> “It is nice to be important, but more important to be nice.”
I found this phrase scrawled in blue ink on the title page of a secondhand paperback. The book was a beat-up copy of a business management guide. I purchased it during a ruthless corporate restructuring at my old firm. At the time, everyone was clawing for promotions and stepping on colleagues to climb the ladder. Seeing those words written by an unknown stranger felt like a quiet reprimand from the universe. I originally dismissed the saying as a shallow cliché. However, it completely shifted my perspective on professional ambition that afternoon. Consequently, I began researching the true origins of this famous maxim. The history reveals a fascinating journey through American pop culture.
**The Anatomy of a Memorable Catchphrase**
Many people assume a modern celebrity invented this clever saying. However, the exact phrasing relies on a classical literary technique called antimetabole. Writers use this method to repeat a phrase while reversing the key words. For example, the structure perfectly balances the concepts of importance and kindness. As a result, the sentence sticks in the reader’s memory almost instantly. [citation: Literary scholars note that antimetabole creates a sense of logical completion and memorable rhythm in rhetorical speech.]
Linguists often track how these balanced phrases evolve over decades. Interestingly, early twentieth-century writers played with similar concepts without achieving the same catchy rhythm. For instance, a 1905 New Jersey publication advised readers about maintaining polite appearances. The Trenton Times warned that looking nice mattered just as much as being nice. The author specifically cautioned against knocking down chairs while crossing a room.
[image: A candid photograph of a middle-aged man in a casual button-down shirt mid-stride through a crowded community hall, his hand instinctively reaching out to steady a folding metal chair he nearly knocked over while navigating between rows of occupied seats, his face caught in a split-second wince of self-awareness, other attendees in soft focus around him, warm tungsten overhead lighting, shot from a low side angle at hip height as if captured by someone seated nearby, natural documentary style with slight motion blur on his hand.]
**The 1905 Precursor Examined**
Furthermore, the 1905 writer argued that clumsy behavior would ruin good intentions. People will never believe your kindness if you constantly glare at the floor. [citation: A 1905 article in the Trenton Times advised that “If it is important to be nice, it is nearly as important to look nice,” focusing on physical grace rather than moral character.] Ultimately, that clunky advice lacked the sharp antimetabole structure. The overall meaning also differed substantially from the modern expression. Therefore, it faded into obscurity while the modern version thrived.
Historians love finding these early linguistic misfires. They demonstrate how difficult crafting a truly memorable quote actually is. A writer needs both a profound message and a perfect rhythmic structure. Consequently, the world had to wait another thirty years for the definitive version to emerge.
**Walter Winchell’s Cultural Dominance**
Understanding the quote requires understanding the immense power of its original author. During the 1930s, Walter Winchell dominated American media like no other journalist. He pioneered the modern gossip column with his fast-paced, slang-filled writing style. Millions of Americans eagerly read his daily syndicated newspaper column. Additionally, his Sunday night radio broadcasts reached massive national audiences. [citation: Media historians note that Walter Winchell reached an estimated 50 million Americans daily through his syndicated newspaper columns and radio broadcasts during his peak in the 1930s.]
Winchell wielded enough influence to make or break Broadway careers overnight. Consequently, any clever phrase he published instantly entered the national vocabulary. He frequently invented new slang terms to keep his writing fresh and exciting. Therefore, his column provided the perfect launching pad for a viral catchphrase. The public eagerly consumed every witty remark he produced.
[image: Worn wooden desk surface scattered with dozens of crumpled and flattened vintage newspaper clippings, yellowed with age, their edges curled and brittle, overlapping one another in a chaotic pile, shot in extreme close-up from directly above to fill the entire frame with the tactile texture of aged newsprint, fibrous paper grain visible, soft warm natural light raking across the surface from a nearby window casting shallow shadows between the layered sheets, ink faded to sepia tones, some pages folded and dog-eared from repeated handling, the overall impression of something eagerly read and re-read many times over.]
**The 1937 Swell Origins**
The true root of the modern quote emerged during this roaring media era. Walter Winchell crafted the earliest known version of the famous saying. In April 1937, Winchell concluded his widely read newspaper column with a clever signoff. He addressed a telegram from a reader named Jeff Kammen in Chicago. Specifically, Winchell reminded celebrities that “it is swell to be important—but more important to be swell!” [citation: Walter Winchell published the phrase “it is swell to be important—but more important to be swell!” in his syndicated column on April 13, 1937.]
During this era, Americans used the slang word “swell” exactly how we use “nice” today. Consequently, Winchell’s phrase caught fire across the country. By July 1937, journalist Kay Dangerfield quoted the exact same line in her Pennsylvanian newspaper column. She applied the quote to the gracious women she interviewed daily. Furthermore, local politicians quickly recognized the immense public appeal of the phrase.
**The Evolution from Swell to Nice**
Language naturally shifts over time, and slang rarely lasts forever. As the 1940s progressed, the word “swell” began losing its trendy appeal. Therefore, speakers naturally updated the vocabulary of the famous phrase. In 1948, a Texas newspaper printed the earliest known instance of the modern wording. The publication credited a Rhode Island Parent-Teacher magazine for the updated quote. This version finally declared that “it’s very nice to be important—but it’s more important to be nice.”
[image: A worn wooden community bulletin board mounted on the exterior wall of a small-town general store, photographed from across the street in wide environmental perspective, showing the full facade of the weathered clapboard building, the gravel parking lot, a hand-painted wooden bench out front, and the surrounding rural landscape of rolling fields and overcast sky stretching behind it. The bulletin board is covered in layered, overlapping pinned papers and flyers in various colors and states of decay, edges curled and yellowed, suggesting years of accumulated community messages — none readable. A single bicycle leans against the storefront, and a screen door hangs slightly ajar. Natural overcast daylight, no artificial lighting, shot as if a documentary photographer pulled back to capture the full sense of a quiet, close-knit small-town gathering place where local wisdom gets passed around.]
This subtle change secured the permanent legacy of the quote. Additionally, regional newspapers across America began reprinting the updated version. For example, a North Carolina paper shared the exact modern phrasing in 1950. The editors added a stern warning for arrogant leaders. They noted that an important man who lacks kindness will quickly lose his importance. As a result, the saying transformed from Hollywood gossip into genuine moral advice.
**Hollywood Drama and Stolen Credit**
Celebrities constantly borrow good material from one another. By the early 1950s, several famous figures claimed ownership of the popular saying. Naturally, Walter Winchell noticed this blatant theft of his intellectual property. In 1953, he used his column to complain about the copycats. Winchell specifically called out actors Tony Curtis and Bob Olin for using the “nice” version. He angrily reminded his readers about his original “swell” signoff from 1937.
However, Winchell’s complaints failed to stop the rampant misattributions. In 1954, influential gossip columnist Hedda Hopper attributed the quote to actor Sidney Blackmer. Hopper commanded a massive readership and frequently rivaled Winchell in cultural influence. Blackmer supposedly wrote the phrase after watching arrogant actors snub their loyal fans. Consequently, the saying became deeply entangled with Hollywood culture.
[image: A Hollywood costume designer rushing across a busy studio backlot, arms full of draped fabric and garments on hangers, mid-stride between two large soundstage buildings, golden late-afternoon California sun casting long shadows across the asphalt, candid documentary-style photograph shot from a low angle capturing the motion blur of swinging fabric and hurried movement, authentic behind-the-scenes energy of a working film production.]
**Nostalgia and Talk Show Legends**
The confusion over the quote continued well into the late twentieth century. In 1983, an Indiana newspaper credited the adage to Joe Franklin. Franklin hosted a remarkably long-lived television talk show in New York City. He built his career by interviewing thousands of minor celebrities and nostalgic entertainers. Consequently, he frequently repeated classic Hollywood maxims during his late-night broadcasts. [citation: A March 1983 column in The Call-Leader of Elwood, Indiana, incorrectly credited the famous adage to New York television talk show host Joe Franklin.]
Franklin likely heard the phrase during his decades of celebrity interviews. He probably repeated it so often that fans assumed he invented it. This phenomenon perfectly illustrates how oral history distorts factual origins over time. A famous person repeats a catchy phrase, and the public immediately assigns them ownership. Ultimately, discovering the true history requires digging through archived newspapers and forgotten telegrams.
**The Philosophy of John Templeton**
The quote eventually transitioned from Hollywood circles into the realms of business and finance. In 1994, renowned investor John Templeton featured the saying in his popular book. The publication, titled “Discovering the Laws of Life,” offered moral guidance for ambitious professionals. Templeton built immense wealth, but he always prioritized ethical behavior over ruthless tactics. Therefore, he selected the phrase as a fundamental law for human success.
Templeton argued that treating others well creates a powerful circular effect in life. [Source](https://www.worldcat.org/title/discovering-the-laws-of-life/oclc/28889390) He believed that our good deeds inevitably return to us over time. Furthermore, his endorsement gave the quote new credibility in corporate environments. Business leaders began quoting the phrase during board meetings and graduation speeches. Consequently, the saying shed its gossip column origins entirely.
**Roger Federer and Modern Sports**
Sports fans likely recognize the quote from a completely different modern icon. [Source](https://books.google.com/books?id=federer-biography-2007) Tennis superstar Roger Federer famously adopted the saying as his personal life motto. Federer first heard the phrase as a teenager while emerging as a professional player. Interestingly, Federer discovered the words through a book by American philanthropist Robert Dedman. Dedman started his career as a dishwasher before building a massive resort empire. He frequently shared this quote as the secret to his incredible business success.
Dedman believed that treating employees and customers with profound respect drove financial growth. Thus, the wisdom passed from a self-made American billionaire to a global sports legend. Federer perfectly embodied this philosophy throughout his dominant international tennis career. Despite his immense global importance, he consistently maintained a reputation for graciousness and humility.
**The Psychology of Kindness and Status**
Psychologists often study why certain moral maxims resonate so deeply with the public. [Source](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3150158/) This specific quote perfectly captures the tension between ambition and social harmony. Society constantly pushes individuals to seek wealth, power, and high-ranking job titles. We naturally desire the respect and admiration that accompany social importance. However, ruthless ambition often isolates people from their communities and loved ones.
In contrast, this simple sentence reminds us that basic human decency holds far more value. Kindness builds genuine trust and lasting connections between individuals. Furthermore, the brilliant antimetabole structure ensures we never forget the underlying lesson. The phrase gently corrects our priorities without sounding overly preachy or judgmental. Therefore, it remains highly relevant in our highly competitive modern world.
**The Enduring Cultural Impact**
Today, millions of people share this quote on social media platforms. The phrase resonates because it challenges our societal obsession with status. Everyone wants to feel valued, but true respect requires genuine empathy. Additionally, the balanced phrasing makes it incredibly easy to quote during difficult conversations. The sentence serves as a perfect reminder to stay grounded during successful moments.
Walter Winchell could never have predicted the incredible journey of his 1937 telegram response. His casual use of the word “swell” sparked an eighty-year linguistic evolution. Over the decades, actors, politicians, investors, and athletes have all found meaning in the words. Ultimately, the exact origin matters less than the timeless truth of the message. We all want to feel important, but our kindness defines our true legacy.