Comments on: Top 20 Quotes of Dorothy Parker

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:28:01 +0000

Great quotes. I too liked the Atlas Shrugged one.

By: peter irving

peter irving — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 06:32:40 +0000

#19 is probably one of the truest quotes I have ever read. I feel bad for those that claim to like such trash.

By: Sperry

Sperry — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:52:04 +0000

I have loved Parker’s work since I first read reprints of her Constant Reader columns in my teen years.

Today is her birthday and I’m absolutely convinced that if she were alive today she’d be 106 years old and a regular on NPR’s “Wait Wait don’t Tell Me.”

By: Jones

Jones — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 03:26:36 +0000

What, no quote of Resume? (enough rope….)

By: PermDude

PermDude — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:21:56 +0000

Well put, dakotawoman. Rand was a lot of things, but she was not literature. Really, really liking her political message doesn’t make it literature either.

My favorite Parker quip is from a note she sent to an acquaintance who just got out of the hospital after having a baby:

“Congratulations! We all knew you had it in you.”

By: dakotawoman

dakotawoman — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:31:09 +0000

Ayn Rand is still idolized merely because her work appeals to sophomoric egoism and so is frequently assigned reading for teenagers who did not discover her for themselves, by misguided teachers desperate to find something teens will relate to. The concept that “true greatness” is being held down by the great mass of selfish losers comes straight out of the frustrations of a third rate talent in an overweening, immature ego. Smells like teen spirit to me. Rands writing itself is pendantic, pedestrian and political fantasy — dark fantasy. It is used to justify arrogance, greed, and the lies of the extreme Right still trying to justify their exploitation of workers by projecting it upon the victims. Disgusting.

Parker on the other hand was sophisticated, wise, adult, and possessed a piercing wit. She is NOT popular with the teachers of teenagers for exactly those qualities as most of her stuff is just too adult. Of course she had to lampoon Rand. Rand just makes it too easy.

By: KATY

KATY — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:48:49 +0000

Here is another one I particularly like

They say of me, and so they should,
It’s doubtful if I come to good.
I see acquaintances and friends
Accumulating dividends,
And making enviable names
In science, art, and parlor games.
But I, despite expert advice,
Keep doing things I think are nice,
And though to good I never come-
Inseparable my nose and thumb!

Another phrase I think is attributed to her when given the line “Age before beauty” was to reply ” Pearls before swine”

By: bklovesaw

bklovesaw — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:46:00 +0000

I’m doing a biography over Mrs.Parker for my English class. I had never heard of her before, but after reading some of her short stories and poems I have to say I can’t believe I’ve never heard of her before. My dad read some of her poems and said “You guys would have gotten along really well, huh?” anywho, great list. I keep reading them over and over again and they get funnier everytime.

By: YogiBarrister

YogiBarrister — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:12:20 +0000

What a cool Listverse coincidence, this was posted on February 5th which is Jennifer Jason Leigh’s birthday. She is the actress who played Dorothy Parker.

By: Ash

Ash — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:40:12 +0000

I’ve never heard of this woman
But after reading this, she’s my new idol xD
Love her