The surest way to make a monkey of a man…

The surest way to make a monkey of a man is to quote him. That remark in itself wouldn’t make any sense if quoted as it stands.

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“Quick Quotations” in My Ten Years in a Quandary and How They Grew (1936)

Other Robert Benchley Quotes

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…
It took me fifteen years to discover that I had no talent for writing, but I couldn’t give it up because by that time I was too famous. - View Quote Details on It took me fifteen years to discover that I had…
There are two classes of travel — first class, and with children. - View Quote Details on There are two classes of travel — first class, and…
I don’t want to be an alarmist, but I think that the Younger Generation is up to something…. I base my apprehension on nothing more definite than the fact that they are always coming in and going out of the house, without any apparent reason. - View Quote Details on I don’t want to be an alarmist, but I think…
I do most of my work sitting down; that’s where I shine. - View Quote Details on I do most of my work sitting down; that’s where…
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…
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 free-lance writer is a man who is paid per piece or per word or perhaps. - View Quote Details on The free-lance writer is a man who is paid per…
So who’s in a hurry? - View Quote Details on So who’s in a hurry?
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…