Complete each of these familiar quotations: 1. "A penny for your ... " (John Heywood); 2. "Variety is the ... of life." (William Cowper); 3. "Birds of a feather ... together." (Robert Burton); 4. "Music hath charms to soothe the savage ... " (William Congreve).

If you supplied "thoughts," "spice," "flock" and "beast," you're almost right. The correct original quotations are actually "A penny for your thought"; "Variety is the very spice of life"; "Birds of a feather will gather together"; and "Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast."

A famous quotation is like an old house. As each generation moves in, a room is added here; a wall is torn down there; a bedroom becomes a home office.

Word maven Richard Lederer includes many of these renovated quotations in his delightful book "The Play of Words." See whether you know the exact wording of these classics:

Roasted Chestnuts: 1. " ... is the root of all evil." (Bible, 1 Timothy); 2. "Pride goeth before ... " (Bible, Proverbs); 3. "One good turn ... another." (John Heywood); 4. "Better half a loaf than ... " (William Camden).

Shaken Shakespeare: 5. "To ... the lily." ("King John"); 6. "All that ... is not gold." ("The Merchant of Venice"); 7. "And one man in his ... plays many parts." ("As You Like It"); 8. "We are such stuff that dreams are made ... " ("The Tempest").

And Moore: 9. "'Twas the night before Christmas ... all through the house" (Clement Clarke Moore); 10. "All I know is what I ... in the papers." (Will Rogers); 11. "I have nothing to offer but ... " (Winston Churchill); 12. "Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no ... " (Isaac Watts).

Original wordings:

1. "The love of money is the root of all evil." 2. "Pride goeth before destruction." 3. "One good turn asketh another." 4. "Better half a loaf than no bread."

5. "To paint the lily." 6. "All that glisters is not gold." ("Glisters" is an archaic form of "glistens.") 7."And one man in his time plays many parts." 8. "We are such stuff that dreams are made on."

9. "'Twas the night before Christmas while all through the house." 10. "All I know is what I see in the papers." 11. "I have nothing to offer but toil, tears and sweat." 12. "Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no fibs."

If you missed a few, you might find consolation by correctly completing this famous quotation from Vince Lombardi: "Winning isn't everything ... "

He actually said, "Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is."

Rob Kyff, a teacher and writer in West Hartford, Connecticut, invites your language sightings. Send your reports of misuse and abuse, as well as examples of good writing, via email to WordGuy@aol.com or by regular mail to Rob Kyff, Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.

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