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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

“Every time is a time for comedy in a world of tension that would languish without it. But I cannot confine myself to lightness in a period of human life that demands light. We all know that, as the old adage has it, "It is later than you think." But I also say occasionally: "It is lighter than you think." In this light let's not look back in anger, or forward in fear, but around in awareness.”

Thinking Knows World Humans Looks Light Comedy Awareness Periods Demand Human Life Tension Adages Lighters Lightness Languish

Author:James Thurber

“It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers.”

“I think that maybe if women and children were in charge we would get somewhere.”

Ifs Thinking Love Life Children Relationship

Book:The Thurber letters: the wit, wisdom, and surprising life of James Thurber

Source: The Thurber letters: the wit, wisdom, and surprising life of James Thurber

“Sixty minutes of thinking of any kind is bound to lead to confusion and unhappiness.”

Thinking Kind Kindness Minutes Bounds Confusion Unhappiness Sixty Confusing Sixty Minutes

Book:James Thurber: Writings & Drawings (including The Secret Life of Walter Mitty)

Source: James Thurber: Writings & Drawings (including The Secret Life of Walter Mitty)

“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

“It's a naive domestic Burgundy without any breeding, but I think you'll be amused by its presumption.”

Thinking Comedy Food Wine Naive Breeding Amused Presumption Best Wine Burgundy

Author:James Thurber

“I'm 65 and I guess that puts me in with the geriatrics. But if there were fifteen months in every year, I'd only be 48. That's the trouble with us. We number everything. Take women, for example. I think they deserve to have more than twelve years between the ages of 28 and 40.”

Ifs Thinking Years Age Numbers Comedy Trouble Example Months Deserve Aging Twelve Fifteen Geriatrics

Author:James Thurber

“She wasn't much to look at but she was something to think about.”

Thinking Looks

Book:Ninety-two Stories

Source: Ninety-two Stories

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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