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Benchley and I had an office in the old Life magazine that was so tiny, if it were an inch smaller it would have been adultery.
Dorothy Parker
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote humorously highlights the cramped conditions of an office space.

In this witty remark, Dorothy Parker comically exaggerates the smallness of her office to the point where it almost feels like it transcends normal space, suggesting that such limited space could lead to impropriety. The play on words juxtaposes the seriousness of adultery against the triviality of an office's dimensions, highlighting her clever use of humor to convey discomfort in a relatable way.

Themes

HumorOfficeSpaceWitCramped

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a presentation about the creative challenges of working in small spaces.

More from Dorothy Parker

There's life for you. Spend the best years of your life studying penmanship and rhetoric and syntax and Beowulf and George Eliot, and then somebody steals your pencil.
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It is that word 'hunny,' my darlings, that marks the first place in The House at Pooh Corner at which Tonstant Weader fwowed up.
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I can’t write five words but that I change seven.
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