I gave up on new poetry myself 30 years ago when most of it began to read like coded messages passing between lonely aliens in a hostile world.

Quote by Russell Baker

Topics: Russell Baker Quotes

Caution: These verses may be hazardous to your solemnity.

Caution: These verses may be hazardous to your solemnity.

You can't enjoy light verse with a heavy heart.

You can't enjoy light verse with a heavy heart.

Usually, terrible things that are done with the excuse that progress requires them are not...

Usually, terrible things that are done with the excuse that progress requires them are not...

Reporters thrive on the world's misfortune. For this reason they often take an indecent pleasure...

Reporters thrive on the world's misfortune. For this reason they often take an indecent pleasure...

The goal of all inanimate objects is to resist man and ultimately defeat him.

The goal of all inanimate objects is to resist man and ultimately defeat him.

Situation comedy on television has thrived for years on canned laughter grafted by gaglines by...

Situation comedy on television has thrived for years on canned laughter grafted by gaglines by...

Live by publicity, you'll probably die by publicity.

Live by publicity, you'll probably die by publicity.

The only thing I was fit for was to be a writer, and this notion...

The only thing I was fit for was to be a writer, and this notion...

It seems to be a law of American life that whatever enriches us anywhere except...

It seems to be a law of American life that whatever enriches us anywhere except...

In America nothing dies easier than tradition.

In America nothing dies easier than tradition.

When it comes to cars, only two varieties of people are possible - cowards and...

When it comes to cars, only two varieties of people are possible - cowards and...

Live by publicity, you'll probably die by publicity.

Live by publicity, you'll probably die by publicity.

Is fuel efficiency really what we need most desperately? I say that what we really...

Is fuel efficiency really what we need most desperately? I say that what we really...

Inanimate objects can be classified scientifically into three major categories; those that don't work, those...

Inanimate objects can be classified scientifically into three major categories; those that don't work, those...

The goal of all inanimate objects is to resist man and ultimately defeat him.

The goal of all inanimate objects is to resist man and ultimately defeat him.

A group of politicians deciding to dump a President because his morals are bad is...

A group of politicians deciding to dump a President because his morals are bad is...

Anticipating that most poetry will be worse than carrying heavy luggage through O'Hare Airport, the...

Anticipating that most poetry will be worse than carrying heavy luggage through O'Hare Airport, the...

Children rarely want to know who their parents were before they were parents, and when...

Children rarely want to know who their parents were before they were parents, and when...

In America, it is sport that is the opiate of the masses.

In America, it is sport that is the opiate of the masses.

Americans like fat books and thin women.

Americans like fat books and thin women.