The Oxford Dictionary of Humorous Quotations

by Ned Sherrin (editor)

Dazzlingly entertaining, this new edition of the Oxford Dictionary of Humorous Quotations contains over 5,000 quotations hand-picked by the writer and broadcaster Ned Sherrin. Containing a wide coverage of themes, including forty brand new ones such as Autobiography, Awards and Prizes,
Parties, Presidents, Smoking, and Tennis, there is something for everyone on every subject imaginable.

From sharp one-liners to witty quips, there are quotations from classic humorists such as Mae West, Oscar Wilde, and Groucho Marx, to today's well known comedians and wits including Dick Vosburgh, Maureen Lipman, Tracey Ullman, Ben Elton, and Ian Hislop. There are of course quotations from famous
luminaries from walks of life other than comedy, from Samuel Johnson to Tennessee Williams, and Albert Einstein to the Duke of Wellington.
With details of where each quotation comes from, who said it, where and when, an author index allowing you at a glance to establish who said what, and a detailed keyword index, this is not just an ideal reference tool but also an invaluable and classic collection.
"France is a country where the money falls apart in your hands and you can't tear the toilet paper."
Billy Wilder

"People don't come in my size until they're old. I used to think people were born with big bones and large frames, but apparently these grow when you're about sixty-eight."
Maeve Binchy

"They say the definition of ambivalence is watching your mother-in-law drive over a cliff in your new Cadillac."
David Mamet

"I'm President of the United States, and I'm not going to eat any more broccoli!"
George Bush

Genres: Reference, Humor, Nonfiction, Language, Writing, Literature

544 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Ned Sherrin was an English broadcaster, author and stage director.

Reviews

[Nitrorockets · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very good resource and one that I'd like to have in my permanent collection. Not something for leisure reading but incredibly useful.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are a lot of gems in here. There are also not a few misfires, given that they're all selected by one man with a rather stereotypically British sense of humor. Sherrin includes too many quotations that aren't funny out of context (I can vouch that many of them are funny in context). But despite the many suggestions I have for improvements, I keep reading it (this is my third or fourth time), and I still like it.

[This review applies to the original 1995 edition.:]

[Minnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The true joy of a book of quotations is that you get to read the best bits of generally the best books. Not only is this book filled with hilarious best bits, it also has sharp and witty comments for any occasion... if you can just recall them!

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my style. The quotations needed more "filler" before and/or after to anchor the bon mots. They must have been funny at the time, but I always got the feeling after each one that "you really had to be there."

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good.

[Stephen Starr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a boy at heart, I need my book fixes in small bites, and this book has kept me sane on many a dark day.

[Burton Li · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bible (very thick) of joy.

[Steve Clark]

Edition: New edition