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Robert Benchley Quotes

Powerful Robert Benchley for Daily Growth

About Robert Benchley

Robert Benchley (May 15, 1889 – November 21, 1945) was an American humorist, essayist, actor, and drama critic who is best remembered for his work with the New Yorker magazine, where he was a founding staff member. Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, Benchley grew up in a family that encouraged his love of writing and performing. After graduating from Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, he attended Yale University but did not graduate due to excessive absences from academic pursuits. Benchley began his career as a drama critic for the New York Tribune, where he honed his ability to find humor in everyday life. In 1924, he joined The New Yorker, writing humorous essays and short stories that captured the spirit of the Roaring Twenties. His most famous works from this period include "How to Commit Suicide in Small Ways," "The Dangerous Mate," and "Why Stop Me?", which humorously skewered middle-class life and the foibles of modern technology. In 1929, Benchley made his film debut in Paramount Pictures' The Five-Year Engagement. He went on to appear in numerous films throughout the 1930s, including Bringing Up Baby (1938), a classic comedy starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn. Despite his success in Hollywood, Benchley continued to contribute to The New Yorker, creating some of his most iconic works, such as "The Optimist's Guide to Life" and "A Tale of Two Cities." Benchley's wit and humor transcended the boundaries of his time, leaving a lasting impact on American literature. His work continues to be celebrated for its ability to find humor in the mundane aspects of life, making the absurd seem normal and the normal seem absurd. Despite battling alcoholism throughout his life, Benchley's contributions to American humor remain an enduring testament to his talent and unique perspective on the world.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I am not a realist. I'm an idealist. I don't ever solve problems. I say, 'What fun.' And then I jump in."

Robert Benchley, in this quote, expresses his optimistic and adventurous spirit. He distinguishes himself as an idealist rather than a realist, indicating that he approaches life not by tackling problems pragmatically but by finding joy and excitement in them. This mindset encourages taking risks and embracing challenges, reflecting a positive and innovative attitude towards problem-solving and living life to the fullest.

"Dentistry is the only profession I know in which if you can count to three, and keep your mouth open for four seconds at a time, you can make a living."

This quote by Robert Benchley humorously highlights the apparent simplicity of dentistry as a profession compared to others, suggesting that basic counting and patience skills are sufficient qualifications for practicing it. The joke lies in the contrast between the perceived complexity of many other professions and the seemingly rudimentary requirements for dentistry.

"The trouble with being poor is that it takes up all one's time."

This quote by Robert Benchley suggests that when a person is struggling financially, they often spend much of their energy and effort trying to make ends meet and ensure basic necessities are met, leaving little or no time for leisure or personal pursuits. In essence, poverty can consume one's time, as survival demands constant attention and resources.

"I should explain about my day job, but then I might have to mention the night job as well."

This quote humorously expresses a feeling of being overworked or having multiple responsibilities that keep one busy both day and night. The speaker suggests that they have two jobs, one during the day and another at night, which are so demanding that describing them might imply an excessive workload, as opposed to a typical single job.

"Anyone can be the street sweeper of his own life or the king in a realm of ivory towers - it is one's choice and one's responsibility."

This quote by Robert Benchley emphasizes personal agency and accountability in shaping one's life. It suggests that every individual has the power to choose their path, whether living a simple, humble life or achieving great heights of success. The choice is personal, but so is the responsibility for the consequences of these choices. In essence, the quote highlights the freedom and power we have in creating our own destinies while reminding us that with this power comes the duty to accept the results.

I have been told by hospital authorities that more copies of my works are left behind by departing patients than those of any other author.

- Robert Benchley

Behind, Other, Been, Departing

At fifteen one is first beginning to realize that everything isn't money and power in this world, and is casting about for joys that do not turn to dross in one's hands.

- Robert Benchley

Beginning, Hands, Fifteen, Joys

There seems to be no lengths to which humorless people will not go to analyze humor. It seems to worry them.

- Robert Benchley

Humor, Worry, Which, Analyze

Most of the arguments to which I am party fall somewhat short of being impressive, owing to the fact that neither I nor my opponent knows what we are talking about.

- Robert Benchley

Fact, About, Which, Owing

Why don't you get out of that wet coat and into a dry martini?

- Robert Benchley

Funny, Get, Coat, Martini

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.

- Robert Benchley

Other, Upheaval, Which, Adapted

Tell us your phobias and we will tell you what you are afraid of.

- Robert Benchley

Fear, Will, Tell, Phobias

The biggest obstacle to professional writing is the necessity for changing a typewriter ribbon.

- Robert Benchley

Biggest, Biggest Obstacle, Ribbon

The freelance writer is a man who is paid per piece or per word or perhaps.

- Robert Benchley

Paid, Perhaps, Piece, Freelance

You might think that after thousands of years of coming up too soon and getting frozen, the crocus family would have had a little sense knocked into it.

- Robert Benchley

Think, Might, Frozen, Thousands Of Years

Nothing makes a man feel older than to hear a band coming up the street and not to have the impulse to rush downstairs and out on to the sidewalk.

- Robert Benchley

Nothing, Sidewalk, Makes, Impulse

In America there are two classes of travel - first class, and with children.

- Robert Benchley

Travel, Children, Classes, First Class

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.

- Robert Benchley

Work, Come, Still, Manage

I do most of my work sitting down; that's where I shine.

- Robert Benchley

Work, Most, Where, Sitting

Drinking makes such fools of people, and people are such fools to begin with that it's compounding a felony.

- Robert Benchley

Fools, Drinking, Makes, Compounding

If Mr. Einstein doesn't like the natural laws of the universe, let him go back to where he came from.

- Robert Benchley

Natural, Laws, Natural Laws, Einstein

There is a note in the front of the volume saying that no public reading may be given without first getting the author's permission. It ought to be made much more difficult to do than that.

- Robert Benchley

May, Note, Given, Ought

We are constantly being surprised that people did things well before we were born.

- Robert Benchley

Born, Before, Were, Surprised

Drawing on my fine command of the English language, I said nothing.

- Robert Benchley

Funny, Nothing, Fine, Command

The surest way to make a monkey of a man is to quote him.

- Robert Benchley

Monkey, Quote, Surest, Surest Way

In a house where there are small children the bathroom soon takes on the appearance of the Old Curiosity Shop.

- Robert Benchley

Curiosity, Small, Shop, Bathroom

A real hangover is nothing to try out family remedies on. The only cure for a real hangover is death.

- Robert Benchley

Death, Nothing, Only, Remedies

For a nation which has an almost evil reputation for bustle, bustle, bustle, and rush, rush, rush, we spend an enormous amount of time standing around in line in front of windows, just waiting.

- Robert Benchley

Waiting, Which, Amount, Evil

Anyone who tries to keep track of what is happening in China is going to end up by wearing all the skin of his left ear from twirling around on it.

- Robert Benchley

Going, Wearing, Tries, Happening

I have tried to know absolutely nothing about a great many things, and I have succeeded fairly well.

- Robert Benchley

Funny, Nothing, Fairly, Absolutely Nothing

I know I'm drinking myself to a slow death, but then I'm in no hurry.

- Robert Benchley

Death, Slow, Drinking, Hurry

We call ourselves a free nation, and yet we let ourselves be told what cabs we can and can't take by a man at a hotel door, simply because he has a drum major's uniform on.

- Robert Benchley

Door, Nation, Drum, Simply

A boy can learn a lot from a dog: obedience, loyalty, and the importance of turning around three times before lying down.

- Robert Benchley

Learn, Before, Importance, Lying

A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down.

- Robert Benchley

Pet, Teaches, Times, Lying

Even nowadays a man can't step up and kill a woman without feeling just a bit unchivalrous.

- Robert Benchley

Woman, Feeling, Nowadays, Step

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