Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility.

Sourced, Letters and interviews

Quoted in New York Post (29 February 1960)

Other James Thurber Quotes

The laughter of man is more terrible than his tears, and takes more forms — hollow, heartless, mirthless, maniacal. - View Quote Details on The laughter of man is more terrible than his tears,…
The dog has got more fun out of Man than Man has got out of the dog, for the clearly demonstrable reason that Man is the more laughable of the two animals. - View Quote Details on The dog has got more fun out of Man than…
I used to wake up at 4 A.M. and start sneezing, sometimes for five hours. I tried to find out what sort of allergy I had but finally came to the conclusion that it must be an allergy to consciousness. - View Quote Details on I used to wake up at 4 A.M. and start…
Hundreds of hysterical persons must confuse these phenomena with messages from the beyond and take their glory to the bishop rather than the eye doctor. - View Quote Details on Hundreds of hysterical persons must confuse these phenomena with messages…
A pinch of probability is worth a pound of perhaps. - View Quote Details on A pinch of probability is worth a pound of perhaps.
We all know that the theater and every play that comes to Broadway have within themselves, like the human being, the seed of self-destruction and the certainty of death. The thing is to see how long the theater, the play, and the human being can last in spite of themselves. - View Quote Details on We all know that the theater and every play that…
Man is flying too fast for a world that is round. Soon he will catch up with himself in a great rear end collision. - View Quote Details on Man is flying too fast for a world that is…
Somebody has said that woman’s place is in the wrong. That’s fine. What the wrong needs is a woman’s presence and a woman’s touch. She is far better equipped than men to set it right. - View Quote Details on Somebody has said that woman’s place is in the wrong…
If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons. - View Quote Details on If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that…
From now on, I think it is safe to predict, neither the Democratic nor the Republican Party will ever nominate for President a candidate without good looks, stage presence, theatrical delivery, and a sense of timing. - View Quote Details on From now on, I think it is safe to predict,…