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James Thurber Quotes

Cartoonist

James Thurber was a renowned American cartoonist and writer. Born on December 8, 1894, and died on November 2, 1961, Thurber is known for his humor and satire in his works, which have had a profound impact on American literature and cartoon art.

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Famous James Thurber Quotes

“It didn't work," said the King. "The cloak of invisibility didn't work." "Yes, it did," said the Royal Wizard. "No, it didn't," said the King. "I kept bumping into things, the same as ever." "The cloak is supposed to make you invisible," said the Royal Wizard. "It is not supposed to keep you from bumping into things." "All I know is, I kept bumping into things," said the King.”

Humor Invisibility Unreasonable Expectations

Book:Many Moons

Source: Many Moons

“I was seized by the stern hand of Compulsion, that dark, unreasonable Urge that impels women to clean house in the middle of the night.”

Humor Hands Funny Night House Dark Middle Clean Urges Compulsion Unreasonable Middle Of The Night Clean House

Author:James Thurber

“Let the meek inherit the earth -- they have it coming to them.”

Humor Earth Funny Modern Life Meek

Author:James Thurber

“Comedy has ceased to be a challenge to the mental processes. It has become a therapy of relaxation, a kind of tranquilizing drug.”

Kind Humor Process Challenges Comedy Drug Therapy Relaxation

Author:James Thurber

“The things we laugh at are awful while they are going on, but get funny when we look back. And other people laugh because they've been through it too. The closest thing to humor is tragedy.”

People Looks Humor Laughing Tragedy Awful Closest

Book:Collecting Himself: James Thurber on Writing and Writers, Humor and Himself

Source: Collecting Himself: James Thurber on Writing and Writers, Humor and Himself

“Humor does not include sarcasm, invalid irony, sardonicism, innuendo, or any other form of cruelty. When these things are raised to a high point they can become wit, but unlike the French and the English, we have not been much good at wit since the days of Benjamin Franklin.”

Doe Humor Form Raised Wit Cruelty Irony Sarcasm Franklin Innuendo High Points

Author:James Thurber

“Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility.”

Inspirational Humor Emotional Humour Quiet Chaos Remembered Tranquility

Author:James Thurber

“All men should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why.”

Source: Further fables for our time

“Humor is a serious thing. I like to think of it as one of our greatest earliest natural resources, which must be preserved at all cost.”

Thinking Humor Natural Serious Hair Cost Resources Seriousness Natural Resources Serious Things Resource Depletion

Author:James Thurber

“The nation that complacently and fearfully allows its artists and writers to become suspected rather than respected is no longer regarded as a nation possessed with humor or depth.”

Humor Artist Nations Depth Possessed Artists And Writers

Book:Collecting Himself: James Thurber on Writing and Writers, Humor and Himself

Source: Collecting Himself: James Thurber on Writing and Writers, Humor and Himself

About the Author

Born: December 8, 1894
Died: November 2, 1961
Known for: Cartoonist
Quotes: 193

Books & Sources

James Thurber: Writings & Drawings (including The Secret Life of Walter Mitty)Related source material

Collecting Himself: James Thurber on Writing and Writers, Humor and HimselfRelated source material

Further fables for our timeRelated source material

Lanterns & LancesRelated source material

The Thurber letters: the wit, wisdom, and surprising life of James ThurberRelated source material

Many MoonsRelated source material

The 13 ClocksRelated source material

Thurber's Dogs: A Collection of the Master's Dogs, Written and Drawn, Real and Imaginary, Legends AllRelated source material

Writings and DrawingsRelated source material

Conversations with James ThurberRelated source material

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