Those ‘Wealthy’ Words of Wisdom

 

“It was on my fifth birthday that Papa put his hand on my shoulder and said, 'Remember, my son, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.’” – Sam Levenson

Born in Brooklyn, NY on this date in 1911, American humorist, writer, teacher, television host, and journalist Levenson was originally a Spanish teacher.  But then he started writing humor pieces which led to a stand-up comic routine.  He appeared a record 21 times on the Ed Sullivan Show

and multiple times on The Tonight Show.

Eventually he focused his writing on nonfiction penning the bestsellers Everything But Money (1966), Sex and the Single Child (1969), and You Can Say That Again, Sam! (1975).

Poetry was another of his somewhat "hidden" talents and he is credited with authoring the well-known poem "Time Tested Beauty Tips,” the favorite of actress Audrey Hepburn, who has sometimes been falsely attributed as its author.  Levenson, who adored children, said he was inspired to write the poem for his grandchildren and in memory of his parents.

He pointed out that while his parents were not wealthy, they cared about what their kids did and encouraged them to read, read, read.  “Any kid who has parents who are interested in him and has a houseful of books," he noted,  "is never poor.”

 

 

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