Dorothy Parker, who is one of the people I most admire for her brilliant wit, was born on this day in New Jersey in 1893.
Source: Wikipedia
No matter what’s going on, a dip into the quotable quotes of Dorothy Parker always makes me chuckle. Here are a few of my favourites:
“The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue.”
“The cure for boredom is curiosity.
There is no cure for curiosity.”“Don’t look at me in that tone of voice.”
“What fresh hell is this?”
“Brevity is the soul of lingerie.”
“That woman speaks eighteen languages, and can’t say ‘No’ in any of them.”
“Women and elephants never forget.”
“She runs the gamut of emotions from A to B.”
A world without Dorothy Parker would have been so much duller. Tell me about your favourite quote from her.
P.S. The quote that was a constant part of my growing up was ‘What fresh hell is this,’ which my late mother would whisper with a glint in her eye when a knock would come at the door just as we were starting a meal or in the middle of watching something special like The Grand National!
SOCIAL BRIDGE ~ Jean Tubridy connecting with you from Ireland 
I’m fairly certain Dorothy Parker said this and it would be my favorite quote of hers if she did: “I don’t care what they do as long as they don’t do it in the streets and frighten the horses.’
Hi Jane, thanks very much for writing. What a great quote! Sounds rather DP alright!
‘This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.’ Such a personality and a good looking woman too.
I didn’t know that was her quote ‘What fresh hell is this?’ I read it elsewhere and used it once to frame the thoughts of a woman shopper on the Luas from Heuston Station wedged into a corner by hundreds of Cork and Kerry fans on their way to Croke Park 🙂
Roy, love the quote about the novel!
How on earth did the woman in the middle of the Cork and Kerry fans react to your utterings?
Haha! No, I was jogging alongside and blogged about the poor woman afterwards, face squashed against the window, imagining her thoughts.
I was chuckling at the thought of you saying it with what I presume is a Cork accent!
Love it, Jean.
“By the time you swear you’re his,
Shivering and sighing,
And he vows his passion is
Infinite, undying –
Lady, make a note of this:
One of you is lying.”
Oh, I used to quote that a lot–but I had no idea of the source,
Suz, glad you’ve found the source of these great words!!
Thanks David. This one is brilliant too ~ what a view of life, though!!!!
I don’t think that I’ve ever ready anything by Dorothy Parker. I think that I’ve discovered a new author to read– The quotes are great, and I think that I’d enjoy her writings.
Sheryl, you just have to get your hands on a book of Dorothy Parker quotes and poetry. It is essential reading for all, especially those with interests such as yours.
“Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone.” and “This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.” but my very favourite is “Don’t look at me in that tone of voice.” Good morning and how are you I have not had a good start to my day! I bought a lovely dress that I have been coveting for months and my husband hated it when I put on this AM ( we are out to lunch with friends.) It will have to go out he refuse to be seen with me in it! Damn I am so upset and I have to pretend all is cool as I do not want a row esp with friends here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS sorry I had no one else to moan at and you popped up on my screen! Have a good day say ” I love you” to the sea for me please! xxxx
Willow, I’m complimented that you ‘moaned’ with me and Dorothy!
As for the dress, I doubt there’s a wife I’m the world that hadn’t been in your dress situation. For what it’s worth, I’d wear something uncontroversial today and sport the dress on a girls’ outing or on an occasion when hubs isn’t part of the scene. No point tainting the dress on its first outing. Wonder what others would say? Will pass on your love ❤ to the sea