Questão de Inglês — Interpretação de Textos (Understanding) — Legalle 2026

The Ringmaster's Advice

People say, "any publicity is good publicity" all the time. It's become a modern truism. But people don't seem to give much thought to where it came from.

While there is no proof that he used exactly those words, the quote is widely attributed to showman P.T. Barnum. I think it's safe to say that even if he never said "any publicity is good publicity," it describes his lived ethos.

P.T. Barnum was the founder of the Barnum & Bailey Circus, billed as "The Greatest Show on Earth." He advertised fake mermaids and a woman who claimed to be George Washington's 161-year-old nurse. Barnum's traveling shows featured midgets, Siamese twins, bearded ladies, and even "Jo-Jo the Dog-Faced Boy."

There's no record of him saying these exact words either, but he is also widely credited with the quote, "there's a sucker born every minute."

P.T. Barnum did describe himself as the "Prince of Humbug," proudly owning his reputation for hoaxes and "harmless" deceptions.

Barnum was an interesting character, but he's not a man we should be encouraging other men, especially young men, to emulate. Unfortunately, his ethos is more or less what social media has been teaching kids for the past ten years.

And at the same time, everyone complains that everything is "fake and ghey."

Well... if you follow the ringmaster's advice, don't be surprised when you end up living in a circus.

Fonte: https://mrjackdonovan.substack.com/p/the-ringmasters-advice