Quotes by Don Marquis

About Don Marquis:

Donald Robert Perry Marquis is remembered best for creating the characters "Archy" and "Mehitabel", supposed authors of humorous verse. During his lifetime he was equally famous for creating another fictitious character, "the Old Soak," who was the subject of two books, a hit Broadway play (1922–23), a silent movie (1926) and a talkie (1937).
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Middle age is the time when a man is always thinking that in a week or two he will feel as good as ever.

Don Marquis

Age is not a particularly interesting subject. Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough.

Don Marquis

Of middle age the best that can be said is that a middle-aged person has likely learned how to have a little fun in spite of his troubles.

Don Marquis

Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.

Don Marquis

The art of newspaper paragraphing is to stroke a platitude until it purrs like an epigram.

Don Marquis

An idea isn't responsible for the people who believe in it.

Don Marquis

From 'the lesson of the moth': and before i could argue him out of his philosophy he went and immolated himself on a patent cigar lighter i do not agree with him myself i would rather have half the happiness and twice the longevity but at the same ti...

Don Marquis

i have had my ups and downs but wotthehell wotthehell yesterday sceptres and crowns fried oysters and velvet gowns and today i herd with bums but wotthehell wotthehell i wake the world from sleep as i caper and sing and leap when i sing my wild free ...

Don Marquis

it wont be long now it wont be long man is making deserts of the earth it wont be long now before man will have used it up so that nothing but ants and centipedes and scorpions can find a living on it .... what man calls civilization always results i...

Don Marquis

An optimist is a guy that has never had much experience.

Don Marquis

I would rather start a family than finish one.

Don Marquis

I have often noticed that ancestors never boast of the descendants who boast of ancestors. I would rather start a family than finish one. Blood will tell, but often it tells too much.

Don Marquis

Ideas pull the trigger, but instinct loads the gun.

Don Marquis

Punctuality is one of the cardinal business virtues: always insist on it in your subordinates.

Don Marquis

One of the most important things to remember about infant care is: don't change diapers in midstream.

Don Marquis

Happiness is the interval between periods of unhappiness.

Don Marquis

Fate often puts all the material for happiness and prosperity into a man's hands just to see how miserable he can make himself with them.

Don Marquis

Honesty is a good thing, but it is not profitable to its possessor unless it is kept under control.

Don Marquis

Every cloud has its silver lining but it is sometimes a little difficult to get it to the mint.

Don Marquis

A pessimist is a person who has had to listen to too many optimists.

Don Marquis

Author Bio

  • NameDon Marquis
  • DescriptionAmerican writer
  • BornJuly 29, 1878
  • DiedDecember 29, 1937
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionPoet; Author