The free-lance writer is a man who is paid per…

The free-lance writer is a man who is paid per piece or per word or perhaps.

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Quoted by James Thurber in The Bermudian (November 1950)

Other Robert Benchley Quotes

The way to go to the circus, however, is with someone who has seen perhaps one theatrical performance before in his life and that in the High School hall…. The scales of sophistication are struck from your eyes and you see in the circus a gathering of men and women who are able to do things as a matter of course which you couldn’t do if your life depended on it. - View Quote Details on The way to go to the circus, however, is with…
I am more the inspirational type of speller. I work on hunches rather than mere facts, and the result is sometimes open to criticism by purists. - View Quote Details on I am more the inspirational type of speller. I work…
Why don’t you get out of that wet coat and into a dry martini? - View Quote Details on Why don’t you get out of that wet coat and…
Death ends a life, not a relationship. - View Quote Details on Death ends a life, not a relationship.
Dachshunds are ideal dogs for small children, as they are already stretched and pulled to such a length that the child cannot do much harm one way or the other. - View Quote Details on Dachshunds are ideal dogs for small children, as they are…
Anyone can do any amount of work provided it isn’t the work he is supposed to be doing at the moment. - View Quote Details on Anyone can do any amount of work provided it isn’t…
The only cure for a real hangover is death. - View Quote Details on The only cure for a real hangover is death.
The English language may hold a more disagreeable combination of words than “The doctor will see you now.” I am willing to concede something to the phrase “Have you anything to say before the current is turned on?” That may be worse for the moment, but it doesn’t last so long. For continued, unmitigating depression, I know nothing to equal “The doctor will see you now.” But I’m not narrow-minded about it. I’m willing to consider other possibilities. - View Quote Details on The English language may hold a more disagreeable combination of…
Great literature must spring from an upheaval in the author’s soul. If that upheaval is not present then it must come from the works of any other author which happens to be handy and easily adapted. - View Quote Details on Great literature must spring from an upheaval in the author’s…
A great many people have come up to me and asked how I manage to get so much work done and still keep looking so dissipated. - View Quote Details on A great many people have come up to me and…