Christopher-hitchens Quote by Craig Brown
““I [Christopher Hitchens] moved into Mart's sock—where you lived was your 'sock.' Your rug was your 'hair.' Your knee was still your knee: we couldn't think of another word for it. We called our penises our 'willie winkies' and our shared lavatory 'the bog.' There were a lot of brilliantly inventive word games of that kind. What if you changed 'heart' to 'dick' in any well-known song or phrase? Bury my dick at Wounded Knee. Dick-break Hotel. Don't go breaking my dick ... They may, in retrospect, seem infantile, but they built intellectual muscle and taught us all we knew about philosophy, psychology, and other -ologies too numerous (and humorous!) to mention. It was at the time of the wholly reprehensible bombing of Cambodia. These dazzling jests were part of the reason why, when Mart and I got together, nobody felt able to leave the room, or sock-toe. A glimpse, if you will, of another era, a time when Mr. Wilde had sparred so felicitously with Mr. Whistler across their effortlessly groaning table at the imperious Cafe Royal.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The New Yorker, “The Hitchens and Mart Years,” 1995
The passage celebrates playful language as a tool for intellectual growth, showing how absurd word games can deepen philosophical insight while coping with harsh realities.
In simple terms: Playful word games build thinking skills.
Use humor to explore ideas.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- college discussions
- creative writing workshops
- friendship bonding
- coping with trauma
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can playful language reveal hidden truths?
- When does humor become a distraction?
Humor may mask serious issues and can be misunderstood.