“There have only been two geniuses in the world — Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare. But dahling, I think you had better put Shakespeare first.”
A colleague texted me that line during a rough deadline week. She added no context, just the quote. I read it twice, then laughed in spite of myself. However, the laugh felt like a release, not a distraction. It sounded like someone praising excellence while winking at the whole idea.
Then I started wondering who actually said it. Moreover, I wanted to know when it first appeared in print. That curiosity pulled me into a surprisingly rich paper trail.
Why this quote sticks in your head
The line works because it mixes high culture and pop culture in one breath. It pairs Shakespeare, the default symbol for literary genius, with Willie Mays, a symbol of athletic brilliance. Additionally, it uses “Willie Shakespeare,” which sounds playful and intimate. That nickname instantly lowers the temperature of “genius talk.”
The punchline lands in the last clause. The speaker praises Mays, then quickly “corrects” the ranking. Therefore, you get admiration plus comedy, not a stiff comparison. You also hear a distinct voice in “dahling.” That single word signals theatrical flair and social confidence.
Who gets credit: Tallulah Bankhead, and why people doubt it
Most versions credit actress Tallulah Bankhead. That attribution makes sense on personality alone. She built a public image around sharp one-liners and bold opinions. Additionally, she loved the New York Giants and later the San Francisco Giants. She talked about the team often, and she praised Willie Mays directly in print.
Still, people hesitate because the quote circulates heavily in later quote roundups. Many readers first met it in books, columns, or “quote of the day” features. As a result, it can feel like an invented line that drifted backward onto a famous personality. That skepticism stays healthy, especially with celebrity quips.
Earliest known appearance in print (and what it actually said)
The earliest strong, dated newspaper appearance comes from October 23, 1962. A Chicago newspaper printed a small collection of miscellaneous quotations under a “They Said It” style heading. It credited the line to Tallulah Bankhead and included the “dahling” add-on. The text used the exact pairing: Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.
That 1962 citation matters because it lands during Bankhead’s lifetime. She died in 1968. Therefore, the timeline supports a genuine attribution more than a posthumous invention. It still doesn’t prove she said it, because the item didn’t come from a transcript. However, it places the quote in circulation early enough to treat the credit seriously.
Historical context: Bankhead’s baseball fandom and Mays’s stardom
To understand why the quote even feels plausible, you need the setting. Bankhead didn’t “dabble” in baseball interest. She followed the Giants for decades and spoke about them like a committed fan. In a 1960 magazine profile, she praised Willie Mays as “perfectly charming” and “the greatest all-around ballplayer.” She also described him as a master showman.
That 1960 profile also described her long loyalty to the Giants, beginning in 1939. It noted her continued support after the team moved from New York to San Francisco. Additionally, it captured her optimism about the 1960 season and her fondness for “those good Alabama men.” That detail matters because Mays came from Alabama.
Meanwhile, Willie Mays had become a national sports icon by the early 1960s. Fans admired his all-around play, his defense, and his charisma. Therefore, a celebrity fan making an extravagant comparison fits the era’s sports culture.
How the quote evolved over time
After the 1962 appearance, the quote didn’t stay frozen. Editors and compilers adjusted small parts to fit space and style. For example, some versions flip the word order to “There have been only two geniuses.” That change keeps the meaning while smoothing the rhythm.
A 1973 speaker’s treasury included the line under a “Difficult Choice” heading. It again credited Bankhead and kept the “dahling” correction. That placement helped the quote travel into education and public speaking contexts. Additionally, it gave the line a new life outside sports pages.
In 1986, a syndicated columnist referenced the quote while reviewing a sports quotation book. He used the cleaner variant without the “dahling” tag. That omission shows how writers often remove the theatrical flourish for a tighter punch.
By 1991, newspapers printed it as a “Today’s Quote” item in a datebook-style feature. Those features prized short, memorable lines. Therefore, they often dropped the second sentence and kept only the “two geniuses” claim.
Variations you’ll see online (and what they reveal)
You’ll find several common variants today. One version says “two authentic geniuses in the history of the world.” Another swaps “Willie Shakespeare” for “William Shakespeare.” Additionally, some versions remove the “dahling” line entirely. Each tweak changes the flavor.
“Authentic geniuses” makes the claim sound grander and more formal. In contrast, “Willie Shakespeare” keeps the joke alive because it sounds cheeky. “William Shakespeare” restores formality, which can dull the comedic edge. Therefore, the most quoted version often depends on the writer’s audience.
Some people also misattribute the line to other celebrities. Internet quote sites often attach clever lines to famous talkers. As a result, you may see names like Dorothy Parker or other sharp-tongued figures. That pattern doesn’t mean the Bankhead credit is wrong. It simply reflects how quote culture works online.
What we can responsibly say about authorship
You can treat Bankhead as the best-supported attribution, based on the 1962 newspaper credit. Additionally, her documented fandom and her published praise for Mays line up with the sentiment. That alignment strengthens the case, even without an interview transcript.
Still, you should keep your language careful. If you write academically, you can say, “The earliest known printed attribution credits Tallulah Bankhead.” That phrasing respects the evidence without overstating certainty. Therefore, you stay accurate and still give readers a clear origin story.
Bankhead’s public persona: why “dahling” matters
The “dahling” tag does more than add humor. It signals a performance style associated with Bankhead’s public image. She cultivated a bold, glamorous persona and delivered lines with theatrical timing. Additionally, she moved comfortably in circles where witty comparisons played well.
That matters because anonymous jokes often lack a voiceprint. This quote has a voiceprint. You can almost hear the pause before the correction. Moreover, the correction protects the speaker from sounding ignorant. She flatters Mays extravagantly, then reassures the listener she still “knows” Shakespeare comes first.
Cultural impact: why writers keep reusing it
Sports writers love the line because it elevates athletic greatness without sounding pompous. Meanwhile, literature lovers enjoy it because it keeps Shakespeare on the pedestal. Therefore, both sides can share it without feeling betrayed. That balance makes the quote unusually reusable.
The line also captures a broader American habit. People often compare athletes to artists when words fail. For example, fans call a perfect play “poetry” or a dominant performance “Shakespearean.” This quote compresses that instinct into one clean joke.
Additionally, the quote helps bridge generations. Older readers recognize Bankhead’s style, while younger readers recognize Mays as a legend. Even if someone doesn’t know Bankhead, the structure still works. As a result, the line survives as a meme-like compliment.
Modern usage: how to quote it well today
If you want maximum charm, use the full two-sentence version. The “dahling” clause delivers the personality and the laugh. However, if you write in a formal context, you can drop the second sentence. That version reads like a bold epigram.
When you post it online, add a sourcing note. Source You can write, “Attributed to Tallulah Bankhead; printed in a newspaper quote column in 1962.” Additionally, you can mention her well-known Giants fandom. That tiny context helps readers trust the line.
If you want to be extra careful, you can frame it as an attribution. Source Try: “A 1962 newspaper item credited Bankhead with saying…” That keeps your credibility intact. Therefore, you avoid repeating shaky quote culture habits.
Conclusion: a joke with a real paper trail
This quote endures because it praises excellence with style. It also survives because it carries a recognizable voice. Most importantly, it has an early printed attribution during Bankhead’s lifetime. Therefore, the Bankhead credit stands on stronger ground than many celebrity one-liners.
Even so, the line teaches a useful lesson. Source A great quote needs both sparkle and sourcing. When you pair the humor with the earliest known print appearance, you get more than a meme. You get a small, satisfying piece of cultural history.