Who said that all knowledge has already been discovered?

Question

I recall reading that someone once said that all knowledge had already been found or soon would be. Of all the people who've gotten it wrong, that person is the worst, but I can't seem to find the exact quote or the person who said it. Can anyone help me with a source or a reference?

Answer 1

I've heard of a similar quote, that everything worth discovering has already been discovered.

A character in the 2004 movie Around the World in 80 Days spoke it.

Also

"Everything that can be invented has been invented."

Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. patent office, 1899 (attributed)

There is no evidence that he actually said this though, according to the web link (second one below) where I found this.