Fran Lebowitz citations

Page 2

“I understand, of course, that many people find smoking objectionable. That is their right. I would, I assure you, be the very last to criticize the annoyed. I myself find many-- even most-- things objectionable. Being offended is the natural consequence of leaving one's home. I do not like aftershave lotion, adults who roller-skate, children who speak French, or anyone who is unduly tan. I do not, however, go around enacting legislation and putting up signs. In private I avoid such people; in public they have the run of the place. I stay at home as much as possible, and so should they. When it is necessary, however, to go out of the house, they must be prepared, as I am, to deal with the unpleasant personal habits of others. That is what "public" means.”

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Fran Lebowitz livre Social Studies

"When Smoke Gets in Your Eyes...Shut Them".
Social Studies (1981)

“All God's children are not beautiful. Most of God's children are, in fact, barely presentable. The most common error made in matters of appearance is the belief that one should disdain the superficial and let the true beauty of one's soul shine through. If there are places on your body where this is a possibility, you are not attractive — you are leaking.”

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Fran Lebowitz livre Metropolitan Life

"Manners" (p. 6).
Metropolitan Life (1978)

“Do not allow children to mix drinks. It is unseemly and they use too much vermouth.”

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Fran Lebowitz livre Social Studies

"Parental Guidance"
Social Studies (1981)

“Should novels generally be 600 pages? No, they should not. Half of writing, maybe 3/4 of writing, is editing. This seems to be a thing that has not gotten through to them. It’s my impression that you could get rid of half of most of these books. These people are not good enough to be this long, but they’re apparently also not good enough to be shorter.”

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Fran Lebowitz

Ruminator Magazine interview http://www.ruminator.com/?p=82 with Susannah McNeely (August/September 2005).