Who really said it
King used this rhyme, but Wikiquote traces it to an articulation exercise published in The Dayspring in March 1874.
Last verified 9 Nov 2026 · how we verify · spot an error?
For presentations
Disputed credit — copy with the correction
“He thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts” — Anonymous traditional tongue-twister, documented by 1874; later used by Stephen King, who did not originate it.
The slide-ready mistake: crediting this to Stephen King. Use the credit shown above instead.
Can you use it?
Free to use, including in commercial and paid presentations — no permission or licence needed.
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In context
Evoking the themes of work and resilience. Theme: "He thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts". Atmospheric and restrained, cinematic directional light, a muted period-appropriate palette, fine grain and texture. Compose with generous empty space for the quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
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Provenance
He thrusts his fists against the posts,
And still insists he sees the ghosts.
How we verified this
The checked provenance reference transcribes this wording from a specified 1874 publication, before 1931. That historical rhyme is public domain in the United States; this is not a rights claim over King’s novel.
Rights status is our research, not legal advice — and copyright varies by country and edition. For commercial or published use, confirm with the rightsholder. See terms.
Fact-check
Appearing in a novel does not make a traditional rhyme the novelist’s invention.
He reused the tongue-twister; the checked source documents it before his lifetime. Historical citation ↗
Explore
More provenance-checked quotes on the same theme, each with its reuse status.
Go further
Trusted places to keep pulling the thread — primary archives, fact-checks, and scholarship. We show how we used each one before you leave.
Attributes the rhyme to an anonymous older exercise, published by 1874, not invented by King.
King’s official site confirms September 1986 release and Viking Press.
Describes a longer version of the rhyme in the earlier Siodmak story.
Biographical context on the later user of the rhyme.
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The author
For writers & researchers
Exercises in Articulation, The Dayspring, March 1874, p. 39. See the linked research; a primary edition of the displayed wording has not been independently confirmed.
Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘He thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts’?” Last verified 9 Nov 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/he-thrusts-his-fists-against-the-posts-and-still-insists-he/