WIST Quotations

Buchwald, Art -- (Attributed)

Dave — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 14:06:30 +0000

Whether it’s the best of times or the worst of times, it’s the only time we’ve got.

Art Buchwald (1925–2007) American humorist, columnist
(Attributed)

Buchwald, Art -- (Attributed)

Dave — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 16:22:34 +0000

The best things in life aren’t things.

Art Buchwald (1925–2007) American humorist, columnist
(Attributed)

Buchwald, Art -- Have I Ever Lied to You?, ch. 4 “Live and In Color” (1968)

Dave — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 14:32:59 +0000

Every time you think television has hit its lowest ebb, a new type program comes along to make you wonder where you thought the ebb was.

Art Buchwald (1925–2007) American humorist, columnist
Have I Ever Lied to You?, ch. 4 “Live and In Color” (1968)
(Source)

Buchwald, Art -- Leaving Home (1995)

Dave — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 02:08:25 +0000

Don’t commit suicide, because you might change your mind two weeks later.

Art Buchwald (1925–2007) American humorist, columnist
Leaving Home (1995)

A personal mantra Buchwald used to combat his intermittent depression. Possibly borrowed from Voltaire.

Buchwald, Art -- Speech, Horatio Alger Award Dinner, Washington, DC (May 1989)

Dave — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 15:37:27 +0000

If you attack the establishment long enough and hard enough, they will make you a member of it.

Art Buchwald (1925–2007) American humorist, columnist
Speech, Horatio Alger Award Dinner, Washington, DC (May 1989)

Buchwald used a number of variations of this phrase; this particular one was reported a week later in the International Herald Tribune (24 May 1989), but other versions go back to the 1960s (e.g., "Woe to the person in this country who attacks the establishment. It isn’t jail, nor even physical harm, that he must fear. His main problem is that by attacking the Establishment, he automatically becomes a member of it, and there is no greater punishment in the world," from his column of 7 May 1968). See here for more info.

Buchwald, Art -- Syndicated column (11 Sep 1983)

Dave — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 14:53:01 +0000

There isn’t a child who hasn’t gone out into the brave new world who eventually doesn’t return to the old homestead carrying a bundle of dirty clothes.

Art Buchwald (1925–2007) American humorist, columnist
Syndicated column (11 Sep 1983)
(Source)