“The nation that complacently and fearfully allows its artists and writers to become suspected rather than respected is no longer regarded as a nation possessed with humor or depth.”
Other James Thurber Quotes
Laughter need not be cut out of anything, since it improves everything.
James Thurber 
61% of people like this quote
Comedy has to be done en clair. You can't blunt the edge of wit or the point of satire with obscurity. Try to imagine a famous witty saying that is not immediately clear.
James Thurber
59% of people like this quote
The wit makes fun of other persons; the satirist makes fun of the world; the humorist makes fun of himself, but in so doing, he identifies himself with people - that is, people everywhere, not for the purpose of taking them apart, but simply revealing their true nature.
James Thurber
58% of people like this quote
Why do you have to be a nonconformist like everybody else?
James Thurber
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It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers.
James Thurber
58% of people like this quote