Friday, October 15, 2010

WHEN INSULTS HAD CLASS - I

When Insults had class. These glorious insults are from an era when cleverness with words was still valued....unlike now, where the art of the put-down and the come-back has been reduced to primarily questioning parentage and responding with descriptors of common bodily functions!
Have fun.

The exchange between Churchill &Lady Astor: She said, 'If you were my husband I'd give you poison,' and he said, 'If you were my wife, I'd gladly drink it.'
A member of Parliament to Disraeli: 'Sir, you will either die on the gallows or of some unspeakable disease.' 'That depends, Sir,' said Disraeli, 'whether I embrace your policies or your mistress.'
'He had delusions of adequacy.' - Walter Kerr
'He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.' - Winston Churchill
'A modest little person, with much to be modest about.' - Winston Churchill
'I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.' Clarence Darrow
'He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.' - William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway).
'Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?' - Ernest Hemingway (about William Faulkner)
'Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it.' - Moses Hadas
'He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know.' - Abraham Lincoln

8 comments:

Sylvia K said...

Ah, they did have class in those days, didn't they? Certainly more than you can say about most celebrities and politicians these days! Terrific post for the day! Always enjoy what you have to share with us! Have a great weekend! Enjoy!

Sylvia

Kavi said...

These days they sell 'books of insult'.

Well, that can be a good insult when given as a gift !

:)

nsiyer said...

Thanks Sylvia. As always, I am too happy with what you have to say.

Kavi - you and your wit.

Anuradha Rawat said...

Nice one...
awaiting part II.. :)
couldn't help sharing one i stumbled upon :

"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend ... if you have one."
— George Bernard Shaw, playwright (to Winston Churchill)
"Cannot possibly attend first night; will attend second, if there is one."
— Churchill's response"

Samyukta Ganesh said...

Haha!...they did have a way with words, didn't they Sir?...this made for such a fun read!...eagerly awaiting part II!

RGB said...

Tit for tat, word for word. They sure knew how to get even, eh? Enjoyed reading it. And waiting for Part II :)

nsiyer said...

Thanks Anuradha for the motivation to continue.

Thanks Sam for the constant inputs and inspiration.

nsiyer said...

RGB thanks a million.