Date Quote by David Foster Wallace
““Here is how to turn down an extramural date so you won't be asked again. Say something like I'm terribly sorry I can't come out to see 8 1/2 revived on a wall-size Cambridge Celluloid Festival viewer on Friday, Kimberly, or Daphne, but you see if I jump rope for two hours then jog backwards through Newton till I puke They'll let me watch match-cartridges and then my mother will read aloud to me from the O.E.D. until 2200 lights-out, and c.; so you can be sure that henceforth Daphne/Kimberly/Jennifer will take her adolescent-mating-dance-type-ritual-socialization business somewhere else.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “Consider the Lobster” (fictional excerpt), 2005
Offers a humorous, convoluted refusal method to avoid repeat dates.
In simple terms: Use absurdity to deter unwanted invitations.
Key Takeaway
Craft witty, firm rejections.
Themes
humor
social dynamics
boundaries
Mood
playful
critical
Type
satirical
advice
When to use this quote
- dating
- social events
- personal boundaries
Key Concepts
communication
self‑assertion
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you politely decline without sarcasm?
- When is humor appropriate in refusals?
A Different Perspective
Such elaborate excuses may be misinterpreted or cause offense.
