Behind every successful man is a woman, behind her is his wife.
Groucho MarxRead
Chico: "Here's the book, it's a dollar" Groucho: "Here's a ten, and shoot the change." Chico: "I don't have change I'd have to give you nine more books.
Interpretation
This quote humorously depicts a misunderstanding about giving change for a dollar, highlighting the absurdity in the conversation.
In this exchange, Groucho Marx presents a comical scenario where he offers a ten-dollar bill for a one-dollar book, but Chico's literal interpretation leads to a humorous suggestion that he would need to provide nine more books as change. This reflects the witty banter characteristic of Marx Brothers' humor, showcasing their ability to find comedy in everyday situations and misunderstandings.
In practice
Using this quote in a comedy show to illustrate how misunderstandings can lead to funny situations.
Behind every successful man is a woman, behind her is his wife.
John you say you met in an elevator. Was the elevator going up at the time, or down? This is very important, for going down in an elevator one always has that sinking feeling and for all I know you may have this confused with love. If you were going up, it is clearly a case of love at first sight.
Firefly: Where is your husband? Mrs. Teasdale: Why, he's dead. Firefly: I'll bet he's just using that as an excuse. Mrs. Teasdale: I was with him to the very end. Firefly: Hmmph. No wonder he passed away. Mrs. Teasdale: I held him in my arms and kissed him. Firefly: Oh I see. Then, it was murder.
Gentlemen, Chicolini here may talk like an idiot, and look like an idiot, but don't let that fool you: he really is an idiot. I implore you, send him back to his father and brothers, who are waiting for him with open arms in the penitentiary. I suggest that we give him ten years in Leavenworth, or eleven years in Twelveworth.
Die, my dear? Why that's the last thing I'll do!
Let there be dancing in the streets, drinking in the saloons, and necking in the parlor.
Congress consists of one-third, more or less, scoundrels; two-thirds, more or less, idiots; and three-thirds, more or less, poltroons.
Here I am paying big money to you writers and what for? All you do is change the words.
I was foreign and Jewish, with a funny name, and was very small and hated sport, a real problem at an English prep school. So the way to get round it was to become the school joker, which I did quite effectively - I was always fooling around to make the people who would otherwise dump me in the loo laugh.
I will not eat oysters. I want my food dead - not sick, not wounded - dead.
When I'm up there, I'm just thinking that I've got to make them laugh or they won't show up next time.
Give a critic an inch, he'll write a play.
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