WIST Quotations

De Vries, Peter -- Mrs. Wallop (1970)

Dave — Thu, 02 Aug 2018 00:16:32 +0000

For the whole thing about matrimony is this: We fall in love with a personality, but we must live with a character. Behind the pretty wallpaper and the brightly painted plaster lurk the yards of tangled wire and twisted pipes, ready to run a short or spring a leak on us without a word of warning.

Peter De Vries (1910–1993) American editor, novelist, satirist
Mrs. Wallop (1970)
(Source)

Often misquoted as "The difficulty with marriage is that ..."

Marx, Groucho -- (Attributed)

Dave — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:48:00 +0000

Whoever named it necking was a poor judge of anatomy.

Groucho Marx (1890–1977) American comedian [b. Julius Henry Marx]
(Attributed)

Kasdan, Lawrence -- The Big Chill (1983) [written with Barbara Benedek]

Dave — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 17:28:24 +0000

MEG: They’re either married or gay. And if they’re not gay, they’ve just broken up with the most wonderful woman in the world, or they’ve just broken up with a bitch who looks exactly like me. They’re in transition from a monogamous relationship and they need more space. Or they’re tired of space, but they just can’t commit. Or they want to commit, but they’re afraid to get close. They want to get close, you don’t want to get near them.

Lawrence Kasdan (b. 1949) American screenwriter, director, producer
The Big Chill (1983) [written with Barbara Benedek]

Regarding men.

Miller, Olin -- (Attributed)

Dave — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 13:04:40 +0000

If you think there are no new frontiers, watch a boy ring the front doorbell on his first date.

Olin Miller (fl. early 20th C) American humorist
(Attributed)

Barrie, James -- The Little White Bird, ch. 19 “Joey,” Scribner’s Magazine, Vol. 32 (1902-11)

Dave — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:49:17 +0000

Wise children always choose a mother who was a shocking flirt in her maiden days, and so had several offers before she accepted their fortunate papa.

J. M. Barrie (1860–1937) Scottish novelist and dramatist [James Matthew Barrie]
The Little White Bird, ch. 19 “Joey,” Scribner’s Magazine, Vol. 32 (1902-11)
(Source)

This portion of the serial is in ch. 22 of the fully collected novel (1902).

Martin, Judith -- “Miss Manners,” syndicated column (1981-08-15)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

There are three possible parts to a date, of which at least two must be offered: entertainment, food, and affection. It is customary to begin a series of dates with a great deal of entertainment, a moderate amount of food, and the merest suggestion of affection. As the amount of affection increases, the entertainment can be reduced proportionately. When the affection is the entertainment, we no longer call it dating. Under no circumstances can the food be omitted.

Judith Martin (b. 1938) American author, journalist, etiquette expert [a.k.a. Miss Manners]
“Miss Manners,” syndicated column (1981-08-15)
(Source)

Collected in Miss Manners’ Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior, Part 4 "Rites de Passage," "Modern Romance" (1983).