87 Quotes by Clifton Fadiman

For most men life is a search for the proper manila envelope in which to get themselves filed.

Experience teaches you that the man who looks you straight in the eye, particularly if he adds a firm handshake, is hiding something.

A sense of humor is the ability to understand a joke - and that the joke is oneself.

The German mind has a talent for making no mistakes but the very greatest.

There are two kinds of writers; the great ones who can give you truths, and the lessor ones, who can only give you themselves.

My son is 7 years old. I am 54. It has taken me a great many years to reach that age. I am more respected in the community, I am stronger, I am more intelligent and I think I am better than he is. I don't want to be a pal, I want to be a father.

By the end of high school I was not of course an educated man, but I knew how to try to become one

Mr. Faulkner, of course, is interested in making your mind rather than your flesh creep.

Gertrude Stein was masterly in making nothing happen very slowly