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Quote by James Thurber

“You might as well fall flat on your face as lean over too far backward.”

Quote by James Thurber

Author

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. more

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“The appreciative smile, the chuckle, the soundless mirth, so important to the success of comedy, cannot be understood unless one sits among the audience and feels the warmth created by the quality of laughter that the audience takes home with it.”

Feels Important Home Happiness Success Joy Quality Audience Comedy Laughter Understood Warmth Congratulations Mirth Appreciative Chuckles

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

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

“So as long as I'm a human being and I'm not perfect, I'm able to say I'm having some growing pains. Because in order to sustain where you are once you made such a breakthrough that everyone is looking at you, now everyone is like, 'Ooh, is she gonna make a mistake?' Yes, I'm going to make a mistake. Yes, I'm still gonna do things.”

Humans Long Made Stills Able Pain Order Human Beings Perfect Mistake Growing Where You Are Breakthrough Not Perfect I'm Not Perfect Growing Pains

Author:Mary J. Blige

“Last night I dreamed of a small consolation enjoyed only by the blind: Nobody knows the trouble I've not seen!”

Knows Lasts Night Trouble Blind Enjoyed Consolation Last Night Nobody Knows

Author:James Thurber

“The only rules comedy can tolerate are those of taste, and the only limitations those of libel.”

Comedy Taste Dignity Limitation Tolerate Libel

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

“My opposition to Interviews lies in the fact that offhand answers have little value or grace of expression, and that such oral give and take helps to perpetuate the decline of the English language.”

Giving Littles Facts Helping Lying Values Language Answers Grace Expression Interviews Opposition Decline English Language Give And Take

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

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

“Comedy has to be done en clair. You can't blunt the edge of wit or the point of satire with obscurity. Try to imagine a famous witty saying that is not immediately clear.”

Trying Done Clear Comedy Imagine Stupid Fame Edges Witty Wit Satire Obscurity Blunt Witty Sayings

Author:James Thurber

“Sophistication might be described as the ability to cope gracefully with a situation involving the presence of a formidable menace to one's poise and prestige (such as the butler, or the man under the bed - but never the husband).”

Men Might Ability Situation Comedy Bed Husband Involving Menace Prestige Formidable Sophistication Butlers Poise

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

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

“Speed is scarcely the noblest virtue of graphic composition, but it has its curious rewards. There is a sense of getting somewhere fast, which satisfies a native American urge.”

Virtue Comedy Rewards Speed Curious Native Urges Native American Composition Graphic

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