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).

Quote by James Thurber

Topics: James Thurber Quotes

I'm 65 and I guess that puts me in with the geriatrics. But if there...

I'm 65 and I guess that puts me in with the geriatrics. But if there...

But what is all this fear of and opposition to Oblivion? What is the matter...

But what is all this fear of and opposition to Oblivion? What is the matter...

One martini is all right. Two are too many, and three are not enough.

One martini is all right. Two are too many, and three are not enough.

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

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

A drawing is always dragged down to the level of its caption.

A drawing is always dragged down to the level of its caption.

Editing should be, especially in the case of old writers, a counseling rather than a...

Editing should be, especially in the case of old writers, a counseling rather than a...

Progress was all right. Only it went on too long.

Progress was all right. Only it went on too long.

Comedy has to be done en clair. You can't blunt the edge of wit or...

Comedy has to be done en clair. You can't blunt the edge of wit or...

Humor is a serious thing. I like to think of it as one of our...

Humor is a serious thing. I like to think of it as one of our...

Love is the strange bewilderment that overtakes one person on account of another person.

Love is the strange bewilderment that overtakes one person on account of another person.

The laughter of man is more terrible than his tears, and takes more forms hollow,...

The laughter of man is more terrible than his tears, and takes more forms hollow,...

The most dangerous food is wedding cake.

The most dangerous food is wedding cake.

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

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

Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility.

Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility.

All men kill the thing they hate, too, unless, of course, it kills them first

All men kill the thing they hate, too, unless, of course, it kills them first

Boys are beyond the range of anybody's sure understanding, at least when they are between...

Boys are beyond the range of anybody's sure understanding, at least when they are between...

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

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

Early to rise and early to bed makes a man healthy, wealthy, and dead.

Early to rise and early to bed makes a man healthy, wealthy, and dead.

Man is flying too fast for a world that is round. Soon he will catch...

Man is flying too fast for a world that is round. Soon he will catch...

I am not a cat man, but a dog man, and all felines can tell...

I am not a cat man, but a dog man, and all felines can tell...