Food Quote by Groucho Marx
“Thirteen at a table is unlucky only, when the hostess has only twelve chops.”
About This Quote
Source Film: A Night at the Opera, 1935
The joke plays on the superstition that thirteen is unlucky, but humorously flips it to the hostess's inability to serve enough food.
In simple terms: Superstition can be turned into comedy.
Key Takeaway
Use humor to challenge superstitions.
Themes
humor
superstition
social norms
dinner parties
irony
Mood
playful
lighthearted
Type
satirical
observational
When to use this quote
- holiday gatherings
- restaurant service
- game nights
- team meals
Key Concepts
comedic timing
social critique
absurdity
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we cling to certain superstitions?
- How can jokes reveal hidden social anxieties?
A Different Perspective
Humor may offend those who take superstitions seriously.
![“He [Groucho's father] had absolutely no training, and if you had ever seen one of his suits, you'd realize what an accurate statement that is. You see, Pop never used a tape measure. He didn't believe in it. He said he could just look at a man and tell hi.” quote by Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/02f/groucho-marx-788_accurate_he-groucho-s-father-had-absolutely-no-tr_22161.jpg)
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
