WIST Quotations

White, E. B. -- “The Preaching Humorist,” The Saturday Review of Literature (1941-10-18) [with Katherine White]

Dave — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 14:45:05 +0000

Humor can be dissected, as a frog can, but the thing dies in the process and the innards are discouraging to any but the purely scientific mind.

E. B. White (1899-1985) American author, critic, humorist [Elwyn Brooks White]
“The Preaching Humorist,” The Saturday Review of Literature (1941-10-18) [with Katherine White]
(Source)

The apparent origin of "Analyzing humor is a bit like dissecting a frog: You learn how it works but you end up with a dead frog" (and variants).

Also attributed to Mark Twain (not found in his writing) and André Maurois (who said something similar in 1960). See here for more discussion.

Keillor, Garrison -- Happy to be Here (1983)

Dave — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 12:41:40 +0000

God writes a lot of comedy, Donna; the trouble is, he’s stuck with so many bad actors who don’t know how to play funny.

Garrison Keillor (b. 1942) American entertainer, author
Happy to be Here (1983)

Orwell, George -- Essay (1945-07-28), “Funny, But Not Vulgar,” Leader Magazine

Dave — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:21:40 +0000

A thing is funny when — in some way that is not actually offensive or frightening — it upsets the established order. Every joke is a tiny revolution. If you had to define humour in a single phrase, you might define it as dignity sitting on a tin-tack. Whatever destroys dignity, and brings down the mighty from their seats, preferably with a bump, is funny. And the bigger the fall, the bigger the joke. It would be better fun to throw a custard pie at a bishop than at a curate.

George Orwell (1903-1950) English journalist, essayist, writer [pseud. of Eric Arthur Blair]
Essay (1945-07-28), “Funny, But Not Vulgar,” Leader Magazine
(Source)

Written in December 1944. More discussion of this quotation: Every Joke Is a Tiny Revolution – Quote Investigator®.