Who said “My opposition lies in the fact that offhand answers have little value or grace of…”?

Verified

James Thurber. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceLetter to Henry Brandon after an interview with him, explaining his opposition to interviews; quoted by Brandon in As We Are (1961)

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“My opposition lies in the fact that offhand answers have little value or grace of expression, and that such oral give and take helps to perpetuate the decline of the English language.”
— James Thurber
VerifiedLetter to Henry Brandon after an interview with him, explaining his opposition to interviews; quoted by Brandon in As We Are (1961) · evidenceInterviews
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Letter to Henry Brandon after an interview with him, explaining his opposition to interviews; quoted by Brandon in As We Are (1961).

APA

Thurber, J. (n.d.). My opposition lies in the fact that offhand answers have little value or grace of expression, and that such oral give and take helps to perpetuate the decline of the English language. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/24465-my-opposition-lies-in-the-fact-that-offhand/

MLA

Thurber, James. “My opposition lies in the fact that offhand answers have little value or grace of expression, and that such oral give and take helps to perpetuate the decline of the English language.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/24465-my-opposition-lies-in-the-fact-that-offhand/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Thurber, James. “My opposition lies in the fact that offhand answers have little value or grace of expression, and that such oral give and take helps to perpetuate the decline of the English language.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/24465-my-opposition-lies-in-the-fact-that-offhand/.

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More quotes by James Thurber

“He who hesitates is sometimes saved.”
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“You can fool too many of the people too much of the time.”
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All 54 James Thurber quotes →