Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but the thing dies in the process and the innards are discouraging to any but the pure scientific mind.

humor science analysis dissection

About E. B. White

Portrait of E. B. White

Elwyn Brooks White (July 11, 1899 – October 1, 1985) was an American writer, essayist, and a contributing editor for The New Yorker magazine. He was also the author of highly popular books for children: Stuart Little (1945), Charlotte's Web (1952), and The Trumpet of the Swan (1970).

More quotations from E. B. White

There is nothing more likely to start disagreement among people or countries than an agreement.

politics countries agreement disagreement

Analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog. Few people are interested, and the frog dies of it.

The trouble with the profit system has always been that it is highly unprofitable to most people.

equality capitalism

The time in our own life when we came closest to being convinced by silence was one time at sea in a light fall of snow. We heard nothing—no gravel, no wind, no waves, no wolves, no bell buoy. It was convincing and it was beautiful.

beauty silence quiet convincing

I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority.

More quotations tagged with “science”

Research is the process of going up alleys to see if they are blind.

—Marston Bates

science research

Philosophers say a great deal about what is absolutely necessary for science, and it is always, so far as one can see, rather naive, and probably wrong.

—Richard Feynman

philosophy science

Science may set limits to knowledge, but should not set limits to imagination.

—Bertrand Russell

imagination knowledge science

One thing I have learned in a long life: that all our science, measured against reality, is primitive and childlike—and yet it is the most precious thing we have.

—Albert Einstein

reality science

If an elderly but distinguished scientist says that something is possible, he is almost certainly right; but if he says that it is impossible, he is very probably wrong.

—Arthur C. Clarke

learning knowledge certainty science doubt

History

8 Sep 2013 Added
14 Jul 2015 Edited (details weren’t recorded yet)