rushville (IN) Republican, pg. 2, col. 3:
“The road to success is dotted with tempting parking places.”
14 December 1944, Shiner (TX) Gazette, “Uncle Phil Says,” pg. 9, col. 1:
“The road to success is dotted with tempting parking places.”
25 April 1946, The Daily Register (Harrisburg, IL), pg. 1, col. 1:
PARTING SHOT: “The road of success is dotted with many tempting parking places.”
4 February 1950, Philadelphia (PA) Tribune, pg. 5, col. 3:
“The road to success is dotted by many tempting parking places.”
18 February 1950, Journal and Guide (Norfolk, VA), “Wise Sayings,” pg. 5, col. 6:
“The road to success is dotted by many tempting parking places.”
Google Books
Quote Unquote
By Lloyd Cory
Wheaton, IL: Victor Books
1977
Pg. 312:
The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places. (Bendixline)
Google Books
Wisdom for Living
By Jerry Falwell
Wheaton, IL: Victor Books
1984
Pg. 42:
Someone has said that the road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places.
Twitter
SusieHatfield‏
@SusieHatfield
Replying to @HalMayer
@halmayer The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places. ~ Author Unknown
9:21 AM - 29 May 2008
Google Books
The New How:
Creating Business Solutions Through Collaborative Strategy
By Nilofer Merchant
Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly Media, Inc.
2010
Pg. 69:
The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places. —Will Rogers
Google Books
Soul Food:
Quotes and Inspirations to Feed What You Deeply Long For!
By Bootstrap Businessmen
Pronoun
2017
Pg. ?:
The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places.—Will Rogers, American motion picture actor, humorist, social commentator
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
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