Marriage Quote by Garson O'Toole
““Artemus Ward: Respected Sir—My wife was afflicted with the pipsywipsy in the head for nearly eight years. The doctors all gave her up. But in a fortunate moment she went to one of your lectures, and commenced recovering very rapidly. She is now in perfect health. We like your lectures very much. Please send me a box of them. They are purely vegetable. Send me another five dollar bill and I’ll write you another certificate twice as long as this. Yours,””
About This Quote
Source Letter: Personal correspondence, early 20th century
A humorous, exaggerated request for more lectures, treating them as a commodity and joking about payment.
In simple terms: The writer jokes about wanting more lectures and paying for them.
Key Takeaway
Don’t take requests too seriously; enjoy humor.
Themes
humor
exaggeration
request
commodification
Mood
playful
mocking
lighthearted
Type
literary
social
cultural
When to use this quote
- personal letters
- public speaking events
- marketing jokes
Key Concepts
satire
communication
social commentary
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this humor reveal about audience expectations?
- How does satire affect perception of value?
A Different Perspective
The tone may be misinterpreted as insincere.
![“I don't like being away from home. That's one reason why I don't work as much as I used to [when I started my career], because so many things are on the road. I just don't want to be away from my husband, my dogs and my home. I don't sing that much any more because that also takes you on the road.” quote by Jane Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/07c/jane-powell-36243_away_i-don-t-like-being-away-from-home-that-s_278.jpg)
