--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's true,\" the male officer said…" description: "\"“That's true,\" the male officer said. \"Stew Mitchum is as cute as a button.\" I tried to think of buttons I'd seen that liked to torture small animals, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/345/lemony-snicket-663_button_that-s-true-the-male-officer-said-stew-m_658295.jpg" --- # That's true," the male officer said. "Stew Mitchum is as… ![“That's true," the male officer said. "Stew Mitchum is as cute as a button." I tried to think of buttons I'd seen that liked to torture small animals, but I couldn't.” quote by Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/345/lemony-snicket-663_button_that-s-true-the-male-officer-said-stew-m_658295.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/345/lemony-snicket-663_button_that-s-true-the-male-officer-said-stew-m_658295.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/345/lemony-snicket-663_button_that-s-true-the-male-officer-said-stew-m_658295.jpg) > ““That's true," the male officer said. "Stew Mitchum is as cute as a button." I tried to think of buttons I'd seen that liked to torture small animals, but I couldn't.”” [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Uses dark humor to describe a police officer’s odd compliment, revealing absurdity in violence and cruelty. **In simple terms:** A bizarre compliment highlights twisted humor. Key Takeaway Recognize absurdity in dark jokes. Themes dark humor absurdity violence characterization Mood dark ironic Type literary satirical When to use this quote - reading analysis - creative writing - critical discussion Key Concepts morality psychology satire Questions to Reflect On - Why does the author use such grotesque imagery? - What does this reveal about the officer’s character? A Different Perspective May be misinterpreted as endorsing cruelty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Button](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/button/) [Buttons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buttons/) [Cute Button](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cute-button-1468617/) [Lemony-snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lemony-snicket/) [Male Officer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/male-officer-5250914/) [Mitchum Cute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mitchum-cute-5250913/) [Officer Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/officer-said-2512893/) [Stew Mitchum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stew-mitchum-5250915/) [Who-could-that-be-at-this-hour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-could-that-be-at-this-hour-205984/) ## Related quotes > [“I led her into the newsroom, removed the sheet, and pointed to the statue of the Bombinating Beast. She gestured to me that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/i-led-her-into-the-newsroom-removed-the-sheet-and-pointed-to-the/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [“Theodora glared at me, but Mrs. Murphy Sallis gave me a brief smile and offered me her hand, which was as smooth and soft…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/theodora-glared-at-me-but-mrs-murphy-sallis-gave-me-a-brief-smile-and/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [“(on the Pip and Squeak asking for a taxi tip) "How about a tip?" "Here's a tip," I said. "Next time you're at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/on-the-pip-and-squeak-asking-for-a-taxi-tip-how-about-a-tip-here-s-a/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [“I went into the bathroom to brush my teeth. 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Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [I got in a fight with my girlfriend," I said. "I was just driving around, blowing off steam, you know?" Well, you should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/i-got-in-a-fight-with-my-girlfriend-i-said-i-was-just-driving-around/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“Frank, how did you do that?" Jason yelled. Frank's head swam with pain. He forced himself not to pass out. "I'm the ranking Roman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/frank-how-did-you-do-that-jason-yelled-frank-s-head-swam-with-pain-he/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [A policeman stopped me and said: Would you please blow into this bag, sir? I said: What for, officer? He said: My chips are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/a-policeman-stopped-me-and-said-would-you-please-blow-into-this-bag/) [Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) ## More by Lemony Snicket > [“Nevermore Tree was gargantuan, a word which here means 'having attained an inordinate amount of botanical volume.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/nevermore-tree-was-gargantuan-a-word-which-here-means-having-attained/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [“But even if they could go home it would be difficult for me to tell you what the moral of the story is. 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It is a miracle if you can find true friends, and it is a miracle if you have enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/all-these-things-are-miracles-it-is-a-miracle-if-you-can-find-true/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [“Uncle Monty tell”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/uncle-monty-tell/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [“As you and I listen to Uncle Monty tell the three Baudelaire orphans that no harm will ever come to them in the Reptile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/as-you-and-i-listen-to-uncle-monty-tell-the-three-baudelaire-orphans/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [“They tried picturing leaving Uncle Monty and living by themselves, trying to find jobs and take care of each other. It was a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/they-tried-picturing-leaving-uncle-monty-and-living-by-themselves/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [“To Beatrice- darling, dearest, dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/to-beatrice-darling-dearest-dead/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [“The French expression 'cul-de-sac' describes what the Baudelaire orphans found when they reached the end of the dark hallway, and like all French expressions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/the-french-expression-cul-de-sac-describes-what-the-baudelaire/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) [Explore all 384 Lemony Snicket quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) ## More Button quotes > [“One button for the rest of your life online.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/one-button-for-the-rest-of-your-life-online/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [Sometimes I Wish There Was WOOF Button...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/sometimes-i-wish-there-was-woof-button/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Even the wordiest of men know there's a time to button it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-jacobson/even-the-wordiest-of-men-know-there-s-a-time-to-button-it/) [Howard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-jacobson/) > [They should invent a snooze button that hits back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-should-invent-a-snooze-button-that-hits-back/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If I could press a button and have all of Sequoia Capital on the Midas List, I would choose to do that over a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-leone/if-i-could-press-a-button-and-have-all-of-sequoia-capital-on-the/) [Douglas Leone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-leone/) > [“Sewing on a button, like avoiding eye contact on the subway, is a basic life skill. Along with How to Windex a Mirror and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-volk/sewing-on-a-button-like-avoiding-eye-contact-on-the-subway-is-a-basic/) [Patricia Volk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-volk/) > [With women, the best part is the discovery. There's nothing like the first time, nothing. You don't know what life is until you undress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/with-women-the-best-part-is-the-discovery-there-s-nothing-like-the/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [Where's the button that makes time stand still...I need a break.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/where-s-the-button-that-makes-time-stand-still-i-need-a-break/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Imagine you're watching '30 Rock' and an ad comes on, but you don't like it. With Hulu Ad Swap, you can actually click the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kilar/imagine-you-re-watching-30-rock-and-an-ad-comes-on-but-you-don-t-like/) [Jason Kilar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kilar/) > [“I dont know who I am but one thing I do know is that when I see a BIG THREATENING BUTTON I just want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tennant/i-dont-know-who-i-am-but-one-thing-i-do-know-is-that-when-i-see-a-big/) [David Tennant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tennant/) > [Jenson Button is in the top ten, in eleventh position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-walker/jenson-button-is-in-the-top-ten-in-eleventh-position/) [Murray Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-walker/) > [What button will u push](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-button-will-u-push/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I mean if someone you know pushes a button you're gonna strike back out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brande-roderick/i-mean-if-someone-you-know-pushes-a-button-you-re-gonna-strike-back/) [Brande Roderick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brande-roderick/) > [I'm not sure when exactly I knew I was funny, but I always knew I was different. 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Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) [Browse all 127 Button quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/button/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“That's true,\" the male officer said. \"Stew Mitchum is as cute as a button.\" I tried to think of buttons I'd seen that liked to torture small animals, but I couldn't.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lemony Snicket" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/that-s-true-the-male-officer-said-stew-mitchum-is-as-cute-as-a-button/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Button" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/that-s-true-the-male-officer-said-stew-mitchum-is-as-cute-as-a-button/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/345/lemony-snicket-663_button_that-s-true-the-male-officer-said-stew-m_658295.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/345/lemony-snicket-663_button_that-s-true-the-male-officer-said-stew-m_658295.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/345/lemony-snicket-663_button_that-s-true-the-male-officer-said-stew-m_658295.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That's true,\" the male officer said. \"Stew Mitchum is as cute as a button.\" I tried to think of buttons I'd…” — Lemony Snicket", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Lemony Snicket", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“That's true,\" the male officer said....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/that-s-true-the-male-officer-said-stew-mitchum-is-as-cute-as-a-button/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/that-s-true-the-male-officer-said-stew-mitchum-is-as-cute-as-a-button/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```