Quote Investigator finds a close version credited to Cy N. Peace in September 1957. Earl Wilson repeated the saying in 1960; he is not the earliest located source, and the credit to Peace remains provisional.
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In context
Evoking the world of Cy N. Peace — The name in the evidence. Theme: "Modern Man Drives a Mortgaged Car Over a Bond-Financed Highway on Credit-Card Gas". 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.
Minimalist
Minimalist editorial slide for the quote "Modern Man Drives a Mortgaged Car Over a Bond-Financed Highway on Credit-Card Gas". Clean background, a single muted accent color, generous negative space, subtle paper or linen texture, no literal illustration — let the words carry it. Reserve clear space for a serif quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
Provenance
The source
Documented source
Chicago Tribune; The Saturday Evening Post
Date
1957
Modern man is one who drives a mortgaged car over a bond financed highway on credit card gas!
Quote Investigator finds a close version credited to Cy N. Peace in September 1957. Earl Wilson repeated the saying in 1960; he is not the earliest located source, and the credit to Peace remains provisional. Read the source
The documented appearances date from 1957, not the public-domain period. No general permission to reuse is implied.
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
Often misattributed
Wilson helped circulate the joke later; his repetition should not erase the earlier credited appearance.
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What the evidence establishesCy N. Peace Context
Quote Investigator finds a close version credited to Cy N. Peace in September 1957. Earl Wilson repeated the saying in 1960; he is not the earliest located source, and the credit to Peace remains provisional. Check the evidence
✓Wilson helped circulate the joke later; his repetition should not erase the earlier credited appearance. Read the research
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Filed under
More provenance-checked quotes on the same theme, each with its reuse status.
Peace is the name attached to the earliest published attribution located by Quote Investigator. The research does not supply a secure biography or final proof of coinage.
For writers & researchers
Cite this
The primary source (Chicago)
Chicago Tribune; The Saturday Evening Post. 1957. Evidence and bibliographical details reproduced in the linked source; no independent access to an original edition is claimed unless stated.
This verification page
Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘Modern Man Drives a Mortgaged Car Over a Bond-Financed Highway on Credit-Card Gas’?” Last verified 9 Nov 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/modern-man-drives-a-mortgaged-car-over-a-bond-financed/