Frank Moore Colby

Frank Moore Colby (February 10, 1865 – March 3, 1925) was an American educator and writer.

Biography Colby was born in Washington, D. C., the son of Stoddard B. Colby and Ellen Cornelia (Hunt) Colby. He graduated from Columbia University in 1888, was acting professor of history at Amherst College in 1890 and 1891, lecturer on history at Columbia and instructor in history and economics at Barnard College from 1891 to 1895, and professor of economics at New York University until 1900.

After his death, Clarence Day edited a two-volume collection of Colby's best work, The Colby Essays, containing various "Colbyisms" that became well known and quoted. Among them are "Nobody can describe a fool to the life, without much patient self-inspection." and "Men will confess to treason, murder, arson, false teeth, or a wig. How many of them will own up to a lack of humor."

Personal life On December 31, 1896, Colby married Harriet Wood Fowler (born 1872), and they had three children, Georgina, Stoddard, and Harriet. Harriet joined Colby in editing International Year Book, Johnson's Encyclopedia, and the New International Encyclopedia.