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Calvin Trillin Quotes

Journalist

Calvin Trillin is an American journalist known for his humorous and satirical writing style. Born on December 5, 1935, he has had a career that spans various fields, including literature, commentary, and news reporting.

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All Ifs People Restaurants Thinking Writing Book Knows Way Food School Turns Cooking Home Long May Trying Used Wells World Average

Famous Calvin Trillin Quotes

“There's always a source for humor [in politics]. If it's inappropriate to write about, if there's nothing funny about it, then it's not funny. So it sort of selects itself. It has to. And plus, often something that wouldn't be funny at the time is okay to make jokes about later.”

Ifs Writing Source Jokes Okay Plus Inappropriate

Author:Calvin Trillin

“What interests me is what you might call vernacular writing, writing that connects you to a place.”

Writing Might Interest Vernacular

Author:Calvin Trillin

“If it's inappropriate to write about, if there's nothing funny about it, then it's not funny.”

Ifs Writing Inappropriate

Author:Calvin Trillin

“When you're writing, you are robbed of your delivery.”

Writing Delivery

Author:Calvin Trillin

“You know, I used to say, when people say, 'How do you think about what to write about in the poems every week?' And I say, 'Well, I have to turn it in on Monday, so on Sunday nights I turn the shower to iambic pentameter and it sort of works out that way.'”

People Thinking Knows Way Writing Wells Used Night Turns Week Work Out Sunday Showers Monday Sunday Night

Author:Calvin Trillin

“As far as I'm concerned, 'whom' is a word that was invented to make everyone sound like a butler.”

Inspirational Writing Sound Concerned Corny Butlers

Book:If you can't say something nice

Source: If you can't say something nice

“I suppose that there are endeavors in which self-confidence is even more important than it is in writing -- tightrope walking comes immediately to mind -- but it's difficult for me to think of anybody producing much writing if his confidence is completely shot.”

Ifs Thinking Writing Mind Important Self Difficult Walking Shots Self Confidence Endeavor

Author:Calvin Trillin

“In modern America, anyone who attempts to write satirically about the events of the day finds it difficult to concoct a situation so bizarre that it may not actually come to pass while his article is still on the presses.”

Writing May Stills America Difficult Situation Modern Events Presses Newspapers Articles Bizarre Modern America

Book:Uncivil liberties

Source: Uncivil liberties

“A new regulation for the publishing industry: "The advance for a book must be larger than the check for the lunch at which it was discussed.”

Writing Book Industry Checks Lunch Regulation Publishing Publishing Industry

Book:Uncivil liberties

Source: Uncivil liberties

About the Author

Born: December 5, 1935
Known for: Journalist
Quotes: 103

Books & Sources

Uncivil libertiesRelated source material

Third HelpingsRelated source material

American fried; adventures of a happy eaterRelated source material

About AliceRelated source material

Alice, Let's Eat: Further Adventures of a Happy EaterRelated source material

If you can't say something niceRelated source material

Quite Enough of Calvin Trillin: Forty Years of Funny StuffRelated source material

Enough's Enough: And Other Rules of LifeRelated source material

Deadline Poet: My Life As a DoggerelistRelated source material

Feeding a Yen: Savoring Local Specialties, from Kansas City to CuzcoRelated source material

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